Del. ads tell young, healthy why they need insurance

Getting young, healthy people to sign up for insurance coverage helps keep prices low for the rest of us. That’s part of the thinking behind Delaware’s new media campaign.

It includes TV and radio spots and a little humor. In a series of vignettes, young people run into everyday ― and expensive ― mishaps.

One young man stubs his finger on the basketball court, another wipes out on his skateboard. After each scene, the health care cost flashes across the screen.

You might not see it in the TV version, but in the director’s cut, there’s even a vignette that suggests that health insurance comes in handy for STD testing after a romantic evening out.

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The ad ends with this call to action: “Accidents happen, so do huge medical bills. Find out how to get health insurance coverage by visiting choosehealthde.com.”

Aaron Smith, executive director of the national organization Young Invincibles, says Delaware’s ads smartly hammer home the “price” of living without insurance.

“Don’t try to sell young people on some fancy product,” Smith said. “It’s a financial decision.”

Smith likes the ads, but says TV is only a small part of what’s necessary.

“I think you need to be on the ground,” Smith said. “You need to talk to people face to face. Some of the best outreach I’ve seen is to parents, to moms in particular.”

Smith’s organization ― Young Invincibles ― will visit Philadelphia Saturday to teach nonprofit groups new ways to reach younger adults.

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