Patients will have greater protection from catastrophic medical bills when rules capping out-of-pocket spending go into effect in 2014, according to a report commissioned by the consumer group Families USA.

The report found that in 2011, nearly 15 million people under age 65 will spend more than the out-of-pocket limit for medical care provided in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

If these annual spending caps were in effect today, limits on out-of-pocket spending on medical costs would be nearly $6,000 for individual and nearly $12,000 for families. But many families pay far more. This year, total consumer spending will exceed the caps by about $24.7 billion, according to the report conducted by the Lewin Group.

People working for small businesses will benefit most from the change, according to the report. About 42% of those who will exceed the caps in the health reform law this year are in families where the head of household works for a small business. Small-business employees this year are projected to spend nearly $10.3 billion more than the allowable limit under the law's threshold that is set for 2014.

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, said the spending caps “will have a profound, beneficial impact on the fortunes, finances and futures of America's families.”