Correct - without the mandate [and the rest of the law remains in effect] , the insurance companies would NEVER gone along with it - otherwise, it is uneconomical and will bankrupt them ...
If the mandate is found unconstitutional - one of two things [or both] are gonna happen ...
1. The insurance companies are going to use their lobbying power to get Congress to repeal the provisions for covering people with pre-existing conditions, covering children up to age 26, etc.
2. The insurance companies are goig to jack rates to cover items in Item #1, above ...
I've been scratching my head since 2008 when the Obamacare onslaught began.
First of all, "forcing insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions transforms a centuries old business into something other than insurance. Premiums are based on math; probabilities and mortality tables rule the entire enterprise.
What the government is insisting on doing is melding welfare into insurance and calling the resulting abortion insurance.
The other provision, forcing insurance companies to cover "children" up to age 26 at no additional cost is another of Obama's twilight zone "WTF" moments.
But both glaring imbecile impossibilities are never discussed anywhere!