Because the plan called for shifting federal funds designed to help low-income health insurance buyers, it was required to apply for a waiver under the federal law. The state applied for the waiver in June and, according to state leaders, worked with the federal government constantly on the proposal. But as of this week, it had not yet reached a decision, even telling state leaders that could still be weeks away.

So with open enrollment for 2018 starting on Wednesday, state officials rescinded the proposal.

State insurance commissioner Doug Ommen said the problem was created by the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, which was passed in 2010 when Democrats controlled Congress and the White House. Reynolds blamed the law’s waiver process, which she said was inflexible.

“It came down to the law. As it’s written, it just does not afford the flexibility that we need to be creative,” Reynolds said.

Iowa Democrats immediately pushed back. They laid blame at the feet of Republicans, who they note have complete power to fix the law --- the GOP controls all the lawmaking levers in the Iowa and U.S. capitals.