Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to find a wealth of important information online; thousands of sites offer to sell you an affordable health insurance plan with just one or two clicks. This means that buying a health insurance plan for you, your family or your business is simpler than ever.

But getting health insurance quotes or buying a health insurance plan online requires more discernment than other online purchases. Insurance purchases require an exchange of a great amount of personal information, making it important to find a trustworthy insurance company or broker.

To begin with, it’s a good idea to research the company that will be receiving your personal information. Find one that is up-to-date, utilizing the state-of-the-art privacy technology. Find out if they sell, trade, or give away your information to anyone; the health insurance advisor or counselor you’re working with should know if the company engages in these practices. Be certain you read the ‘Privacy Policy’ disclosure, which covers the confidentiality of all of your data. Reputable companies will have a ‘Contact Us’ link, usually on the top or bottom of the page, to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Another very important task is to learn if the person guiding you through your insurance options is a licensed health insurance agent. These agents can provide you with personal advice as you make your decision for affordable health insurance; they can also guide you through the application process. A licensed health insurance agent must follow strict guidelines mandated by the insurance companies they represent and your state’s department of insurance. It’s also very important to obtain the state license number from the health insurance agent assisting you.

Don’t forget to ask for any phone numbers you may need later, even if you don’t think you’ll need to call the agent back. Most credible sites will not try not to hide any part of this information. The easier it is to find this information, the better—you may have questions later that you haven’t thought of. And on the phone, courteous service is a good indicator of the quality of any health insurance resource.

One final feature to look for in your search for insurance online is a seal of approval from a professional organization. You should only request affordable health insurance quotes from web sites endorsed from an association like the Independent Health Insurance Agent Association.