http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004208Your Tax Dollars at Work:
"Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and the disabled, is spending $600,000 this year to have a blimp fly at sporting events, including Saturday's Tennessee-Alabama college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.," the Associated Press reports from Washington. "The blimp is part of a $30 million advertising campaign in 2003 to make the program better known to its 40 million participants."
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20031022/D7UBG3D00.html
Medicare Using Blimp in Ad Campaign
Oct 22, 6:16 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Finally, proof that government is full of hot air, or at least helium.
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and the disabled, is spending $600,000 this year to have a blimp fly at sporting events, including Saturday's Tennessee-Alabama college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The blimp is part of a $30 million advertising campaign in 2003 to make the program better known to its 40 million participants.
The white blimp bears a likeness of the American flag and blue lettering advertising 1-800-Medicare, the telephone number the public can call with questions about benefits.
The ad campaign is needed because "the average senior has no clue what the benefits are," Tom Scully, the Medicare administrator, told a health care conference in Washington on Wednesday.
The agency also is running television and newspaper ads to publicize the help line and the Medicare Web site.
The Medicare blimp already has flown over football games, state fairs and an auto race in Texas, Medicare spokesman Rob Sweezy said.
"Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and the disabled, is spending $600,000 this year to have a blimp fly at sporting events, including Saturday's Tennessee-Alabama college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.," the Associated Press reports from Washington. "The blimp is part of a $30 million advertising campaign in 2003 to make the program better known to its 40 million participants."
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20031022/D7UBG3D00.html
Medicare Using Blimp in Ad Campaign
Oct 22, 6:16 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Finally, proof that government is full of hot air, or at least helium.
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and the disabled, is spending $600,000 this year to have a blimp fly at sporting events, including Saturday's Tennessee-Alabama college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The blimp is part of a $30 million advertising campaign in 2003 to make the program better known to its 40 million participants.
The white blimp bears a likeness of the American flag and blue lettering advertising 1-800-Medicare, the telephone number the public can call with questions about benefits.
The ad campaign is needed because "the average senior has no clue what the benefits are," Tom Scully, the Medicare administrator, told a health care conference in Washington on Wednesday.
The agency also is running television and newspaper ads to publicize the help line and the Medicare Web site.
The Medicare blimp already has flown over football games, state fairs and an auto race in Texas, Medicare spokesman Rob Sweezy said.
