Click on that picture. Go on, I’ll wait.
I KNOW, RIGHT? Pick your jaw back up unless you’re comfortable reading the rest of the post like that…
OK, I am totally on board with the Rite-Aid, Target or Meijer gift cards. Those are completely take-your-two-year-old-kid-for-shots worthy.
BUT MCDONALDS?
Seriously?
Oh, where to start with the wrongness?
Our government is always talking about obesity, right? And there are all these programs initiated to fight against childhood obesity, right? I mean, somewhere down south, Georgia I believe…there are billboards showcasing heavy children in hopes of raising more awareness to the epidemic we supposedly have here in the United States. There are bazillions of dollars spent EVERY YEAR, all over the country, on campaigns to support obesity annihilation. There are non-profits to get our children from potato to jumping bean. Every kid station on cable has some little anti-obesity campaign going on. It’s all over the news, in our faces, ever single day.
That letter? There are some MAJOR BIG TIME issues there.
As in…the McDonalds factor.
Yeah.
No matter what that company does to the healthy up the names of their foods and Happy Meals, they are still the most rotten things that we can feed our children. The new fangled Happy Meals that are supposedly healthier…don’t even get me started. Even their “healthier” food choices aren’t technically healthy or slenderizing. And quite frankly, I’m pretty sure that if there ever is a Zombie Apocalypse, it’s going to be McDonalds fault because of the crap that they put in their foods.
Which brings me to exhibit A…Why would ANY healthcare company in their right mind try to entice parents to immunize their children by dangling a $20 McDonalds gift card in front of them? Oh wait, because the fatter and unhealthier our country is, the more money these companies make. I get it. Great, offer the inoculations for free, that’s quite a deal. Especially for those of us who don’t have a Dept. of Health in our area where they are ALWAYS free. But then, let’s fatten those children up nice and plump-like, clog their arteries with pink slime and other sludge, create diabetes and cause bone and joint problems. Because yay, then we’ve got ‘em good. They’re at the doctor every other day for one obesity related problem or another, the doctor bills the insurance company and viola…they make some money.
Maybe, and this is just a thought but…the healthcare company should consider offering a 2 month gym membership to one of those $10/month fitness places. Or, how about a $25 gift card to Whole Foods or something along that GOOD FOR YOU line. If a healthcare company is going to incentivize inoculations, then perhaps offer something for the greater good. And I’m NOT talking about the greater good of the company.
What the heck was this United “HEALTHCARE” Company thinking?
Oh yeah…duh.
I saw this in a friend’s Facebook stream and clicked on it thinking this was some huge news. Not to minimize anyone’s opinion as anyone can have their opinion on this, however, I don’t see what the big deal is. You can get unhealthy food at Target, Meijer and Rite Aid. You can get healthy food at McDonald’s. You also have the choice of 4 gift cards so you don’t have to even choose McDonald’s in the first place. Thus, I don’t see the big deal.
Liz´s last blog post ..Unhappy Hunting–Easter Edition
i completely agree. i guess it’s more about the fact that a healthcare company would even offer the mcdonalds gift card in the first place. personally, i’d take the target card. really, it isn’t huge news or a big deal. i just think it’s stupid that a healthcare company, in this day and age, would even bother with mcdonalds, that’s all.
Maybe they’re trying to drum up new clients? The whole gift certificate thing is kind of sketchy to me.
Tara R.´s last blog post ..Blacksheep
My guess would be McDonald’s is probably giving the cards to UHC as a practice of good PR- to drum up business. And since I’m trying not to appear jaded I can only assume they care about getting kids immunized even if they don’t care about getting them fat 🙂
jen´s last blog post ..Italian lover
I think you nailed it with the money making. Insurance companies actually want us to be sick. The sicker we are, the more specialists we will need. It’s sort of like when me dentist sends me a Starbucks gift card. So I will have to bleach my teeth.
Hmmmm, I think this is a bit of a marketing faux pas by the insurance company in that it is probably in bad taste (pun intended?) for them to offer the McD’s gift card in exchange for immunizations. The other options fit so nicely with the whole theme of the promotion, I wonder who had the bright idea to include McDonald’s? I know they are popular, and I know not everything on the menu is bad, and I also know that sometimes having a little Mickey D’s fix is OK, but I’m not sure if I would have recommended a gift card in exchange for health services. It doesn’t really make sense, does it?
Dawn´s last blog post ..Jolie
Let’s just say I agree. I can’t say much else without sounding like a ranting maniac.