Covered Calif. Turns to Social Media, Word-of-Mouth Marketing
As Covered California officials tour the state to promote the state health insurance exchange's second open enrollment period, they are highlighting a campaign that urges state residents who have enrolled in health coverage to encourage their friends and family members to obtain insurance, the Merced Sun-Star reports.
The exchange's second open enrollment period begins on Saturday and will run through Feb. 15, 2015 (Ibarra, Merced Sun-Star, 11/11).
Background on Bus Tour
On Monday, Covered California kicked off a nine-day bus tour. Officials said they hope to make more than 20 stops across the state to spread the word about open enrollment and help people with enrollment (California Healthline, 11/10).
Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee was among those on the bus, which took off from the Capitol steps in Sacramento (Gorn, California Healthline, 11/7).
Covered California's bus tour is part of a $95 million community outreach campaign supported by federal funding (California Healthline, 11/10).
Details of Campaign
The "I'm In" statewide marketing campaign aims to reach uninsured individuals through word-of-mouth and social media (Merced Sun-Star, 11/11).
The campaign features profiles of Californians who have obtained health coverage explaining how it has benefited them or their families. The exchange also has created "I'm In" badges in both English and Spanish that individuals can upload onto their Facebook pages (Covered California release, 11/10).
Lee said, "In communities of all sizes in our state, we will share the stories of real people who have benefited from the care and coverage they have obtained and encourage those without insurance to get covered" (Zimmerman, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 11/11).
Lee added, "We want all Californians to be able to say 'I'm In,' no matter where they get their health insurance. As we travel the state we are asking ALL Californians to be part of making history -- by saying 'I'm In' and taking a step to get the word out" (Covered California release, 11/10).
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