People near the poverty line got Medicaid for free, while those making more—up to about $100,000 for a family of four—got subsidies to lower the price of private health plans.

Somehow a lot of people miss this part, a lot of RED states refused to pay for this program after the federal funding ran out so they never implemented it, to begin with. This year the plans were starting at $800 with a minimum $10k deductible with a clause that you paid 50% for prescriptions and they paid 50%. I'd have to sell a kidney to pay for the deductible. The penalty is just all around cheaper right now than having insurance especially since it's going away.