If the fee paid was for ads and clearly labeled as advertising, then I'm all right with that.  That's part of the free enterprise system.

If the fee was paid to have material used as propaganda and included in articles as fact, then it's not all right.

Right now, my husband and I are being bombarded with materials to change our Medicare coverage during this enrollment period.  We have made our selection, but the mail keeps on coming  from all sorts of different companies.  The "round file" is next to the back door and that's where it goes:  to be recycled.  We can make our decisions and hopefully those who go to WebMD can know what's advertising and what's being forced upon them.