I can see an underground market for health care arising. We will all find back alley doctors to treat our sore throats and other minor illness—all on a cash basis.
I can see underground drug companies churning out antibiotics and other drugs.
We will all be criminals, slinking to our medical care speakeasies.
Americans are intelligent, resilient people—at least the older generations are. We’ll get along for a while, anyway.
Be friendly to your dog's vet.
You’re right, from what I’ve heard. The key phrase is “Non-conforming policies sold outside the Exchanges”. Rules may be different for those states who have set up their own exchanges vs those part of the national Obamascare Exchange, but from what I’ve heard the ACA law specifically allows this to occur. No subsidies outside the exchange, of course.
So you could envision two major risk pools: one of relatively healthy people buying non-conforming policies at affordable rates outside the exchange and Obamacare for everyone else. Think about what that would do to the cost of Obamacare!
There could also be “SO” alternatives (i.e. doctors who just say Screw Obamacare and offer healthcare services on fee-for-service basis. (They’d better make sure their tax returns are in perfect order!)
For some more info, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/your-money/health-insurance-options-arent-limited-to-obamacare-exchanges.html?_r=0
Go to a spa for an expensive “beauty treatment”, get to see the doctor for free.