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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Maryland Health Exchange Is Spending $446,800 On Social Media. Here's What That Pays For

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange plans to spend close to $450,000 to interact with Maryland residents through social media.

All eyes are on the exchange as it prepares to launch its overhauled online insurance marketplace for open enrollment season Nov. 15. The exchange experienced significant technical problems last year that left users frustrated. Social media could play a crucial role in building up a conversation and buzz around open enrollment season.

A $446,800 social media contract with the exchange's marketing contractor, Weber Shandwick, will focus on publishing lots of content — in English and Spanish — that helps residents understand their insurance options and create an online community of happy enrollees. Social media will be an extension of the exchange's customer service, where residents can get answers to pressing questions about the enrollment process.

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Yet another erroneous waste of tax payer funds to promote private enterprise. If you do the math, yes MATH and calculate the sum of dollars spent on the Maryland health exchange before we even consider advertising expenses to pound citizens with useless insurance that costs more than it returns in benefits. The grand total would have been enough to pay for the average annual health expenses of every Marylander for not one, not two years but possibly decades. My question is who is benefiting from the promotion of this private enterprise by the taxpayers? To find this answer like many others we the people would need to follow the money and see who's pockets are being lined. Open your eyes and see that paying for an annual service at a "low rate" is not always what it seems as many people who are enrolled are now outraged with 1. A very high deductible that often is four to five times the annual cost of coverage and 2. Have very little to no choice as to who'm they are treated by.