Red flags

Some telltale warning signs that health insurance is probably not full coverage and lacks important patient protections.

An agent asks questions about health history or current conditions or medications. Under the Affordable Care Act, medical underwriting is prohibited, which means that customers cannot be charged more, limited in their coverage or denied outright based on medical condition, both past and present.

An agent wants a deposit or one-month payment before sending plan specifics. Even if they promise that you cancel at any time for a refund, this is a high-pressure tactic and can lead to misunderstanding what you are buying. Ask for a written summary of benefits and coverage. A warning sign is if they can’t answer questions about a plan’s coverage.

Dollar limits on hospital stays or surgeries. The ACA bans annual dollar limits that health plans can put on most covered health benefits.

The phone won’t stop ringing. Be wary if you get a barrage of marketing or sales phone calls, especially if it is not someone you called first. Lots of lead-generating websites collect some personal information and send it to agents who follow up aggressively by phone. You don’t need to buy a plan over the phone.

Price. If a price is much lower than other companies you’ve checked with, it probably means the plan has fewer benefits and more limits.