Health insurance group launches largest ad campaign ever

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the main trade group representing health insurers, on Monday announced its largest ad campaign ever, which it said will be backed by an “eight figure” sum.

The campaign, called “Care Changes Everything,” includes national TV, radio and digital ads highlighting the role of health insurers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One ad touts insurers’ role in “making COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines affordable for everyone.”

The ads come against a backdrop of Democratic control of Washington and proposals opposed by the health insurance industry to create a “public option” to compete alongside private insurance.

David Merritt, an executive vice president at AHIP, said the ad campaign is not tied to fighting those proposals.

“It’s not a political campaign at all, it truly is an education campaign,” he said.

“We just think that at this point a positive, proactive message is really, really important for folks to understand the role that we played,” he added.