FatUglyZittyGirl wrote:
I would go into debt. But shouldn't that be my choice? And that's not the reason that I must be insured, as olphelia stated. It's for the community. By paying I will be helping those who can't afford insurance get it subsidised. Life is expensive enough and I don't qualify for any assistance so therefore I will have to pay full. I'm in that middle class sect that gets screwed.
Or, you'd end up declaring medical bankruptcy like millions of Americans and passing the cost of your care onto others.

it's just like automobile insurance.  Uninsured people drive up the costs for everyone else, so there has to be a penalty for those that refuse to get insured.  You are also welcome to not get insurance and pay the relatively small fine instead.