Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says President Barack Obama's appearance on Between Two Ferns caused a "bump" in healthcare enrollment.
The Obama administration has been campaigning to encourage young, uninsured Americans to sign up for healthcare in order to offset the cost of older enrollees and make the president's signature legislation sustainable. One strategy to engage youth was Obama's appearance on the satirical interview show Between Two Ferns hosted by comedian Zach Galifianakis.
The president took some heat from Republicans over his appearance on the show, but according to Sebelius an increase in healthcare.gov traffic was evidence that it worked.
"We definitely saw the Galifianakis bump. The website traffic surged once the Between Two Ferns interview went on but more importantly what we're trying to do is reach people in the language that they most understand. Certainly Zach reaches a certain audience. We've had Lebron James talking to sports fans during March Madness and Kevin Durant and other echoing that."
Sebelius and the federal health exchange website have both come under fire after the healthcare.gov crashed during the first day of enrollment and continued to have problems. That doesn't discourage Sebelius. She also said "I'm in," for the next phase of the Affordable Care Act.
[HuffPost Live]
