RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Associated Press= WASHINGTON (AP) — It sounds like a silver lining. Even if the Supreme Court overturns President Barack Obama's health care law, employers can keep offering popular coverage for the young adult children of their workers.
But here's the catch: The parents' taxes would go up.
That's only one of the messy potential ripple effects when the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the Affordable Care Act this month. The law affects most major components of the U.S. health care system in its effort to extend coverage to millions of uninsured people.
Because the legislation is so complicated, an orderly unwinding would prove difficult if it were overturned entirely or in part.
Better Medicare prescription benefits, currently saving hundreds of dollars for older people with high drug costs, would be suspended. Ditto for preventive care with no co-payments, now available to retirees and working families alike.
Partially overturning the law could leave hospitals, insurers and other service providers on the hook for tax increases and spending cuts without the law's promise of more paying customers to offset losses.
If the law is upheld, other kinds of complications could result.
The nation is so divided that states led by Republicans are largely unprepared to carry out critical requirements such as creating insurance markets. Things may not settle down.
"At the end of the day, I don't think any of the major players in the health insurance industry or the provider community really wants to see the whole thing overturned," said Christine Ferguson, a health policy expert who was commissioner of public health in Massachusetts when Mitt Romney was governor.
"Even though this is not the most ideal solution, at least it is moving us forward, and it does infuse some money into the system for coverage," said Ferguson, now at George Washington University. As the GOP presidential candidate, Romney has pledged to wipe Obama's law off the books. But he defends his Massachusetts law that served as a prototype for Obama's.
While it's unclear how the justices will rule, oral arguments did not go well for the Obama administration. The central issue is whether the government can require individuals to have health insurance and fine them if they don't.
That mandate takes effect in 2014, at the same time that the law would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to people with existing health problems. Most experts say the coverage guarantee would balloon costs unless virtually all people joined the insurance pool.
Opponents say Congress overstepped its constitutional authority by issuing the insurance mandate. The administration says the requirement is permissible because it serves to regulate interstate commerce. Most people already are insured. The law provides subsidies to help uninsured middle-class households pay premiums and expands Medicaid to pick up more low-income people.
The coverage for young adults up to age 26 on a parent's health insurance is a popular provision that no one's arguing about. A report last week from the Commonwealth Fund estimated that 6.6 million young adults have taken advantage of the benefit, while a new Gallup survey showed the uninsured rate for people age 18-25 continues to decline, down to 23 percent from 28 percent when the law took effect.
Families will be watching to see if their 20-somethings transitioning to the work world will get to keep that newfound security.
Because the benefit is a winner with consumers, experts say many employers and insurers would look for ways to keep offering it even if there's no legal requirement to do so. On Monday, UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nation's largest insurer, is announcing that it will continue to offer coverage to young adults even if the health care law is struck down.
But economist Paul Fronstin of the Employee Benefit Research Institute says many parents would pay higher taxes as a result because they would have to pay for the young adult's coverage with after-tax dollars. Under the health care law, that coverage now comes out of pre-tax dollars.
Fronstin says there's no way to tell exactly how much that tax increase might be, but a couple of hundred dollars a year or more is a reasonable ballpark estimate. Upper-income taxpayers would have a greater liability.
"Adult children aren't necessarily dependents for tax purposes, but an employer can allow anyone to be on a plan, just like they now allow domestic partners," said Fronstin. "If your employer said, 'I'm going to let you keep this,' it would become a taxable benefit for certain people."
Advocates for the elderly are also worried about untoward ripple effects.
If the entire law is overturned, seniors with high prescription costs in Medicare's "donut hole" coverage gap could lose annual discounts averaging about $600. AARP policy director David Certner says he would hope the discounts could remain in place at least through the end of this year.
Yet that might not be possible. Lacking legal authority, Medicare would have to take away the discounts. Drugmakers, now bearing the cost, could decide they want to keep offering discounts voluntarily. But then they'd risk running afoul of other federal rules that bar medical providers from offering financial inducements to Medicare recipients.
