Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Administration's 2015 Enrollment Outreach: Shorter, More Targeted, Lower Key
Three months before the debut of Healthcare.gov last year, Hollywood celebrities huddled with President Obama at the White House over their plans to urge Americans to buy health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The president took to late-night television himself to spread the word. And on the eve of the launch, an op-ed by the nation鈥檚 top health official appeared in major newspapers across the country, proclaiming that 鈥渂etter options for better health are just a click .鈥.鈥. away.鈥 But now, as the second sign-up time arrives this weekend for Americans to buy health coverage through the law鈥檚 insurance marketplaces, the administration鈥檚 high-wattage 2013 sales campaign has given way to a 2014 strategy that is shorter, more targeted and lower-key. (Goldstein, 11/13)
Facing high political stakes and re-energized opposition, the White House is tweaking its strategy for year two of the health law鈥檚 insurance enrollment after last year鈥檚 problem-plagued launch. President Barack Obama , who appeared alongside celebrities with youth appeal during the first enrollment push, won鈥檛 be in the U.S. when the insurance exchanges reopen Saturday, though he will speak about the Affordable Care Act in his weekly radio address that morning. Top administration officials plan to fan out for an appeal that relies on customer testimonial and uses a smaller marketing budget. (McCain Nelson, 11/13)