single-payer

adjective

sin·​gle-pay·​er ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˈpā-ər How to pronounce single-payer (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a system in which health care providers are paid for their services by the government rather than by private insurers

Examples of single-payer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The proposal would overhaul the country's current healthcare system and shift to a single-payer model that expands on the current federal program for seniors. — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 That could mean single-payer Medicare-for-all or a new public insurance option or maybe something else. — Dylan Scott, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 El-Sayed highlighted his support of the single-payer health care plan known as Medicare for all — a key pillar of his campaign platform — and attacked Rogers for voting against the Affordable Care Act. — New York Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Its gist was an attack on single-payer systems such as Medicare and Medicaid. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for single-payer

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of single-payer was in 1987

Rhymes for single-payer

See All Rhymes for single-payer

Browse Nearby Words

single-pass
single-payer
single-phase
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Single-payer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-payer. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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