A 0.9 percent surtax will apply to wages on earned income over $200,000 ($250,000 if married). That's on top of the 1.45 percent Medicare currently owed on all wages. Those making between $200,000 and $500,000, for instance, will only pay about $633 extra while households making $1 million or more would pay another $11,242.

A 3.8 percent Medicare surtax will also apply for the first time to at least a portion of high-income households' investment income.