Well, this is what usually happens if a health care reform law with a mandate is implemented ...
Would be shocking if the rate did not fall.
Again, the penalty for not buying insurance is an extra 1% in income taxes, MUCH lower than the typical insurance premium. The Individual Mandate is responsible for virtually none of the drop the uninsured rate -- the people who were intentionally uninsured already aren't going to change their minds now with this low of a penalty.
The reason the uninsured rate dropped is the subsidized Exchanges, the ban of pre-existing condition discrimination, and allowing people to stay on their parent's insurance until they're 26. It has nothing to do with the Individual Mandate.
Also, Medicaid expansion. I'd take these exact figures with a grain of salt though.The ability of the public to answer a question like this correctly is is a higher bar than some of you may realize.
