The original plan was to remove the health insurers from the equation, but republicans and lobbyists fought that big time. There is one aspect which you can’t put a price tag on, that’s basic coverage for people who desperately needed it and the long term benefits of accessible preventive care. The version of ACA that was passed was not good, but it was better than what we had before. Healthy people need to see doctors to ensure they stay healthy and sick people need to see doctors to get healthy. We all pay the bill anyway, so it was always a question of when and how much. I don’t see the logic in not providing preventing care and then having folks go to the emergency room and have to pay multiples more in one shot - which if they can’t the state (i.e me and you) has to foot the bill anyway. Republicans made sure a decent plan was watered down so they could point the finger at all the flaws after. Obama welcomed it over and over, and not once did any republican put forward a better proposal.