Trending News Today: Fewer Americans Paying Tax Penalty for Being Uninsured

A new survey found that 20% fewer Americans paid a tax penalty for being uninsured in 2015, compared with 2014. These 6.5 million Americans paid $3 million in fines in 2015, according to Kaiser Health News. Despite less individuals facing these fines, this provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is largely unpopular, and Republican lawmakers have vowed to repeal it.

President-elect Donald Trump recently told Congress that they must immediately repeal the ACA, and pass another law almost immediately. However, because the ACA took almost 2 years to pass, this may not become reality. Trump has said that waiting years to implement a replacement plan is unacceptable, and he urges lawmakers to work quickly, according to The New York Times.

Although the ACA repeal is imminent, 11.5 million individuals have enrolled in health plans sold on the marketplaces. There have been 290,000 more sign ups this year compared with the same time period last year, The New York Times reported. The amount of sign ups suggests that while many Americans may not completely support the law, they are still enrolling in health coverage.