On May 18, Milliman Principals Lorraine Mayne, Kate Fitch, and Ron Cornwell presented results from the 2009 Milliman Medical Index (MMI). The MMI tracks the changes in average yearly healthcare costs when the family of four is covered by an employer-sponsored preferred provider organization (PPO). The study provides not only a total cost number for this family but also the share of costs between employers and employees. It also offers cost differences among 14 metropolitan areas. For 2009, the average total medical spending for a typical American family of four reached $16,771. Listen to the podcast.