No, you’re right. It doesn’t force you. You will just be fined about 2.5% of your income if you don’t.
Income $ 50k: $ 500.00
Income $100k: $1000.00
Income $250k: $2500.00
Income $1m: $10000.00
If you make $1 million or more a year, you’re essentially self-insured, not a burden on the system. None the less, you’ll be making big payments into the system or else.
I never heard that fixed 2.5% number. I thought it was ~ $800 per individual. You wont get health insurance for that.
But there is NO ‘fine’ for not paying the ‘fine’. You ever hear of a fine like that? Try not paying a parking ticket. They will jack up a $50 ticket to 1K eventually, then take your car.