Rising health insurance quotes and overall medical expenses have been a topic of much discussion as of late. Some people in Colorado, however, are about to experience some cost relief.

The Colorado Division of Insurance and a major healthcare provider have reached an agreement that will be putting $20 million in premium funds back into the pockets of some individual health insurance policy holders from January 1 to September 30 of this year.

Those affected by the decision will receive the credit either as a premium reduction or a check if they are no longer covered by the insurer.

"Getting $20 million back into the pockets of Colorado consumers is a positive and beneficial outcome," says Insurance Commissioner Marcy Morrison. "We will continue our active review of all rate filings."

An investigation was launched after a number of complaints about rate hikes were filed with the department.

Earlier this year, some health insurance companies tried to increase their rates as well. However, those companies withdrew those requests before they were every put into affect.

Recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the number of uninsured Americans grew last year, the first time such a discovery was made since the data was first collected. The number of uninsured people may rise still further, before it drops down.

Several large health insurance companies will stop offering child-only health policies in Colorado. That means parents who already struggle to find affordable health insurance quotes for themselves and their children might experience even more difficulty finding a plan.

Some are saying health insurance companies are dropping child-only policies because they will be required to accept children with pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act.

The Denver Business Journal received an estimate from a broker that less than 5 percent of annual sales are for child-only policies. Children are typically covered on their parents health insurance plan or are Medicaid recipients.

There are other places children can still receive medical care. Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics' Dr. Larry Wolk told the Denver ABC News affiliate that they will provide care for children regardless of their insurance status.

Some ethnic groups are more susceptible to certain health conditions than others. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced they will be awarding more than $14 million to help research patient-centered outcomes, particularly in racial and ethnic minorities.

Diabetes is one condition that strikes minorities more than other segments of the population. The American Diabetes Association says while heart disease can affect anyone, the condition is more prevalent in African-American and Hispanic populations. People with those serious health conditions may receive higher health insurance quotes.

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities director John Ruffin says the research is needed to understand how to best serve all portions of the population.

"Patient-centered outcomes research must become a critical part of our strategy as a nation to understand and eliminate health disparities," says Ruffin. "This joint initiative complements the work that we are currently doing and is a testament to the value of partnerships."

The funding will also aimed to help provide better information to patients so they can make more informed healthcare decisions.