The Connector is out with a series of new ads it hopes will convince Mass residents who don’t have health insurance to sign up. You can see the print ad here and listen to the radio ad here.
The Connector is trying to boost pressure to enroll by stressing the costs of remaining uninsured. The state is spending roughly a million dollars this Spring to place these ads in papers, on the radio and on buses.
Persuasive?
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The print ad informs me of the potential costs of medical treatments, but does not persuade me to purchase insurance via the Connector. In the case of the most likely treatment to arise from the accident depicted (broken arm), the cost quoted for treatment plus tax penalties is still cheaper than paying a year’s worth of Commonwealth Choice premiums and then paying the deductible. If people are not signing up for insurance because they can’t afford the premiums, then this ad may make them feel more powerless to do anything about their lack of health insurance–and get them to again be thankful that nothing bad has happened to them.
Let’s see, scare tactics and extortion threats… These ought to be about as effective as the Surgeon General’s warning that appears on every pack of cigarettes. Your healthcare dollars at work.
Does anyone know the cost to taxpayers for these ads?
Hi Beth – this ad “buy” is costing the state 1 million. Are you looking for another number?
Martha Bebinger
Thank you kindly for your answer, Martha.
We know that the Connector will pay MassHealth $5,298,548. to use their billing and administrative services. We know that outreach grants amount to $3,500,000. We know that the Connector administrative salaries for 43 employees amount to $4,345,274. We know that there was a $4,000,000. budget for PR and marketing last year. These costs alone amount to $17,143,822. That could be heck of a lot of doctor visits!
I’m sure that that’s just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to the cost of the Connector’s operations.
Do you know where a citizen can see an accurate and detailed breakdown of the Connector’s entire FY2006, 2007 and 2008 budgets?
Thank you in advance for your attention.
Beth