WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - U.S. budget experts on
Wednesday raised their forecast of how many Americans will
probably have to pay a penalty in 2016 for not buying health
insurance to 6 million from 4 million.
The increase was likely to be attacked by Republicans who
want to repeal President Barack Obama's signature healthcare
law, a major issue in the presidential election campaign.
The Congressional Budget Office said changing economic
forecasts and legislative changes prompted the big jump in its
estimate of people who could face a penalty for not having
health insurance under Obama's Affordable Care Act of 2010.
Under the law, upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court
earlier this year, individuals must acquire health insurance,
but those who can't afford to pay for it will have access to
government programs and exchanges.
The penalty for not having health insurance is graduated and
rises to $695 in 2016, or 2.5 percent of household income.
The government is expected to collect between $7 billion and
$8 billion from the tax, according to the CBO.