A consulting firm has said that the cost of healthcare for a U. S. family of four is $18,074, an increase of $1,303 from last year, the highest ever.

It has been reported that the Milliman Medical Index, created by Milliman Inc., an independent actuarial and consulting firm based in Seattle, tracks the changes in average annual healthcare costs for a U. S. family of four among 14 metropolitan areas covered by an employer-paid preferred provider organization.

Study co-author Lorraine Mayne, Milliman principal and consulting actuary, says in a statement, "The cost of group insurance continues to increase at a historically-consistent pace, even with reform now the law of the land. The cost of group insurance continues to increase at a historically-consistent pace, even with reform now the law of the land. While there will be short-term cost implications, especially for particular employees and certain employers, this year reflects a continuation of the prevailing cost trends."

The healthcare cost for the family of four is calculated by the number, type and cost of healthcare services and how much the employee's health plan pays the medical providers for the services.

The study further said that the medical costs range from more than $20,000 in New York, Miami and Chicago to $16,071 in Phoenix. (With Inputs from Agencies)