THAT MEANS IT’S WORKING: ObamaCare Individual Mandate Fine Hit 8 Million People This Year

Despite the controversy and high-stakes legal battle that has surrounded the individual mandate, the scope of the penalties paid this year has gone unreported by major news outlets as attention has focused on ObamaCare’s latest and most glaring problems: weak enrollment, surging premiums, and insurer losses that have provoked the exit of UnitedHealth (UNH), Aetna (AET) and Humana (HUM) from most state exchanges.

Yet ObamaCare’s mounting problems should only serve to intensify questions about the wisdom and fairness of the individual mandate. The root of all of those ObamaCare problems is that far too many people — even those eligible for big subsidies — see the plans as either unaffordable or such a bad deal that they’re willing to risk paying a fine.

I had been assured that the individual mandate’s fine tax would encourage enough Young Invincibles to buy insurance and keep the exchanges solvent.