But yes, the numbers of those who do/did are lessened by the government provisions you mentioned.

The problem is that the system can't continue as it was, the costs for providing for those without insurance were driving up the costs for those with insurance to an unmanageable point.

A bubble would eventually burst.

Whistling past the graveyard won't work.

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"The problem is that the system can't continue as it was, the costs for providing for those without insurance were driving up the costs for those with insurance to an unmanageable point"

Have you seen the likely premium changes for the ACA plans? This is exactly what's happening post-ACA. As Chemo has eloquently and thoroughly pointed out, the only real beneficiaries of the ACA are insurers and healthcare companies. They've managed to create legal monopolies for the price of some lobbying, with an actual decline in the quality and volume they have to provide. 

I love how Big Evil Corporations are cast solely the domain of the GOP when the Democrats have done a superior job of consolidating corporate power in health care, while couching in terms of helping the poor. Brilliant marketing, that.