Researchers at Milliman Inc. say the typical U.S. family of 4 will spend $15,609 on medical care this year, up 7.6% from the total for 2007.
That typical family will spend about $2,675 on co-payments, deductibles and other out-of-pocket health care costs, and about $3,492 on premium payments, according to researchers at Milliman Inc., Seattle, an actuarial firm.
Although the median cost increase for the typical family is down from 8.4% a year ago, the family's own expenditures on premium payments and out-of-pocket health care costs are up about 11%, Milliman researchers estimate.
The researchers looked at 14 metropolitan areas. The typical family's health care costs in the most expensive market, Miami, are about 35% higher than the costs in the least expensive market, Phoenix.
