so, elisabeth leamy set out to see if the insurance companies are ready. >> reporter: insurance company phone lines were burning up today. >> experience a brief delay. >> reporter: as people tried to get information about their new health care options. we got on the phone, too. i heard that today i could add my 25-year-old child to the plan? that's your right, starting today. the cost at one health plan we reached, a rate hike from $130 a month to $182 a month. a 40% increase. as of today, new plans will have to provide preventive care like mammograms without charging a deductible or copay for them. is it really free, this preventive care or won't premiums be higher? >> yeah, i think in the short-term, we do understand that premiums will go up a bit, because we get some new protections and some new coverage. >> reporter: experts estimate premiums will go up as much as 3%. so, a family of four, paying $1,000 a month, would pay an extra $30. also starting today, insurers can't deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. but they can charge them more than they do healthy kids.