Aflac has a new animal character to play alongside its famous duck. Meet the Gap Goat.
Aflac, the Columbus-based supplemental health insurance company, is kicking off its new marketing campaign in time for the start of college football season — and it features a new character.
Gap Goat will be the nemesis to the iconic Aflac Duck in a series of humorous commercials airing throughout the season.
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders and Alabama coach Nick Saban return as part of the Aflac Duck vs. Gap Goat campaign. Throughout the campaign, according to Aflac’s news release, the Gap Goat serves as an antagonist who shows up with unexpected medical bills for hardworking Americans at inopportune times, all the while bleating out the catch phrase, “GAAAAP!” The goat represents the gap that can be left when health insurance doesn’t cover all of one’s medical expenses.
“While the Aflac Duck remains a household name, the Gap Goat presents new marketing opportunities to build a story that leverages both humor and purpose to help educate fans on the gaps for those facing medical debt,” Aflac U.S. President Teresa White said in the news release.
“Last year, I had an unexpected medical event, and while I am fortunate enough to have the means to pay the onslaught of medical bills, many are not afforded the same peace of mind and are often tackled by the cost of care,” Sanders said in the news release. “That makes being a part of this year’s campaign especially meaningful for me as I continue to work with Aflac to ensure that fans are better prepared to help close the gap between where insurance ends and medical debt starts.”
The Aflac Duck vs. Gap Goat campaign will run across television, digital, social and audio platforms. The first spot, “The Arrival,” makes its debut Aug. 27 on ESPN during the opening weekend of the college football season. The second spot, “Stadium Worker,” will land Oct. 15 and the third spot, “Treadmill Race,” will air Oct. 29.
This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 6:50 AM.
