Colorado residents are going to find it a bit more difficult to find affordable health insurance quotes. Research from the Lockton Benefit Group predicts an average rate increase of 14.4 percent over last year. While costs will likely rise across the country, the anticipated hike in Colorado is the highest.

Companies aren't going to absorb the increase entirely. More than 70 percent of survey respondents indicated that employees would be expected to pay higher premiums. Furthermore, deductible rates are high as well. The study found that just under 50 percent have a premium of more than $1,000, which marks an increase from last year and is higher than national averages.

Lockton Benefit president Bill Lindsay says higher health insurance premiums hurt Colorado residents.

"This makes it harder for Colorado employers to compete," says Lindsay. "Moreover, the resulting plan changes place Colorado workers at a greater disadvantage in terms of higher deductibles, out-of-pocket expense, and more significant premium cost sharing than their counterparts nationally."

Complying with healthcare reform was also noted as a concern for employers in the survey. The new laws will allow for adult children to stay on their parent's plan until age 26, which may prove to be costly to companies.

When consumers are searching for affordable health insurance quotes, they may end up selecting a policy with a high deductible. Such coverage tends to be less expensive in terms of monthly premiums because the deductible is high.

According to a report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Californians on such plans are more likely to delay care. In some cases, a deductible can be as high as $5,000. However, when the health insurance exchanges are in place, a cap of $2,000 for individual plans and $4,000 will apply to family insurance plans.

Health Policy Research Center scientist Dylan Roby says in some cases, a plan that requires higher monthly payments may yield savings in the long-run.

"Many Californians can't afford higher-premium plans, especially in the current economic climate," says Roby. "But the alternative - high-deductible plans - may cost less initially, but can cost thousands of dollars when you need health care. When that much money is on the line, a health emergency can also become a financial emergency."

Another way consumers can save on medical expenses is with a health savings account. The program allows consumers to deposit funds without a tax penalty.