Forced To Have Health Insurance

I heard the strangest radio commercial the other day. In the state of Massachusetts it is against the law to NOT have individual health insurance! The consequence for not having it is a tax penalty. Now I has really had time listening to it seeing as my son was chatting up a storm but I found it quite odd that people would be forced to have it. I hope I heard that incorrectly or that it is some sort of radio joke or promo, I mean yeah everyone should have health insurance but I thought this was a free country! Geez, what was I thinking. Best of luck to all of you in Massachusetts with that new law.