What is the Medicare Threshold?

Medicare is a social insurance program that offers medical coverage to elders and additional individuals who need the assistance of a government system. Recipients of the service meet certain demographic and financial requirements.

Age Threshold

• Seniors and disabled people qualify.

  Any U.S. resident 65 years or older is eligible for Medicare. Any disabled person under 65 years old also qualifies as long as she received Social Security benefits for two years prior to the date of Medicare enrollment.

Safety Net Threshold

• Out-of-pocket medical costs are too high for many people.

  Medicare Safety Net offers financial assistance for high out-of-hospital costs. The gap between the Medicare benefit and the government's schedule fee is calculated until a certain threshold is met, at which point benefits become fully covered for future services.

Income Tax Threshold

• Special policies are in place for Medicare beneficiaries.

  Starting in 2013, employee wages and self-employment income above certain amounts will be taxed an additional 0.9 percent for Medicare. The amounts are $250,000 for joint recipients and surviving spouses, $125,000 for married individuals filing separately and $200,000 for all other people.