Combining estate taxes and the Medicare surplus could finance a policy supporting long-term care.

But the surplus for this year might fall short of the level at which the government could avoid spending any of the Medicare surplus.

Congress is also moving fast to use $400 billion in Medicare surpluses for the same purpose.

The Medicare surplus this year is projected by its trustees at $22.3 billion, and to total $250 billion over 10 years.

The Medicare surplus this year is about $30 billion.

The vice president has proposed that the entire Medicare surplus of $360 billion over the next decade go to debt reduction.

His plan makes no provision for taking the Medicare surplus off the table.

Before we make any other major budget decisions this year, I ask Congress to come together across party lines to protect the Medicare surplus.

So this summer, let's set aside the Medicare surpluses and pay down the debt.

The center said there was strong bipartisan support for walling off the $360 billion Medicare surplus.