Andy Burnham has dropped a major social care bombshell – and the question on everyone’s lips is: who’s going to pay for it?

The Prime Minister is making it clear that he wants to shake up England’s social care system, with a plan inspired by the NHS.

And this isn’t just a tiny policy tweak.

Burnham says he wants a system where “everyone contributes, everyone is covered”, meaning people would have access to social care without facing the kind of potentially huge bills that exist under the current system.

So… is social care about to become the NHS 2.0?

Well, sort of.

Burnham has said he wants social care to operate according to NHS-style principles, with access to care based on need rather than simply how much money someone has.

At the moment, England’s system works very differently.

Unlike NHS treatment, social care isn’t generally free at the point of use. People with assets above £23,250 can be required to pay for their own care, depending on their circumstances.

And that’s where things get interesting.

Burnham’s proposal could dramatically change the relationship between people’s savings, their homes and the cost of receiving care later in life.

But here’s the juicy bit… 💷

Who is going to foot the bill?

Burnham hasn’t ruled out tax increases.

He has acknowledged that asking people to contribute more could be “difficult or unpopular”, while arguing that fundamental reform will require difficult choices.

That immediately opened the door to one of the biggest questions surrounding the proposal:

Could taxpayers end up paying more for the new system?

The Conservatives have already hit back, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp arguing that Burnham’s proposal could mean Labour pursuing further tax rises.

Burnham, meanwhile, has yet to reveal every detail of exactly how the system would work or how it would be funded.

And there’s a bigger problem lurking…

Social care isn’t just about elderly people.

It can include help with everyday activities such as eating, washing, dressing and going to the toilet, as well as residential and assisted-living care. It also supports people with disabilities and other long-term needs.

The financial pressure is already enormous.

The Health Foundation estimates that introducing an NHS-style system covering the costs of people currently receiving adult social care could require an additional £18.5 billion a year by 2035-36, on top of existing spending.

So while the headline sounds simple – make social care more like the NHS – the reality could be anything but simple.

Burnham says the current system can’t continue

The Prime Minister has made social care one of his major priorities and has argued that failing to reform it could eventually put even more pressure on the NHS.

His argument is essentially this: if people cannot get the care they need outside hospitals, pressure builds inside hospitals.

And Burnham isn’t presenting this as a quick fix.

He has said he wants to set out his broader “vision”, while Baroness Casey’s review will look at how such reforms could actually be delivered.

So what happens next? 👀

This is where the political drama really begins.

Burnham has put a huge idea on the table: an England-wide social care system based on NHS principles.

But before anyone starts celebrating free care, there are still some massive unanswered questions.

How much will it cost?

How will it be funded?

Will taxes rise?

And how quickly could the changes actually happen?

For now, Burnham has made his ambition clear – but the details are still being worked out.

One thing is certain: social care has officially become one of the biggest political talking points in Westminster.