[mhalle]

> After thrusting much of the health system firmly under government control,

Everyone outside of Medicare is in private insurance, which is regulated but not "firmly under government control".

> raising costs substantially,

While there is debate about whether the ACA has slowed the rate of healthcare inflation in its short life, there is no evidence that it has "raised costs substantially" across the system.

> literally fining people for being unable to afford more expensive plans

Fining people for choosing not to pay for health care if they are able. Everyone needs health care, most everyone gets (possibly lacking) healthcare when they need it, and it costs money.

The previous solution, brought to you by Ronald Reagan, was the mandate that hospital emergency rooms couldn't turn people away who needed help. A humane concept, but poor social or economic policy for addressing the healthcare system in the large.