 [ Symptoms ] what if i do not buy health insurance can not i just pay the penalty and sign up for insurance if i need it [ Disease ] people who choose not to buy health insurance will be charged a penalty of just 95 or 1 of their annual income whichever is higher in 2014 that penalty grows over time a big concern is that in order to save money people will decide to pay the penalty instead of purchasing coverage and simply wait until they become sick to sign onto a health plan if that is your plan you may want to reconsider open enrollment periods will be set up to discourage people from doing this in year one for example in most states you will be able to buy insurance through your state is new marketplace beginning october 1 2013 through march 31 2014 if you do not sign up for insurance you will be locked out of the market until the following year if you become sick during that time you will be left to pay for your medical care on your own