This. There's no actual incentive to cover yourself if you didn't like any of the options in the "marketplace", it's just that now you're taxed heavily for maki

This. There's no actual incentive to cover yourself if you didn't like any of the options in the "marketplace", it's just that now you're taxed heavily for making that decision (and still not covered). While it may have helped force insurance companies to accept patients they wouldn't have otherwise, it also regressively taxed Americans who were already underserved by the market. "Too poor for health insurance? Here, have a kick in the teeth. You'll forget all about that back pain."