What can happen to individuals who do not enroll in a health insurance plan during the specified timeframe?

Individuals who do not enroll in a health insurance plan during the specified enrollment period may face a tax penalty. This penalty is often referred to as the "individual mandate" penalty, which was originally part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The mandate required most Americans to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty when filing their federal income tax return.

It's important to note that while there may be changes to this requirement over time and specific conditions where the penalty may not apply (like in certain states or with specific exemptions), the fundamental principle under the ACA was aimed at encouraging individuals to maintain continuous health coverage to avoid gaps in care and financial protection against medical expenses.

The other choices discuss different aspects of health insurance coverage, such as losing existing coverage or potential future coverage issues, but they do not directly relate to the specific consequences of failing to enroll during the designated period in the way that the tax penalty does.