A federal tax paid for hospital insurance is ___________.

The federal tax paid for hospital insurance is the Medicare Tax. This tax is specifically designated to fund the Medicare program, which provides health insurance primarily for individuals age 65 and older, as well as for certain younger individuals with disabilities. The Medicare Tax is deducted from employee wages and matches contributions from employers, and it plays a crucial role in financing hospital insurance benefits under Medicare Part A.

In contrast, the other options refer to different types of taxes. The Medicaid Tax is related to the funding of the Medicaid program, which assists low-income individuals and families; the Social Security Tax funds the Social Security program, which provides assistance after retirement, disability, or death of a family wage earner; and Income Tax is a broad term that refers to taxes on individual earnings but does not specifically pertain to hospital insurance. Therefore, identifying the Medicare Tax as the correct answer aligns directly with its purpose of funding hospital insurance through payroll contributions.