At the end of September, the first round of major healthcare provisions were implemented. One of the new regulations made it illegal for health insurers to deny coverage for children based on a pre-existing condition.

Shortly before the law was set to take effect, several health insurance companies announced they would stop issuing new child-only policies. Such actions were undertaken by health insurers in Washington state, Colorado, and Oregon.

The National Patient Advocate Foundation president and CEO Nancy Davenport-Ennis is voicing opposition for dropping child-only plans.

"We encourage these health insurers to reconsider and to find ways to extend coverage, regardless of prior or current health status, in order to assist the millions of parents across the United States who are struggling to provide healthcare for their children faced with chronic disease conditions," said Davenport-Ennis in a statement.

To highlight the seriousness of the situation, the NPAF tells of a patient who experienced difficulty getting care after his individual health insurance policy was denied. The foundation asserts the patient would not have had to wait for care if he had coverage at the time of his diagnosis.

With economic recovery slow and unemployment numbers still high, obtaining health insurance has become difficult for some people. A large number of Americans have struggled to find affordable health insurance quotes on their own and are turning to government healthcare for their needs.

A Gallup poll shows that more than 26 percent of Americans reported relying on Medicare, Medicaid, or military benefits last month. The increased reliance on government healthcare plans coincides with a decline in people reporting they received health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan. When Gallup began collecting data on health insurance in January 2008, just over 22 percent reported being on a government-sponsored plan.

The number of Americans who are uninsured has been holding steady since August at approximately 16 percent. Gallup notes that such findings may change in the future as provisions under the Affordable Care Act are implemented.

Medicaid is a health insurance option for those who meet income and other eligibility requirements. With the unemployment numbers being high, more people may become qualified for such programs. Those who don't qualify for such programs may want to try researching plans online to find one that meet their needs and price range.

Americans face some of the highest health insurance quotes in the modernized world. Despite the amount of money spent on healthcare in the country, recent research shows that it's not paying off.

Experts from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health compared healthcare spending and behavioral risk factors in comparison to other industrialized countries. While Americans have increased their longevity over the years, other countries have done so even more.

The data shows that smoking and obesity levels are not to blame for the country not faring better. The researchers point instead to the quality of healthcare people are receiving.

Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis says the study's findings are disappointing, but the Affordable Care Act stands to improve the healthcare system in the country.

"This study provides stark evidence that the U.S. health care system has been failing Americans for years," says Davis. "It is unacceptable that the U.S. obtains so much less than should be expected from its unusually high spending on health care relative to other countries."

The Kaiser Family Foundation says healthcare expenditures exceeded $2.3 trillion in 2008.