as for just waiting til one gets sick:
http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/09/news...l?iid=obinsite
Americans can only sign up for coverage and subsidies on the exchanges during a specified enrollment period. For 2014, it runs through March 31.
If a person misses that deadline, they can still get health insurance next year, though they won't be eligible for an exchange policy or a subsidy.
so...if you wait til you get sick, you can still get insurance. without help paying for it.
i'd recommend that just like i'd recommend trying to buy house insurance when a storm is bearing down. good luck with that.