Did you sign up for Obamacare? If not, it wasn’t because it was uncool, right?
The administration and its partner advocacy groups focused their marketing efforts heavily on young people — though because the law allows kids to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26, it shifts the definition of “young people” to 26-year-olds. Keep that in mind as you recall these nine ways Team Obama tried desperately to break onto the 20-somethings’ radar.
Adam Levine (Credit: Rick Davis/Splash News/Newscom)
1. The Sexiest Man Alive
Pop singer and “The Voice” coach Adam Levine, who was crowned People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” last year, helped launch a social media campaign to promote Obamacare.
2. Singing Animals
Pets care about you, too. That was the theme of this video where dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and a turtle sang a song about getting covered.
3. “Bros” and “Hos”
A controversial ad campaign depicted young men as primarily interested in keg stands, while young women were interested in getting birth control to hook up with guys.
4. Celebrities of All Types
Kids like sports stars, right? That’s why the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and a number of pro athletes were promoting Obamacare. Oh, and aging boy band singers and actors galore.
5. Catchy Internet Websites!
Young people like sharing gifs — those animated photos — on sites like tumblr and BuzzFeed. So the White House put a bunch of gifs, including a “twerking” girl and multiple cats, on the White House website and served up Vice President Joe Biden on BuzzFeed.
From GamePlan4Me.com
6. Scary Diseases and Other Things That Might Happen to You
Wondering what happens if you don’t sign up? The GamePlan4Me site has a fun game for that. Spin the wheel and “See what happens when you take a chance without health care.”
TOUCHSTONE TELEVISION/Newscom
7. As Seen on TV
Nothing like seeing the characters in your favorite show talking about getting health insurance to make it cool.
Walter Bibikow / DanitaDelimont.com Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom
8. Booze
Alcohol: It makes conversation — including, apparently, about your health care — easier. So pub crawls and bourbon festivals might have been the answer.
9. Mom Guilt
If nothing else works, then how about if your mom just nags you to death? This was a very real marketing tactic. Moms of celebrities recorded a video, and one state encouraged moms to get on dating sites and bug their adult children.