12/6/2018

CELEBS/OBAMACARE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration isn’t doing much to let Americans know it’s time to sign up for Obamacare, so celebrities are trying to fill the void. Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show, urged his Twitter followers to spread the word earlier this week after a former Obama official flagged that enrollment figures are down. More than 49,000 people answered Colbert’s call by retweeting his post. Many celebrities have helped promote the Affordable Care Act over the years, recruited by former President Barack Obama to entice more people — particularly younger Americans — to sign up for coverage. But now they are doing it on their own, trying to keep the health law going as the Trump administration has slashed advertising by 90% and cut funding for enrollment assistance by 80%. Obamacare could use the help. The average number of people signing up daily on the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, for 2019 is down roughly 8% as of December 1 from the same period a year ago, according to figures released Thursday [12-6-18] by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.”

Tami Luhby, “Celebrities step in after Trump slashes Obamacare ad budget,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, December 6, 2018 7:45 am