When given the choice between paying a $173/month fine (at most) or buying a health plan for around $173/month (it varies widely by state), most people would choose the health plan.

The fine is based off a national average of bronze plan costs. If all 50 states had implemented medicaid expansion as was expected, the fine would be even lower.

States that allow nearly all poor adults to enroll in their Medicaid health coverage programs saw prices on Obamacare private insurance marketplaces about 7 percent lower than states that haven't expanded Medicaid eligibility, the federal government said Thursday.source