Don't get me wrong, I'm a strong believer in single payer health care (I'm from Sweden), but in the absence of that, whether you pay the money in taxes or directly to a private end party doesn't seem that different to me. (And the US Supreme Court apparently agrees, since the mandate was upheld as constitutional.)
If it is allowed it will not stop at health insurance. Business has too active a hand in the US government as it is. How much worse will it get when they start greasing the palms to make sure they too have a required audience?
Edit: (Forgot) Yes, the supreme court upheld it. That doesn't make it right, just constitutional. If an amendment to the constitution is required, then so be it.
Seriously, it has me considering moving to another country.
The torture, indefinite detention, universal surveillance, and permanent war were insufficient on their own? It took buying healthcare?
One can decide not to buy insurance, and instead pay a penalty. The Court ruled that this penalty is a permissible tax.