Magic Assists ObamaCare

Magic Johnson sold millions of Converse sneakers and hundreds of cans of Slice to young people during the 1980s. Now, the fifty-four-year-old retired Los Angeles Laker sells ObamaCare to that healthy demographic. Was Bob Cousy unavailable?

In a video featured at WhiteHouse.gov, the HIV+ Johnson attests that quality health care “saved my life.” He urges young people to sign up for ObamaCare because one can never predict when disaster will strike.

“I remember when I took my physical and they told me I had HIV over 22 years ago,” Johnson explained. “If it wasn’t for that quality health care that I had, and the plan that I had, I probably would have been dead. So I’m glad that I had good health insurance, a good plan. Also, too, you never know when you’re going to need it. It’s very important. Young people think they’re Superman, like nothing’s ever going to happen to them. But, trust me: someday something’s going to happen. And you’re going to need a quality health plan. So, make sure you get ObamaCare.”

But young people don’t equate “a good quality health plan” with “ObamaCare.” When Breitbart.com’s Jerome Hudson queried college students on the president’s plan, they responded unenthusiastically. “I heard it doesn’t work,” one told Hudson. Another resented the fact that the Affordable Care Act treats him as a child. “Once you reach adult age you should have your own choice,” he explained, “you shouldn’t be forced to buy it.”

Just under a quarter of the 2.2. million enrollees in federal- and state-run exchanges are between 18 and 34 years of age, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The anemic numbers strongly indicate that rates within the exchanges will skyrocket unless the system experiences a massive infusion of young people.

So, naturally, the folks who gave the world healthcare.gov are enlisting a grandfather to enlist college students into ObamaCare. The Hall of Fame point guard declares, “Everybody deserves to have good quality health care.” Is that an argument to sign up or shut down ObamaCare?