Downing Street has refused to rule out imposing a new tax to fund long-awaited reforms to social care.
Boris Johnson is said to be considering the move, and a cap on lifetime costs, as he finally draws up plans to solve the crisis.
The PM is under pressure after wrongly claiming he had a "clear plan prepared" in his first speech on the steps of No10.
No10 refused to rule out a surprise announcement before the two-year anniversary of his claim on July 24 - a week from tomorrow.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday that he would publish a plan “before too long”.
But Downing Street today emphasised the government had only promised to bring forward plans by the end of this year.
And sources played down the chances of a full plan being spelt out next week, saying: "No decision has been made yet."
A government source told the Times that No10 was “comfortable with some sort of tax” to fund universal social care and reduce the burden on families.
The blueprint could reportedly include a cap on the amount people have to pay towards their own care, as well as extra cash to improve carers' pay and ensure more people get help.
Mr Johnson is said to be interested in Sir Andrew Dilnot's plan from a decade ago to cap costs for individuals at up to £50,000.
But talks are still underway with the Treasury to hammer out a deal and the exact amount, it was reported.
A new tax would be a departure from Sir Andrew's 2011 blueprint - which said "it would be sensible" to raise any new cash "through an existing tax, rather than creating a new tax."
But the Tories promised in their 2019 election manifesto not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT.
The Prime Minister has also opposed other tax rises, including a proposed salt and sugar levy from his food tsar this week.
Asked about the sugar tax plan, the PM replied: “I am not I must say attracted to the idea of extra taxes on hard-working people."
Jonathan Blades of the MS Society called for the government to "significantly" hike the threshold at which people pay for care.
Asked today if a new tax was an option, a No10 spokesman said: “I’m not going to start commenting on speculation. No decisions have been made and we’ll set out the details later this year.”
Asked about a cap on individual costs over a person's lifetime, he replied: "Again no decisions have been made, I’m not going to get into speculation."
