Ask any of them if they had a choice. Nobody wants that crap, they’re being FORCED to buy it.
As Cruz says, he’s no fan of the IRS but he pays taxes.
The law requires that you have health insurance, or pay a penalty for having it. It does not require you to use the ACA marketplaces. Please note that he didn’t use the marketplace previously, as he was covered by his wife’s plan. He has 3 choices; he can buy his health care through the marketplace, he can buy it himself, or he can choose to go without and pay the penalty.