Filling the hole has its price

A Congressional Budget Office analysis of House Democrats' plans for eliminating the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," in Medicare's Part D outpatient prescription drug program illustrates the conundrums Congress and the public face in reforming the healthcare system.

The proposal, a key selling point for America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200), would increase premiums for all senior citizens. But most of them would not benefit from elimination of the coverage gap, according to CBO's projections...