Which Minnesota celebrity might help the state publicize its new health insurance exchange?
And what could state officials put on a stick to get State Fair attendees to think about buying health insurance coverage through the new marketplace?
Those were two of the unanswered questions Wednesday as state officials described some of their plans for spending about $9 million on a marketing campaign to publicize MNsure, Minnesota's health insurance exchange.
The sum includes spending $1.5 million to produce mass media ads and another $3.5 million to run them on television and radio stations and in newspapers and magazines.
Minnesota's publicity campaign for its exchange will be launched in late August and will include outreach through social media, said April Todd-Malmlov, the executive director of MNsure. Todd-Malmlov would not say exactly what the campaign might look like because the state is seeking permission to keep creative materials confidential for now.
"Releasing that early could impact the success of the campaign in bringing in enrollment," she said in a Wednesday interview during a MNsure board of directors meeting in St. Paul.
"Other states have started their marketing campaigns much earlier, so they've released their TV ads," she said. "For strategic reasons, we've decided to start our mass media campaign towards the later part of August."
Minnesota's exchange is meant to be an online marketplace where individuals and small businesses can start shopping in October for health insurance coverage that begins Jan. 1.
The federal health care overhaul legislation from 2010 calls for the creation of state-level exchanges where many individuals will be able to obtain subsidies when buying health insurance. The law also mandates that individuals either have coverage next year or pay a tax penalty, so the exchanges are meant to be a resource for people who've lacked insurance to obtain coverage.
It's possible that the Minnesota marketing campaign will feature some local celebrities, Todd-Malmlov said during the board meeting, though she wouldn't say who is being considered. MNsure is planning significant outreach efforts at the State Fair, she said, but wouldn't offer specifics.
"There are conversations about what it is that we can put on a stick," she said, referring to the wide variety of food products sold on sticks during the State Fair.
Money for the marketing campaign comes from federal grants the state has received to establish Minnesota's health exchange. Overall, the federal government has provided $110 million for the state's program.
More than 1 million people are expected to obtain coverage through MNsure, including many who receive health insurance through the state's public health insurance programs. Although the state is creating the exchange, the products sold in the new marketplace will come from private health insurance companies.
On Oct. 1, MNsure will launch a website where consumers can comparison shop for insurance plans. People will also be able to obtain coverage through MNsure by phoning a call center.
Christopher Snowbeck can be reached at 651-228-5479. Follow him at www.twitter.com/chrissnowbeck and facebook.com/PioneerPressPolitics.
Source: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_23720664/minnesota-insurance-exchange-get-marketing-update
4/20 boston Cnn Live Logan airport Miranda rights Police Scanner boston herald
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন