U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday said that she is "in talks with the NFL to help promote new insurance options" under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, according to Sam Baker of THEHILL.com. Sebelius said the NFL has been "very actively and enthusiastically engaged" in discussions about a partnership to encourage people to enroll in newly available insurance plans. She added HHS is "having active discussions right now with a variety of sports affiliates" about both paid advertising and partnerships to encourage enrollment. Baker noted HHS also is reportedly "in talks with the NBA to promote the law." Partnerships with sports organizations are "especially promising to HHS because the department hopes large numbers of young, healthy men will enroll in the law's new coverage options" (THEHILL.com, 6/24). REUTERS' David Morgan reported the campaign is "expected to target 2.7 million younger consumers between the ages of 18 to 35, mostly male and non-white, whose participation in new online health insurance exchanges is vital to the success" of the program (REUTERS, 6/24).
