1 Since 2015 was the first year to enforce fines for being uninsured in 2014, what percentage of the population do you think were uninsured at the beginning of the year because

(a) they did not realize they would be held personally accountable for their ignorance regarding the fine versus

(b) they knew of the law and the resulting fine yet refused to become insured?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA)—also known as Obamacare—requires most Americans to have insurance by February 15 or pay a fine at tax time. For 2015, the Obama administration extended the deadline to April 30, which is the end of the tax season, to allow people who discover they would owe a fine to still sign up for coverage.
The Wall Street Journal in March 2015 reported that many uninsured people are choosing the penalty over the opportunity to enroll in a health care insurance plan.
Choosing to go without health insurance puts your assets at risk. If you consider yourself healthy, you can select a plan with low premiums. You will have higher out-of-pocket costs at the time of care than with more expensive plans, but you will be protected against an acute episode of costly care, which otherwise could drive you to bankruptcy.