For a family of 4, health care costs can top $20,000

A study by the benefits consultant group Milliman notes the average annual health care costs for a family of four are $20,728 -- a 7 percent increase from last year. 

Los Angeles Times: Average Annual Health Care Cost For A Family Tops $20,000
Health care or a Hyundai? The average cost of health care for a family of four this year has increased nearly 7 percent to $20,728 annually, according to a new study by benefits consultant Milliman, or similar to the cost of a mid-size sedan (Terhune, 5/15).

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Health Care Costs For Family Of 4 Top $20,000
There's a good chance that health care costs for the typical family of four now are higher than their annual mortgage payment. Health care costs are projected to reach $20,728 this year for a family of four insured through the most common health plan offered by employers, according to the annual Milliman Medical Index. The index includes the cost of health insurance and out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and co-pays (Boulton, 5/16).

CQ HealthBeat: Study Says Health Costs For Family of Four Now Top $20,000 For The First Time
Health care costs for a family of four covered by an employer-sponsored preferred provider organization will average $20,728 in health care costs in 2012, according to an estimate released on Tuesday by the Milliman consulting firm. The total represents sums paid both the by the employer and the employee (Reichard, 5/15).

Also in the news, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention details the health of the American population, with a focus on socioeconomic status.  

CNN: New Data On The Health Of These United States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their annual health report for 2011 on Wednesday. The report contains more than 150 data tables on the U.S. population's well-being, with a special focus on socioeconomic status (Wilson, 5/16).

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Americans Living Longer, But Obesity Rising
The CDC today released its annual state of the union's health, and there's good news and bad. We're living longer. But we're also gaining more weight. Teen pregnancies are at a record low. But fewer people can afford necessary prescription drugs and medical care. The 583-page federally mandated report, titled "Health, United States 2011," also compares how well -- or how poorly -- we fare today with how we were doing over the past decade or so (McMillen, 5/16).