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Healthcare.gov sees traffic boost from Obama Between Two Ferns cameo Healthcare.gov sees traffic boost from Obama Between Two Ferns cameo
(6 months later)
Future generations of healthy Americans may one day look back and thank Zach Galifianakis.Future generations of healthy Americans may one day look back and thank Zach Galifianakis.
An interview of President Barack Obama by the comedian was watched online more than 11m times on Tuesday and appeared to drive significant traffic to healthcare.gov, the insurance portal.An interview of President Barack Obama by the comedian was watched online more than 11m times on Tuesday and appeared to drive significant traffic to healthcare.gov, the insurance portal.
Traffic to healthcare.gov jumped 40% on Tuesday, as the website racked up more than 890,000 visits total, a White House spokesperson said. Direct click-throughs from the Galifianakis interview, however, appeared to account for only a small portion of the added traffic. The click-throughs were tallied at 32,000 by 6pm Tuesday.Traffic to healthcare.gov jumped 40% on Tuesday, as the website racked up more than 890,000 visits total, a White House spokesperson said. Direct click-throughs from the Galifianakis interview, however, appeared to account for only a small portion of the added traffic. The click-throughs were tallied at 32,000 by 6pm Tuesday.
The White House is scrambling to increase health insurance enrollment numbers by the end of the month, when the open enrollment period for individual insurance purchased through the exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act closes.The White House is scrambling to increase health insurance enrollment numbers by the end of the month, when the open enrollment period for individual insurance purchased through the exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act closes.
On Tuesday, Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius said more than 4.2m people “have signed up for affordable plans through the Marketplace” in the last five months. That number was about two-thirds of the 7m goal Sebelius floated last year, a figure she has since de-floated.On Tuesday, Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius said more than 4.2m people “have signed up for affordable plans through the Marketplace” in the last five months. That number was about two-thirds of the 7m goal Sebelius floated last year, a figure she has since de-floated.
According to Comscore, healthcare.gov had 4.5m unique users in January – on par with The Ellen Degeneres Show website, or the Washington Times.According to Comscore, healthcare.gov had 4.5m unique users in January – on par with The Ellen Degeneres Show website, or the Washington Times.
Reporters challenged White House press secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday to defend the strategy of putting the president on Between Two Ferns, Galifianakis’ mock-cable-access comedy series.Reporters challenged White House press secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday to defend the strategy of putting the president on Between Two Ferns, Galifianakis’ mock-cable-access comedy series.
“You bring in Zach Galifianakis and all your problems are solved?” one reporter asked at Carney’s daily briefing.“You bring in Zach Galifianakis and all your problems are solved?” one reporter asked at Carney’s daily briefing.
“I didn’t say that,” Carney replied. “We’re involved in a multifaceted effort to reach communities out there of folks who can benefit from quality, affordable health insurance, can avail themselves of the options that they’ll find on healthcare.gov. And we’re looking for creative ways to do that. This was one of them.” “I didn’t say that,” Carney replied. “We’re involved in a multifaceted effort to reach communities out there of folks who can benefit from quality, affordable health insurance, can avail themselves of the options that they’ll find on healthcare.gov. And we’re looking for creative ways to do that. This was one of them.”