Health Secretary Andy Burnham has refused to rule out a so-called "death tax" as a way of helping to fund social care for the elderly.
Mr Burnham told MPs that a cross-party national care commission would examine "all options" over how people could pay for their care.
He wanted to see a system "similar to the rest of the welfare state" where people had a choice over how they contributed to it, he told MPs.
He was speaking in the Commons after he earlier admitted a national care service would not be created for at least five years. The proposals have been branded a "train crash" by the Tories.
On Monday night Chancellor Alistair Darling apparently ruled out the "death tax" of 10% on estates in a TV debate.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley challenged Mr Burnham at Commons question time, asking him: "Will you now rule out a death tax to pay for the national care service? Yes or no?"
Mr Burnham said: "I am saying that we will propose a system for social care similar to the rest of the welfare state, organised on a population basis where everyone makes a contribution and where everyone has a choice over how they make that contribution.
"We will establish a commission to advise the Government on those payment options and all options can be considered by the commission."
