No doubt that most are still opting for the penalty. I’d like to see the statistic.
The penalty is around $1000 versus an insurance premium of $7000; it is a pretty easy decision to make. Even with a subsidy, a premium is still thousands of dollars.
Money that a lower middle class American cannot afford.
Worst of all, millions, billions? of penalty dollars are being taken by the IRS and out of the bank accounts of middle class Americans.
Since this will policed via the IRS/Fed government, I don’t see any way out for people; the penalties will rise quickly, and what happens to those who opt out of insurance but get sick? I haven’t dealt with these plans directly (though my insurance provided through my job is getting worse to bolster the larger provider), but it seems like a nightmare. The Dems trumpet that so many more people have health insurance, but it is very clear far fewer people have actual health CARE (since they can’t afford to use the insurance anyway).