Just how much is the annual cost of health care for a family offour? Enough to pay for a year of tuition at an in-state college orbuy a midsize sedan.

According to the 2013 Milliman Medical Index, annual healthcosts of a typical family of four through an employer-sponsoredpreferred provider organization rose 6.3% to $22,030 in 2013.

In 2012, the cost was $20,728, the first time those costsexceeded $20,000.

Of the $22,030 health care cost for a family of four, theemployer pays about $12,886 while the employee pays the remaining$9,144, which is a combination of $5,544 in payroll deductions and$3,600 in employee out-of-pocket costs.

Though this year's increase is less than increases seen inprevious years, it's still a notable jump in price for families andemployees. Families have seen a larger percentage increase in coststhan employers, the consulting and actuarial firm said.

Employees' total share of health costs grew 6.5% over last year,a faster rate than the 6.3% increase overall.

“The total share of this cost borne directly by the family —$9,144 in payroll deductions and out-of-pocket costs — now exceedsthe cost of groceries for the typical family of four,” the studysaid. “The out-of-pocket cost alone — $3,600 for co-pays,coinsurance and other cost-sharing, is more than the average U.S.household spends on gas in a year.”

Milliman noted that the Patient Protection and Affordable CareAct hasn't yet made much of an impact on the cost of care for atypical family enrolled in a PPO plan.

But they also said that over the long-term, elements of PPACAthat expand insurance coverage may help reduce the average cost ofcare per service. With fewer uninsured patients, the study said,there's potential to reduce the cost shifting that occurs whenproviders pass the cost of uncompensated care onto insuredpatients.

This article was originally posted at BenefitsPro.com, a sister siteof Credit Union Times.