The Doctor Is In: Are seniors funding health care reform?

Senior citizens are worried. The insurance lobby recently began running ads claiming that seniors enrolled in private Medicare plans could lose some benefits. Last week brought news that basic Medicare premiums could rise 15 percent next year for some beneficiaries. Finally, the Senate voted, also last week, to allow Medicare payments to doctors to be reduced next year, which in turn could prompt some doctors to stop accepting Medicare, the U.S. insurance program for people 65 and older.

Given the discouraging news, should seniors be concerned that they will be forced to finance the health care overhaul and that their medical care will suffer as a result?