It wasn't supposed to be this way.

For many members of Congress, the plan on Medicare was this: Add a big, universal prescription drug benefit in 2003, get the love from America's growing senior population, then get their votes and win in the November 2004 elections.

That was the plan. But reality didn't catch on: More people age 65 and older now oppose the new Medicare drug plan than support it, according to a recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll.

Heritage Foundation health care expert Robert Moffit isn't surprised. As he told USA Today on March 31: "People are confused. Bumper-sticker health policy sells good on the first impression. The problem is in the details and how it's going to affect you."

Moffit and other Heritage experts have looked at those details and have a good idea not only on how they could affect your grandma, but you as a taxpayer. Read more here:

Medicare's Deepening Financial Crisis: The High Price of Fiscal Irresponsibility ( March 25, 2004).

For more information or to receive an e-mail version of "Bitter Pills," contact [email protected] or call Heritage Media Services at (202) 675-1761.

"Bitter Pills" is an occasional, but regular, feature from The Heritage Foundation on how the 2003 Medicare drug law is full of sickening "surprises" that have serious consequences for seniors and taxpayers. Of course, The Heritage Foundation isn't surprised at all. We diagnosed the problems long ago in our Medicare Maladies series. Both Medicare Maladies and Bitter Pills are available on heritage.org (if you can stomach them).