Some insurers have been accused of trying to raise premiums and giving higher medical insurance quotes before all of the new provisions of healthcare reform set in. Earlier this year, for example, multiple health insurers tried to raise rates in California. Their requests were withdrawn after a mathematical error was detected in their proposal paperwork.

Recently, New York State Insurance Department Superintendent of Insurance James Wrynn sent a letter to health insurance companies saying they must provide detailed information for proposed rate hikes.

Wrynn says consumers need accurate information in order to make decisions.

"New York's new prior approval law requires insurers to send written notice of proposed rate increases, including the specific change requested, to insureds so they can understand the rate increase and ask questions or provide comments to the insurer or the insurance department," says Wrynn.

Furthermore, Wrynn mentions in his letter that some insurers have sent their customers misleading information to back their rate increases. He wrote that companies need to clearly and accurately explain components of higher rates.

With healthcare reform well underway, some are accusing insurance companies of doing all they can to ensure they continue to bring in large profits.

One of the new provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act prohibits health insurance companies from denying children coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Rather than offer affordable individual health insurance quotes, a major health insurance company has decided to stop offering child-only policies in Oregon.

Oregon State Public Interest Research Groups' Laura Etherton told Oregon Public Broadcasting that the reasoning behind insurance companies who decide to drop child-only plans may be more than meets the eye.

"I think that this can be seen as a little bit of a game of chicken going on between the insurance companies and the public," says Etherton. "There's a little bit of an attempt to scare people into thinking 'well maybe we won't cover anybody at all any more,' and that's disappointing."

Earlier this month, several large health insurance companies in Colorado also announced they would no longer offer child-only policies.

Families who cannot afford health insurance for their little ones should look into government programs. Most states offer insurance coverage to those with meet certain income criteria.

Healthcare reform is forcing companies of all sizes to reasses their insurance benefit offerings. Employers with more than 200 employees, for example, are required to automatically enroll their staff unless they specifically opt out.

A nonprofit group called the Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers is setting out to help companies in light of reform. The goal of the organization is to help employers with value-based benefits.

The National Business Coalition on Health president and CEO Andrew Webber says that companies are looking for ways to cut costs while still providing for their employees. Employers are reportedly responsible for nearly 60 percent of healthcare plans in the country.

"Through this project employers will be able to integrate and better understand the health data on their covered populations, which is critical for successful benefit design and employee communications," says Barbara Prowe of the Oregon Health Strategy Project.

There are a variety of websites individuals can go to if they are confused about new provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Recently, the government unveiled its own website where consumers can get information about individual and family health insurance plans through private and government channels.