With the sudden rise of the internet, it seems that people do everything online now; talking, shopping, listening, watching, research, even dating. Over the last ten years, the world has seen an explosion in online activity and the resulting changes that have taken place as a result. For instance, if you were writing to a friend 20 years ago, you would have had to write a letter, get an envelope and stamp of varying cost and wait at least two days before you got a response. Now, however, you can just spend five minutes tapping out a free email which will get delivered immediately. The same can be said for buying financial products such as health insurance. Why go out to the high street and trawl the different providers with representatives pushing policies on you left right and centre, when you could simply sit in front of a computer in the comfort of your own home and make the decision hassle free? This DIY approach has been helped by the increase in number of price comparison websites, but be warned, there are pros and cons to both methods, whether you choose to go down the online route or would rather have a personal touch to your health insurance choice.

The concept of buying health insurance online is one that is becoming more and more appealing to consumers, and, in accordance, more and more people are going down that route. While price comparison websites etc. are very good at doing what computers do best - working the numbers - there are a few things missing from this approach which can be found if you go through an agent. Firstly, one of the great things about price comparison websites is that you can type in what you are looking for, click a button and your options will be displayed within seconds in price order. When it comes to health insurance, however, there are many factors such as differing policies and extra benefits that may not be displayed but which an agent will be able to inform you of. On the flip side, however, some comparison sites do have help sections on their site or advisors you can speak to over the phone.

Your medical history is also important, and a health insurance agent will usually ask about this before you apply, whereas if you have a pre existing condition or have suffered a serious illness in the past, you might very well get turned down online after you have applied. If you go through a good agent, they can do a pre-screen which is not something available online. A good agent will also take other aspects of your lifestyle into consideration in addition to your medical past, such as how often you travel and other lifestyle habits. However, some things are the same whether you apply online or in person. Smoking is a huge factor that will affect the quote you get, so if you are looking for life insurance, now is a good time to kick the habit. Something that is also becoming an important factor for insurers is weight. As more and more stories detailing the obesity epidemic emerge, insurers are increasingly taking weight into account as they decide whether to ensure someone or not and what premium they will be quoted.

Technically, going to an insurance agent costs nothing, as the prices they will quote are usually similar to those found online. It is important to remember, however, that agents get commission - in other words, performance related pay - for each policy they sell, which means that they really, really, want you to buy from them. If you choose to go through an agent, you will also want to make sure they know their facts and are not just trying to do the hard sell.

At the end of the day, the most important factor in health insurance is you. You're the one paying for and benefitting from the policy so don't feel pressured into making a decision if you don't think you've found what you are looking for. Whether you choose to go online or in person, make sure you find a policy that is right for you.