Why aren't they enrolling? Industry analyst Robert Laszewski crunched numbers and finds that for many, ObamaCare remains a pretty lousy deal. On his blog he notes, for example, that a family earning 253% of the poverty level would get an average of $3,534 in subsidies this year. But they'd still owe $4,934 in premiums for a Silver plan with a $2,700 deductible.
"How many families making $60,000 have an extra $4,934 in their budget for a policy that will likely pay them almost nothing?" If that family decides to pay the penalty, it would cost them a much lower $975, according to the Tax Policy Center.
They're taking their chances and deferring payment on the penalty. Most don't have the spare $975, never mind the five grand.