The federal government will be adding an extra fee to consumer health insurance plans in 2012 in order to pay for healthcare research laid out in the healthcare reform bill, according to The Associated Press.

Research will center around whether new, brand name drugs are more useful to consumers to treat illnesses than the generic equivalent. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will lead the research, according to the source. The organization was created by the federal government and will be partially sponsored by it.

"The more concerning thing is not the institute itself, but how the findings will be used in other areas," Kathryn Nix, a policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation, told the source. "Will they be used to make coverage determinations?"

In total, each fee will be $1 per person, according to the news source. While the federal government may not begin collecting immediately, those with insurance will still owe the funds.

Consumers who are worried about increased health insurance fees may want to examine affordable health insurance quotes to reduce their overall costs, as it may be possible to lock in a manageable rate before further healthcare reforms are implemented.