"Mandatory" is the key thing, though. The system doesn't work if all the healthy people opt out until they have a crisis and show up uninsured at the emergency

"Mandatory" is the key thing, though. The system doesn't work if all the healthy people opt out until they have a crisis and show up uninsured at the emergency room. See: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/how-repeal-of-the-individual-mandate-and-expansion-of-loosely-regulated-plans-are-affecting-2019-premiums/ https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/how-repeal-of-t...