"I don't think anyone has any idea," said Certner.
A mixed verdict from the high court would be the most confusing outcome. Some parts of the law would be struck down while others lurch ahead.
That kind of result would seem to call for Congress to step in and smooth any necessary adjustments. Yet partisan divisions on Capitol Hill are so intense that hardly anyone sees a chance that would happen this year.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
USA Muslim Matrimonial - Owen Sound Sun Times
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Sussex Cricket League round-up - littlehamptongazette.co.uk
THE top three clubs in the Sussex Premier League all won their games on Saturday and current Champions Hastings still head the table with Roffey and Preston Nomads in hot pursuit.
Hastings lost two early wickets at Eastbourne, but Kirk Wernars and skipper George Campbell put together a century stand to put their side in a commanding position.
Wernars made 61 and Campbell 49 to help towards at total of 257 for 9 declared as veteran former England paceman Ed Giddins took 5 for 68, Stuart Pulford chipped in with 3 for 68.
Eastbourne struggled throughout before tumbling to 87 all out and they remain bottom after six matches.
Mick Glazier send the tail packing with 4 for 8 and Wernars set things tumbling with 2 for 29.
Roffey were put in at Bexhill and declared at 203/8 with 43 from Josh Fleming and 40 from skipper Mick Norris.
Jamie Wicks took 3 for 57 and Calum Guest 2 for 53 for the home side.
Bexhill were them dismissed for 173 despite 87 from Aussie import Andrew Harriott.
For Roffey, Andy McGorian took 4 for 42 as did Luke Barnard to give their side a fourth win of the season.
Preston Nomads made short work of dismissing East Grinstead for just 64 as Carl Simon took 4 for 16 and Matt Hobden 4 for 27.
In reply, Nomads won the game by six wickets at 67 for 4 with 24 not out from skipper Jeremy Green. For the home side Lewis Hatchett took 3 for 25.
Worthing enjoyed their first win of the season following their promotion last year.
They dismissed Brighton and Hove for 140 with Chris Grammer making a top score of 30 as Benn Challen took 4 for 39 and Mason Crane 4 for 35.
Michael Gould then hit 61 as Worthing cruised to 117 for 2.
At Chichester, the home side were dismissed for 140 after being put in by Horsham.
Adam Zampa was top scorer, he made 45 as Hisam-ul-Haq took 3 for 57 and Sam Cushing 3 for 36.
Horsham tumbled to 106 all out despite 45 from skipper Craig Gallagher with Matt Geffen taking 3 for 23 and James Stedman mopping up the innings with 4 for 5.
Three Bridges, relegated from the Premier League last season, have won four games in succession to lead the Division 2 table by 32 points ahead of St.James’s.
James Chadburn hit 116 to lead Three Bridges to 212 for 6 declared at home to Cuckfield. He was well supported by Bradley Gayler who hit 36 as Ebrel Erwee took 4 for 45.
In reply, Cuckfield tumbled to 120 all out despite 24 from Tom Mole and 22 fro Kritoan Piolet. Adrian Chappell took 3 for 32.
St.James enjoyed a 76 run victory at home to Ifield after declaring at 259 for 6 with 108 from Mike Edmonds and 55 from Henry Sims. For the visitors Raza Ali took 3 for 76 against his old club.
Ifield were then dismissed for 183 with Jack Groves hitting 69 and Ali 45, Edmonds took 3 for 34 and Chris Davies 3 for 45.
Glynde enjoyed a 189-run win at home to Goring after rattling up 289 for 6 declared of which Joe Adams hit 92 and Chris Stanyard 67, the two shared an opening stand of 163.
Matt Keen took 3 for 79 for the visitors who were dismissed for 146 of which Ellis Woolley made 37, as George Hobden took 4 for 24 and Adam Davies 3 for 28.
The game at Sidley was drawn after the home side, put in by Haywards Heath, made 240 for 3 declared with 71 not out from Jon Haffenden and 62 from Sam Steel.
