FROM MY EMAIL: A comment supposedly posted on the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare Facebook page:

I actually made it through this morning at 8:00 A.M. I have a preexisting condition (Type 1 Diabetes) and my income base was 45K-55K annually I chose tier 2 "Silver Plan" and my monthly premiums came out to $597.00 with $13,988 yearly deductible!!!

There is NO POSSIBLE way that I can afford this so I "opt-out" and chose to continue along with no insurance. I received an email tonight at 5:00 P.M. informing me that my fine would be $4,037 and could be attached to my yearly income tax return.

Then you make it to the "REPERCUSSIONS PORTION" for "non-payment" of yearly fine. First, your drivers license will be suspended until paid, and if you go 24 consecutive months with "Non-Payment" and you happen to be a home owner, you will have a federal tax lien placed on your home. You can agree to give your bank information so that they can easy "Automatically withdraw" your "penalties" weekly, bi-weekly or monthly! This by no means is "Free" or even "Affordable".

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

Since it came by email and I don't have a Facebook account, there's no way I can verify the statement, except to say that the penalty appears correct ($96 or 1% of your income, whichever is greater).

I am suspicious of the 'repercussions', however. My understanding of the law is that the only step the government can take is to reduce your federal income tax refund by the amount of the penalty ... so that all you need do is to make sure you owe the government and not conversely. I do that as a matter of routine.