While Canadians do not pay directly for healthcare, a new study suggests that the average family of four pays just under $11,494 for public medical insurance through their taxes.

But the research from the Fraser Institute also points out that the actual cost per family is dependent on income.

It says the 10 percent of Canadian families with the lowest incomes will pay an average of $443 for public health insurance through their taxes this year, while family among the top 10 percent of income earners will pay just over $37,361 through their taxes.

Bacchus Barua is the senior economist at the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Health Policy Studies and co-author of The Price of Public Health Insurance.

He says “hopefully these dollar amounts will help Canadians better understand just how much they pay for public health care insurance and decide whether they’re getting good value for their money.”