According to Politico and ABC News, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed it will launch a TV ad campaign during the upcoming Winter Olympics to take advantage of the increased viewership on NBC stations. The Obamacare ads are expected to run between Feb. 7th and 23rd. More than 34 million Americans tuned into the London Olympics in 2012, and the total number of viewers for the 2014 Sochi Games should at least approach that total.
Unofficial comments from HHS official about Obamacare ads
ABC News spoke to an HHS official who provided further details on the planned Olympics ad blitz. According to the official, the ads will be running in several markets with the high rates of uninsurance, but refused to identify specific locations where ads will be seen or the amount budgeted to be spent on the ads.
The official did elaborate that the ads are designed encourage uninsured individuals, especially young adults, to enroll in Obamacare coverage before the sign up deadline at the end of March. It was also mentioned that some of the ads are educational spots designed to inform consumers about the new insurance benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act.
HHS statement
HHS released a statement regarding their outreach and marketing efforts a few weeks ago. “We are ramping up education and outreach efforts to drive enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace as part of a sustained, aggressive campaign for the duration of open enrollment,” said HHS spokeswoman Joanne Peters. “HHS is using a mix of grassroots activities and stakeholder engagement to raise awareness, as well as targeted television, radio, and digital advertising with an emphasis on reaching young and healthy audiences in particular.”
