While viewers may not expect to get a sales pitch for Obamacare during next year’s NBA Finals, that could all change.
The Obama administration has contacted the National Basketball Association about forming a marketing partnership to promote the healthcare law, POLITICO reported. With the Jan. 1, 2014 implementation date drawing closer, the administration is trying to target healthy, young people and convince them to buy health insurance.
“You just can’t be a smoker and be obese or heavy … and be a basketball player, said Jon Kingsdale, who was appointed by former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) in 2006 to oversee the implementation of the state’s healthcare law. “These folks are kind of the picture of youth and health, and in some ways, that’s the target audience.”
Implementers of the Massachusetts law used the Boston Red Sox to market their message.
Massachusetts officials who passed a similar healthcare law under Romney have reportedly been in contact with the Obama administration.
While there are concerns surrounding whether or not young people will buy into the Affordable Care Act or opt out and accept the penalty, the Obama administration’s efforts to attract young people are obvious. If many young buyers opt to pay the fine associated with not purchasing healthcare, it lessens the pool of those subsidizing the care of others.
And NBA fans fit the key demographic the White House needs to but into the Affordable Care Act.
Americans will be able to start signing up for the subsidized insurance beginning Oct. 1 and conveniently, the NBA’s season will line up with the timeline for the law’s implementation. The league’s 2014 season is set to begin at the end of October and continue during the months before the law goes into effect.
The NBA has not offered any comment, and the possibility and scope of the partnership is still unknown.
Officials with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also did not offer comment on the proposed partnership.
“We are speaking with a wide range of potential partners and organizations about our efforts to inform Americans of the opportunity to enroll in quality, affordable coverage in the health insurance marketplaces,” an agency spokesman said.
