Why? If you would have qualified for Medicaid, had it expanded, you don't have to pay the penalty anyway - the government doesn't punish you because your state

Why? If you would have qualified for Medicaid, had it expanded, you don't have to pay the penalty anyway - the government doesn't punish you because your state didn't expand Medicaid. Only if you qualify for the subsidized private coverage (which poor people do not) do you have to pay a penalty for not getting health insurance. Frankly that part of the law is a little insane, even if it is because it wasn't implemented as intended; if you don't have any income, then you have to pay the full price for coverage on the exchange, no subsidies. Your income has to meet a certain minimum level to qualify for subsidies - the intent was that below that level, you'd get Medicaid.