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WASHINGTON -- President Obama teased Ellen DeGeneres about the selfie she took at the Oscars and confessed to leaving his socks and shoes lying around while the first lady is out of town, but before the end of his Thursday appearance on the talk show he got to put in a plug for the Affordable Care Act.

Thats Obama's deal with popular media these days as the president enlists help in his effort to boost healthcare sign-up numbers before the March 31 enrollment deadline.

In recent days, Obama has filled out his March Madness brackets on ESPN, joked around with comedian Zach Galifianakison Between Two Ferns and defended his mom jeans on-air with radio host Ryan Seacrest -- all with the agreement that hed get a moment to pitch his healthcare plan.

The White House is aiming to bring young consumers into the fold, and not just because they represent roughly 40% of the uninsured population.

Young participants are more likely to pay into the system without drawing heavily on its benefits and are seen as key to ensuring the president's healthcare reform is economically viable.

Administration officials estimate they have signed up more than 5 million of the 6 million people they hope to enroll by the deadline -- a downward revision from the 7 million target they named before all the trouble with the rollout of the sign-up website, HealthCare.gov.

As healthcare experts predicted, young people are taking their time getting on board. Now, the White House is going after them through every media outlet and opinion leader they can mobilize. Validators, aides call them.

In order to reach them, said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, we have to, you know, be creative.

While the White House pushes that message, Republicans continue to argue that the reform law is fatally flawed and will harm the other end of the age spectrum. As Obama traveled to Orlando on Thursday, the office of House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said that, while in Florida, the president should answer questions about the reform law from seniors.

"The president has focused plenty of time and energy of late on young people," Boehner's office said in an afternoon news release. "Isnt it time he directly address older Americans who are bearing the brunt of his healthcare law? He shouldnt leave Florida today without doing so."

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Obama enlists DeGeneres, other celebrities in final healthcare push