Will Poor People Have To Buy Health Insurance? 
The new health care legislation requires everyone to obtain health insurance , but not everyone will pay for health insurance . Starting in 2014 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or Obamacare requires every American to have health care . You may not have to pay for health care in you economically demonstrate you can not pay by means testing . If you elect not to pay for health care , and by means testing can pay , youll be assessed a penalty at the time of filing your taxes . 