Former President Barack Obama on Monday urged people to enroll in coverage through his healthcare law with just five days left to go before the signup period ends.
“No jump shots. No ferns. No memes,” Obama tweeted Monday morning, referring to other appearances he’d made endorsing Obamacare as president. “Not this time. I’m going to give it to you straight: If you need health insurance for 2019, the deadline to get covered is December 15. Go to healthcare.gov today and pass this on — you just might save a life.”
No jump shots. No ferns. No memes. Not this time. I’m going to give it to you straight: If you need health insurance for 2019, the deadline to get covered is December 15. Go to https://t.co/ob1Ynoesod today and pass this on — you just might save a life. pic.twitter.com/8mHMsXGY0g
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 10, 2018
Obama’s message comes as enrollment is lagging behind. The former president had made a similar video in 2017 after leaving office with the group Get America Covered, which was founded by former members of his administration and is working to raise awareness about enrollment.
In a video accompanying the tweet, Obama reflected on publicity he participated in as president to encourage people to sign up for coverage. One year he appeared on the show “Between Two Ferns” with Zach Galifianakis, another year he made a video for BuzzFeed in which he was taking selfies and making faces in the mirror.
Obama said he didn’t need to resort to such tactics this year to get the attention of young people.
“This year is different,” he said. “Young people have stepped up like never before, on campuses, at the voting booth, and at the doors of power.”
The video ends with a pair of digital sunglasses being placed onto his face.
In the tape, Obama repeated a line he used often as president notifying consumers that their premiums may cost less than a cellphone bill. That is the case for people who get subsidies from the federal government, who are making less than roughly $48,560 a year for an individual and $100,400 for a family of four. Individuals who fall outside of that threshold, which is written into law, face higher prices.
It’s possible enrollment is behind because this particular group of people is choosing to purchase health insurance directly through an insurer instead of on the healthcare.gov website.
In his video, Obama did not, as some Democrats have, accuse the Trump administration of working to undermine the law.
The Trump administration reduced spending on advertising the law, and cut funding for navigators, which are nonprofit groups that help people enroll in coverage. The administration also has opened the door to people buying plans outside of Obamacare’s rules and Republicans in Congress zeroed out the penalty on the uninsured, which could affect people’s decision to buy coverage.
The enrollment deadline is Saturday, and newer enrollment figures are expected from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday.
