Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is around the corner, and this week the Obama administration and advocacy groups are ratcheting up efforts to sell the program to young, healthy Americans. The White House is reportedly courting the NBA for a marketing campaign; the president’s former campaign arm, now called Organizing for Action, released a new TV spot as part of a seven-figure campaign push; and the nonprofit Enroll America held 50 events around the country on Tuesday.
Individuals can begin enrolling in health care exchanges on October 1st, and as Politico’s Jennifer Haberkorn explains, ensuring the pool is not dominated by people who are older or very sick is crucial to the program’s success.
In the meantime, other nonprofits are filling in the gaps. Joy Reid, who sat in for Alex Wagner Wednesday on NOW, spoke with the medical director of an upcoming free health clinic in New Orleans. Dr. Whitfield told Joy that the first time he organized a clinic in New Orleans, he saw patients “who hadn’t seen a doctor in over five years.”
The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics is teaming up with with msnbc’s Reverend Al Sharpton to host the clinic on July 3rd.
Watch Joy’s full conversation with Dr. Whitfield and the NOW panel above.
Joshua Chaffee