Representatives from the leagues say the Obama administration has reached out to them.
Getty / Kevin C. Cox
The federal government is in the early stages of exploring possible partnerships with professional sports leagues as a way to promote insurance options under Obamacare.
"The NFL, the NBA, and others were contacted by the administration," a spokesman from the NFL told BuzzFeed in an email. "We have made no commitments nor discussed any details with administration officials. We are in the process of trying to clarify what it is the administration would propose. There is nothing further to report."
An MLB spokesman said the White House also contacted them to schedule a meeting, but the meeting was postponed.
Like universal health care itself, government partnerships with professional sports to promote universal health-care insurance options was pioneered in Massachusetts. The state partnered with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 as a way to reach young, healthy males, a demographic that made up the highest percentage of uninsured Massachusetts residents and was crucial to keep premium costs down. "It depends, frankly and ultimately, on the participation of everyone," Gov. Deval Patrick said at a news conference in 2007.
The state launched a $3 million campaign tied in with the Boston Red Sox that included commercials shot in Fenway Park, informational inserts placed in home game programs and print and radio ads.
