Medicare does cover prescriptions for its beneficiaries in hospitals.

The drug program, for the uninsured and people like Mr. Noble whose insurance does not cover prescriptions, receives $44 million from the Federal Government.

To the Editor: You say (front page, May 10) "Medicare does cover prescriptions for its beneficiaries in hospitals."

The General Motors Corporation has decided its employee health plans will largely stop covering prescriptions filled at Walgreen drugstores.

When Viagra, produced by Pfizer Inc., became available this spring as a treatment for male impotency, many health plans moved to cover prescriptions for it.

However, patients with health insurance that covers prescriptions, and those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, may actually pay less for the drugs.

The generic-drug bill will be the vehicle for a wide-ranging Senate debate, which is sure to address proposals for Medicare to cover prescriptions.

Most people whose insurance covers prescriptions will not notice the change.

Except they would only cover emergency room visits and prescriptions, and wouldn't cover my migraine medication as that is a "pre-existing condition."

Rather, the impact would mostly be felt by working people whose insurance does not cover prescriptions, people on Medicare and illegal aliens.