Further complicating comparisons, and not part of the study, drug companies often work to help patients with these out-of-pocket (and bank account, and mortgage) costs.
While more companies are allowing employees to work when and where they want to, they increasingly are limiting people's ability to take a leave or work part-time, the Families and Work Institute found in its 2012 National Study of Employers.
The MoD says the new study is part of work being done to ensure it matches its planning assumptions with its spending settlement, and closes the gap between the two.