Social Security, Medicare and stocks: How a debt-ceiling crisis could affect you

(The Hill) – If the White House and House Republicans fail to raise the debt ceiling and the U.S. defaults on its national debt for the first time ever, the economic consequences for Americans will be wide-ranging and long-lasting. Social Security checks could be held up, government salaries and contracts could be frozen, Medicare reimbursements to doctors and hospitals could be paused, markets for stocks and bonds will almost certainly take a dive, and financing levels for basic priv