The Supreme Court declared the health law's individual mandate constitutional. At the same time, it also said the law's fine for not carrying coverage a tax rather than a penalty could lower compliance. The point of the individual mandate is to encourage people to buy insurance, ensuring those who are both sick and healthy enroll—and help balance out each others' costs. There is still space for the health law's supporters and opponents to frame the messaging around the individual mandate and what, exactly, the fine is.