Comedy may help Obama administration connect with young uninsured

The Obama administration plans to use viral comedy videos to get young Americans to sign up for health insurance exchanges, Reuters reported. The Funny or Die website, popular with Americans under 30, already is working on several videos featuring celebrities that will promote healthcare reform.

"I think you can kind of have fun with some of the misinformation that's out there," Funny or Die President of Production Mike Farah told Reuters.

On Monday, Farah joined comedian Amy Poehler, actor Jennifer Hudson and representatives for Oprah Winfrey and Alicia Keys to talk with senior Obama administration officials about using pop culture in healthcare reform promotions, the article noted.

"The President stopped by the meeting to engage artists who expressed an interest in helping to educate the public about the benefits of the health law," a White House official said, reported The Hill's Healthwatch. "The reach of these national stars spreads beyond the beltway to fans of their television shows, movies, and music--and the power of these artists to speak through social media is especially critical."

The meeting is part of a larger outreach effort by the federal government to Hollywood A-listers and professional sports leagues for help reaching young people.

By incorporating comedy, pop culture and sports into healthcare reform advertising campaigns, the administration hopes to enroll nearly 3 million uninsured healthy adults, Healthwatch noted.

But not all of its efforts have produced success. Although U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the NFL was "enthusiastically engaged," ads supporting health exchanges won't feature any football players.

For more:
- here's the Reuters article
- read the Healthwatch article