Dirty Politics

Helen Johnston is an 80-year-old retired pediatrician who hardly considers herself much of a risk for being sued. That's not how her insurance company sees it, however. Johnston is losing extra coverage she bought years ago while she still practiced medicine -- not because she's a retired doctor, but because she is active in Francestown politics. The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Co. sent her a letter last month notifying her it is not renewing her $1 million umbrella policy next month due to "the political positions the insured holds." Johnston is vice chairwoman of her town's Democratic committee and a member of the Hillsborough County Democratic Committee. She helps campaigns by distributing posters and making calls, and she held a get-out-the-vote session for Howard Dean at her house.