Private health insurance will undergo some changes once the new health care legislation begins. The legislation is intended to help provide health insurance coverage for many people who had formerly been unable to afford their own private insurance. Some portions of the legislation began to be enacted immediately upon passage of the bill, while other portions may not take effect for another year and a half. It is a good idea to get a health insurance quote before you sign up for another year with your current health insurance plan because there have been so many changes to the health insurance system due to the new legislation.

Two of the most sweeping private health insurance reforms deal with how insurance companies handle preexisting conditions and how long an individual is allowed to remain covered by his or her parents' insurance policies. If you have a preexisting condition, or you are covered by a parent's policy, you may benefit from requesting a new health insurance quote as soon as possible. Quotes can be requested quickly and easily through several online insurance quote sites.

The preexisting conditions clause in the new health care legislature will impact hundreds of thousands of Americans who had previously had trouble finding health insurance coverage. In the past, insurance companies were allowed to deny coverage to people with certain types of illnesses. If the person was accepted by the insurance agency, there was generally a 6 month waiting period before their benefits could begin. The new legislation gets rid of the extensive waiting period and allows everyone to receive the same quality of health insurance coverage regardless of a preexisting condition. The new legislation provides health insurance coverage, but it does not limit the amount of money an insurance company can charge for that coverage. People with preexisting conditions may find that it is still extremely expensive to purchase health insurance, but they will have the opportunity to be covered as soon as they are accepted by the insurance company.

Traditionally, children were covered by their parents' health insurance policies until they turned 21 or moved out of their parents' homes. The new legislation requires private health insurance companies to provide insurance to qualified dependents until they are 26 years old. This extension allows the children a longer amount of time to complete college and find their own insurance coverage through their employers. The legislation covers a gap in insurance policies that had been recognized in Americans who did not have the means to purchase their own insurance because they were still dependent upon their parents. Private insurance companies will have to change their policies to accommodate the coverage differences.