ads in the metro re health insurance

[veganwitch]

when i went to work yesterday, i noticed something really strange. all the metro ads were change to blue cross/blue shield insurance talking about the federal employees program. actually it doesnt really talk about the program. it just has some feel good pictures - a grandparent, a kid in a little league uniform, a bride, a man standing in front of a classic car etc.

and im really annoyed by it. one) to put up these signs (and blue cross bought all the spot in metro center and ive seen them at my stop as well) in a city that has a high number of people without health insurance is obscene. two) whats the point of advertising a federal employees plan when not everyone in dc is a federal employee. (unless somehow you would be able to "buy into" the federal employee program and then it comes down to actually being able to afford it). three) it rubs salt in the wounds of every citizen in dc that does not have health insurance.

[papau]

1. Fed EE's must chose their carrier for health ins for the next year

So BC/BS is just trying to get a few more signed up.

[veganwitch]

2. i see... so thats really disgusting

its like dangling food over starving people.

no wonder premiums are through the roof. theyve got to advertise!!! honestly, there are about 20-30 placards in metro center and all are the bc/bs.

[depakid]

3. A lot of the insurers & HMO's advertise that way

"Cozy" family scenes, feel good colors. All safe & warm. Little mention of sky high premiums, deductibles, co pays, etc. They advertise in commuter venues because that's where they're going to reach people (in a captive audience) who have jobs and whose employers may offer more than one plan-

That's just good old American marketing for you... no worse than the "snakeoil" ads of the 19th & early 20th Centuries.

[liberalhistorian]

5. Maybe they should try showing pictures of

families who've lost mothers/fathers/children because of the fucking HMO's denying needed care and medicines (especially if they have cancer or another terminal illness), for no other reason than that they have to pay their CEO his gazillion dollar bonus so he can lay off other employees who then won't have insurance of their own. Or maybe they should try showing pictures of people dying because they've been denied necessary care and treatment because the fucking *$&%#(*%)*(#^&YU)(*)(@#**Y*U$@(#*$(&U(*$(!@#%*#$%U&@)(*@)( useless HMO has to think of the bottom line, that is, making sure the CEO and the top executives have their gazillion dollar salaries and bonuses and all of the health care THEY and THEIR families need.

Nah, that wouldn't be quite warm and fuzzy enough for them, would it? Wouldn't want reality to intrude on a nice fantasy advertising campaign.

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

4. Not only that....

Maybe BC/BS is not paying that much for the ads. They could be getting them for cheap, or even for free.

I understand that Metro is cutting back on no-charge PSA's in general from nonprofits and the like in favor of ads/PSA's sponsored by government organizations. There waas something in the McPaper the Post distributes at Metro stops.

BC/BS is not a Government organization, but this could be a way for them to make an end run around the new rules.