Barack Obama urges people to sign up for health insurance before 2019 deadline

Barack Obama promises "no memes" in a new video reminding people to sign up to healthcare coverage before a Sunday deadline.

The former president has deployed a number of methods to try and grab attention, from taking jump shots, to selfies, to interviews between two ferns.

However, with the president's signature Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, having gained popularity since he left office, the president says he no longer needs to do anything other than "give it to you straight".

“This year is different,” Mr Obama says in the clip. “Young people have stepped up like never before, on campuses, at the voting booth and at the doors of power.”

Current president Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to dismantle Obamacare, and his administration have cut funding to programmes aimed at helping people sign up for coverage, with a number of cities suing the government over the move.

Enrollment through the federal website healthcare.gov is down by 11 per cent compared to last year, according to the latest statistics.

In the first five weeks of this year's sign-up period, about 3.2 million people took out Obamacare plans, compared with about 3.6 million at the same time last year.

Mr Obama's video has racked up millions of views, not least because the president - or at least his staff - cannot resist the use of a rainbow background and cartoon sunglasses.

“You've got a filter on me, don't you?” Mr Obama asks.