[COBOL2Java]

For Aizenman, the question is not whether these hikes are justified, but whether young consumers will skip health insurance entirely–and take the penalty instead.

The way Obamacare is written, they'd be foolish to want to get insurance. Since the idiot law prohibits pre-existing conditions from being excluded, they can pay the penalty now, and when they get sick, just sign up for insurance. It's like going without car insurance until you're in an accident, and then dialing up a car insurance company and wanting coverage for the accident you just had. Aren't politicians geniuses?

[OneWingedShark]

Aren't politicians geniuses?

The same ones that keep spending money that doesn't exist, yeah.

[microgood]

Since the idiot law prohibits pre-existing conditions from being excluded, they can pay the penalty now, and when they get sick, just sign up for insurance.

Actually as long as they do not have a tax refund coming, they do not even have to pay the penalty.