Haywards Heath had reached 182 for 8 at stumps with 43 from Sussex Academy prospect Ollie Graham, Ian May took 3 for 31.
It was also a draw at Pulborough where the home side declared at 219 for 8 with Rohit Jagota making 98 and Amit Suman 62, James Iago took 3 for 49.
In reply, Findon struggled to 165 for 9 of which Dan Bridson made 45, Kuldeep Rawat took 5 for 67 and Suman 3 for 35.
Middleton are the new leaders in the Division 3 West after an emphatic seven-wicket win at Steyning.
Steyning elected to bat and made 186-6 led by captain Ed Lamb with 70 and David Kennett adding 51.
Ben Hansford was out agonisingly close to a ton making 99 as they won with ease.
The previous week’s leaders Bognor Regis dropped to second as Billingshurst’s Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi enjoyed a remarkable game to send them home with a 96-run defeat. Billingshurst’s 223 included 88 from Mitipolaarachchi while Sam Taylor returned creditable figures of 4-36. Mitipolaarachchi then took 5-27 as Billingshurst moved up to third position just ten points behind the leaders.
Sean Heather made an unbeaten century for the second win running as Stirlands won by eight wickets against Arundel.
Richard James struck 76 in Arundel’s innings of 198-9. Eight of the wickets fell to Struan Cameron who took 8-59. Heather’s 103 not out along with 66 not out from Will Gubbins took Stirlands into fourth spot.
Pagham overcame Wisborough Green to claim their first win of the season and lift themselves off the foot of the table. In a low scoring contest they passed Green’s 138 with 3 wickets in hand.
Littlehampton replaced them at the bottom after losing by four wickets at Slinfold. Their 156 owed much to 51 from Mike Askew but were pegged back by Harrison Webb taking 4-45. Hayden McIntyre hit 52 to take Slinfold to their second win in succession.
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Many mourn loss of Sussex teen killed at Surry graduation party - WDBJ7.com
SURRY — Family and friends of a Sussex County teen are mourning the loss of a life gone too soon.
TyQuan Johnson, 18, was killed Saturday night after a graduation party in Surry County.
The Surry County Sheriff's Office said Johnson was caught in between two groups of people that were firing at each other in the 2100 block of Alliance Road.
Three people, including Johnson, were hit. The other two victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
"Everybody is taking this hard," said Irhonda Ricks, Johnson's aunt. "All we're doing is praying and leaning on another."
Surry County deputies said Johnson was hit by a stray bullet as he was running away from the shooting.
Ricks added that Johnson's mother is mourning her loss as best she can.
"She still has her moments," she said.
Johnson had graduated from Sussex Central High School Friday and was planning to attend North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount.
Wanda Russell, whose son, Timothy Russell, played football with Johnson at the high school for about two years, was shocked by his death. She had encouraged her son to attend the graduation party where Johnson was shot, feeling lucky now that her son refused to go.
"I knew he was a good kid. I felt like a mother to him, as did many of the people who knew him from football. He was always smiling and would do anything for anybody," she said.
Russell also noted that her son along with other students chose to go to school today in order to be where they knew TyQuan and in order to be around people.
Sussex Central High School had guidance counselors stationed in the hallways when students arrived this morning. According to Arthur Jarrett, the principal of the high school, most students talked amongst themselves but are remaining resilient as they undergo their normal classroom schedule.
"TyQuan was very well-known; he was champion on the field and in the classroom," Russell said.
Ricks said there will be a vigil held in Johnson's honor Wednesday, but a time and location are still being discussed.
Tributes were paid to Johnson on a Facebook page, "R.I.P TyQuan Johnson," where dozens expressed their condolences over his death.
There have been no arrests made in this case. Surry County deputies urge anyone with information to call 757-294-5264.
Source: www.wdbj7.com
Theron signs for Sussex - ECB
Source: www.ecb.co.uk
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