I don't and can't defend the retiree prescription plan but share my experience in the hope that it might be useful to someone.

I take one expensive medication that is covered by Medicare but whose annual expense forces me into the dreaded Medicare "donut-hole" that exposes me to a large out-of-pocket payment. Express-Scripts did refer me to a patient assistance program that has covered those out-of-pocket payments for the last two years. The assistance is income-tested but seemed to be somewhat …