Getting it wrong at the Post.

• Author: Peters, Charles
• Position: Washington Post - Brief article

The Washington Post, which refused to do an article explaining the Medicare drug benefit to its readers, recently ran a story on its front page that strongly suggested that all was hunky-dory with the plan: "Three-quarters [of the participants] said the paperwork was easy to complete."

My experience was different. I got steered to the wrong insurance company. The Medicare phone counselor recommended it, saying that it covered the two drugs I was taking regularly, but after I signed up, I learned that the coverage was only for thirty days, and the insurer had to be persuaded by my physician to continue. When I told Medicare of this problem, they offered another suggestion. I signed up with the new company, and took my first prescription to the drugstore. It was rejected. I found out, after a week of...