Average U.S. family pays $3,600 out-of-pocket for healthcare annually

SEATTLE, May 30 (UPI) -- Of the $22,030 annual healthcare cost for a U.S. family of four, the employer pays $12,886 and the employee pays $9,144, an actuarial and consulting firm says.

The 2013 Milliman Medical Index, calculated by Milliman, found the average employee's share for coverage under an employer-sponsored preferred provider plan is paid through a combination of $5,544 in payroll deductions and $3,600 in out-of-pocket costs.

For employees, this represents a cost increase of 6.5 percent compared with last year's total employee cost of $8,584, Milliman said.

"We expect that the emerging reforms required by the Affordable Care Act would have little impact on the cost of care for our family of four in 2013 because this family tends to be insured through a large group health plan," Milliman officials said in a statement.

Most of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act deals with those currently uninsured and those who currently buy individual health insurance coverage out of their own pocket.