The mandate directing individuals to obtain health insurance or face tax penalties ended last week for most, but not all, Americans. In Massachusetts, an individual mandate that has been on the books since 2006 will continue in the absence of the federal fines that were eliminated as part of the Republican-backed tax reform law passed in 2017. Most residents of New Jersey and the District of Columbia must also be covered or incur fines in 2019 after lawmakers, fearing widespread disruption in health insurance markets and sharply higher premiums, enacted laws replacing the federal mandate. (Bob Salsberg, Associated Press)