The estimated cost of Canada's public health-care system for families is drawing fresh attention after a new study put the figure at more than $21,000 for a typical family of four in 2026.

The study, released July 28 by the Fraser Institute, estimates that a family of two parents and two children with an average household income of $202,885 will pay approximately $21,115 toward public health-care insurance this year through the tax system and government revenues.

The estimate varies depending on household type. According to the study, couples without dependent children are estimated to pay $19,225, while a single Canadian is estimated to pay $6,464. A single parent with one child is estimated to pay about $6,966.

The report argues that Canadians may not always see the full cost of health care because medical services generally do not come with a direct bill at the point of care. Instead, the system is largely financed through general government revenues and taxes.

The study also compares the long-term growth of estimated health-care costs with household expenses. It says the cost of public health-care insurance for the average Canadian family has increased faster than food, housing and average income since 1997.

The findings are likely to fuel continued discussion about health-care spending, taxation and the sustainability of Canada's public health system.

The figures are estimates from the Fraser Institute rather than a direct medical bill paid by individual households, but they provide another measure of the financial scale of Canada's publicly funded health-care system.