Countdown To Health Care Ruling

WASHINGTON (AP) — The stakes are huge as the anticipation grows for today's announcement of the Supreme Court's decision on the health care overhaul, but no matter what the court decides, it's unlikely to be the final word.

The problems of high medical costs, widespread waste and tens of millions of people without insurance will require Congress and the president to keep looking for answers, no matter what the court rules.

Nevertheless, the presidential candidates, governors of virtually every state, insurers with billions at stake, companies large and small and countless millions of Americans concerned about their own medical care are holding their collective breath.

The court could either uphold or invalidate all or parts of the law, with different implications involved. The high court also could punt, and rule that a constitutional challenge is premature. That's considered the least likely option.