Washington Healthplanfinder today announced the launch of its statewide advertising and outreach campaign to encourage Washington residents to sign up or renew their health insurance plan at wahealthplanfinder.org. The second open enrollment period for Qualified Health Plans runs from Nov. 15, to Feb. 15, 2014.

The integrated campaign, which kicked off prior to the start of open enrollment, includes TV, radio, digital, print and out-of-home advertising, as well as grassroots activities, innovative partnerships and social media outreach.

“It’s critical that we are more targeted with our outreach strategies this year to ensure we are reaching and convincing the state’s remaining uninsured, as well as our current customers, to check out their options,” said Michael Marchand, Director of Communications for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “Our advertising messages were consumer-tested and focus on the cost of going without health coverage, the availability of free in-person help and low-cost health plans.”

The new television ads, which will launch on Dec. 1 in all major media markets across the state, will use the theme of “It’s About Time You Got Health Insurance” and depict the lengths people will go to avoid huge medical bills. In the ads, one character tries to diagnose and fix his broken ankle with office supplies while another character treats her off-putting rash with cream cheese and internet research.

Washington Healthplanfinder has also launched a partnership with Spanish-language television station Univision that will feature news interviews and public service announcements to highlight free in-person help and local community enrollment events.

“One of our goals this year is to further drive awareness of the opportunity to enroll in low-cost and free health plans among our harder-to-reach populations across the state,” said Marchand. “We’re thrilled to work with Univision to share these critical messages with their audience and promote local opportunities to enroll in health coverage.”

To view the new advertising campaign, please click here: https://wahbexchange.org/news-resources/press-room/ad-campaign-nov-2014-feb-2015

Reminders: Residents must select and pay for a Qualified Health Plan by Dec. 23, 2014 at 5 p.m. for coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2015. Enrollment in Washington Healthplanfinder Business and Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) is year-round. Apple Health customers will receive a notice 60 days before the month they enrolled in or renewed their coverage last year.

Residents who are interested in signing up or renewing their Qualified Health Plan may visitwahealthplanfinder.org.