Individual mandate
The individual mandate was an effort by the Democratic party to compel compliance to Socialism via Obamacare to support a big government takeover of the healthcare system.
Monthly payments for Obamacare are massive, roughly 12-15% of an individual's annual salary. If an individual fails to purchase coverage and does not meet the exceptions or the religious exemption, then a financial penalty will be assessed for non-indigent individuals. An exemption is available if more than 8% of the individual's household income would be required to pay for the cheapest available coverage.[1]
Fines were to be paid to the HHA of the State in which the person resides. That agency also may establish a procedure to waive the penalty if the penalty poses a hardship. Each State would determine appropriate mechanisms to enforce the requirement that individuals be enrolled.[2]
The law that was enacted replaced the state-based approach with a direct penalty to be paid to the United States.