By NextBestFitMedicare Part A (hospital insurance)
absorbedYear 1Federal programs
Today
Covers inpatient, SNF, hospice, and some home health for 65+ and disabled; funded by the 2.9% HI payroll tax; deductible $1,676 per benefit period (2025).
Under the plan
Folded into UHP. The HI payroll tax continues and flows to the UHP Trust Fund; deductibles and coinsurance end.
Trade-off
Seniors gain; the separate Medicare 'earned benefit' identity, which is politically protective, is diluted into a program for everyone.
Money
- Employer Medicare payroll tax (1.45%)$159.2B → $165.7B
- Worker & self-employed Medicare payroll tax$246.4B → $254.1B