Without Romney, Mass may have already have had a european style plan. Romney may have saved us from real socialized medicine. The reason I say that is 27 states are looking at ways to insure their citizens in private insurance programs.
You never told me how requiring you have health insurance is any different from requiring you to have auto insurance.
In Virginia, if you don’t have auto insurance, your license is suspended and you have to pay a $500 fine to get it reinstated and prove you have coverage. This is only for libiality. You don’t have to cover your own vehicle.
With auto insurance you only have to insure for liability - you don't have to insure yourself. You can incurr that risk.