According to a Los Angeles Times report, the White House is doing the best it can to increase signups under US President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. With the help of the Obama administration's allied groups in key US states, Vice President Joe Biden's appearance on "The Rachel Ray Show," and the combined power of celebrities and Twitter, the White House is pulling all the stops to ensure Obamacare's success.
Obama's endorsement from several celebrities including John Legend, Kerry Washington, Connie Britton, Zooey Deschanel and Sarah Silverman help drove the importance of getting covered under the healthcare law. Obama and the First Lady, Michele, also went on television show tour, appearing in "Live With Ryan Seacrest" and Univision's "Locura Deportiva" ("Sports Madness") to encourage the younger demographic to get covered. The Obama administration also understood the marketing concept of a viral video, as Obama's best media appearance to date was an interview with "The Hangover" film series comedian Zach Galifianakis for Funny or Die's "Between Two Ferns." Government officials have said that Obama's funny interview rack up 23 million views and counting for the federal site. The government's healthcare law ads also featured sports stars like former NBA star Magic Johnson and the Miami Heat's LeBron James.
The LA Times said Obama's decision to shift its focus to the young adults seemed to have paid off, with about 54% of young adults under the age of 40 in the ABC/Washington Post survey said they approved of the new healthcare law, as compared to the 38% the Affordable Care Act garnered in November of last year.
On the other hand, Biden has hinted that the government might extend its March 31 deadline to accommodate those who are leaning to change their mind about the healthcare law. Comparing the government's efforts of convincing people to enroll into Obamacare to that of romancing his wife, Biden told Rachel Ray, "I think everyone is going to be really surprised and pleased how well this has turned out."
