The White House's Office of Digital Strategy has recruited startups ZocDoc and Oscar Health to help drive signups on HealthCare.gov, according to a White House blog post.
Beginning Wednesday, ZocDoc, which helps book physician appointments, will begin reaching out to customers who have indicated they will pay cash for their appointments to encourage them to sign up for coverage via the HealthCare.gov portal before the Dec. 15 deadline. Oscar Health has created a video public service announcement that it will distribute to online markets in California, New York and Texas. The video promotes the insurance options offered through the government's website.
About half of the uninsured population eligible for insurance are between the ages of 18 and 34, according to HHS estimates. Recruiting two startups with mobile and online platforms utilized by young people may be an attempt to target this demographic.
"Both ZocDoc and Oscar Health are just two recent examples of how creative use of new technologies can help empower citizens with knowledge and opportunities to help address today's public policy challenges together," the blog post reads.