President Trump axes Obamacare advertising budget to $10m

In a statement, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said: "CMS plans to spend $10m on promotional activities in order to meet the needs of new or returning affordable act care (ACA) enrollees – consistent with promotional spending on Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D. CMS will target its advertising and outreach activities to educate consumers on the new dates of the Open Enrollment Period through digital media, email, and text messages.

"These outreach methodologies have proven the most effective in reaching existing and new enrollees. During the most recent open enrollment period, CMS spent more than $100m on promotional activities – nearly double what was spent in 2015 – but saw first-time enrollment decline by 42 percent and effectuated enrollment decline by approximately 500,000 individuals."

The announcement was received with mixed response on Twitter.

Obamacare tweeted

100% coverage. But that doesn't stop this administration and congressional leaders from trying to #Sabotage our health care. #ProtectOurCare https://t.co/BePxAkHuMu

— Obamacare (@Obamacare) August 24, 2017

And Democrat Mike Levin tweeted : "Trump's reckless pursuit to try to get the ACA to fail is potentially a violation of the Constitution. Shameful."

Trump's reckless pursuit to try to get the ACA to fail is potentially a violation of the Constitution. Shameful. https://t.co/x0fWb77ptE — Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) August 31, 2017

Following repeal scare, Obamacare has never been more popular: https://t.co/JW4e91PtlS pic.twitter.com/sZRe4D5Eri

— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) August 31, 2017

Read The Drum's latest issue 'Don't let fame go to your head.'