“Why are Life Insurance companies increasingly declining more people living with HIV? – Part Two” – Commentary By Chris Morgan
When HIV Life Insurance was introduced in the UK in 2009 I was always aware that not everyone would be eligible for cover initially. In the early days of HIV Life Insurance, less than 50% of applications were being accepted, which of course meant that more than 50% were being declined.
Any financial services product where more than 50% of applications are being declined is not sustainable, as this affects consumer opinion about the product long term. Over the last twelve years we have worked very hard to improve accessibility to Life Insurance for people with HIV. Before COVID struck 90% of insurers were offering cover to people living with HIV.
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However, there has been a large shift in our latest research where only 28% of financial institutions (Banks, Building Societies and Life Insurance Companies) are currently offering Life Insurance to people with HIV. This means that we are seeing a large increase in the number of people being declined for Life Insurance, without any reasonable explanation.
Throughout the pandemic we have been working on solutions for the HIV Community that will guarantee a level of “Life Insurance For All”. For anyone contacting our office between the ages of 18-64, we are able to guarantee access to some form of Life Insurance, it doesn’t matter if they were declined elsewhere – we can help.
Client Case Example, Tony and Rachel, Ages 38 and 36, Engineer and School Teacher.
They approached me because they had been refused cover elsewhere as Rachel has an additional significant medical condition, which was diagnosed separately to HIV. This had that prevented her from getting Life Insurance several times before. The thing to remember though is just because one insurance company turns you down, it doesn’t necessarily mean they all will.
Due to changing attitudes with some insurers towards “Co-Risk” (which is where someone is diagnosed with HIV and also other medical conditions), we were able to secure Rachel Life Insurance cover with reasonable premiums. Only a year before, the very same circumstances would have been an automatic decline of cover. If you were declined before, it will most certainly be worth trying again.
Declined For Cover? We Can Help
Throughout the pandemic, we have been more determined than ever to make certain that everyone is able to access some form of Life Insurance, as a basic human right, to protect their mortgages, debts and families. Keep checking back to my new HIV and Insurance column for further details of our “Life Insurance For All!” campaign.
Who are Unusual Risks?
We are the UK’s leading specialists at placing HIV Life Insurance and HIV Life Assurance. Chris Morgan, our lead financial adviser, led a decade long campaign to secure Life Insurance for the HIV Community and has been advising the HIV Community for over two decades.
He was responsible for the removal of the “Gay Question” from Life Insurance policies in 2005 and was part of the working group that designed and introduced HIV life Insurance products in 2009. More recently, in 2017, Chris has co-written the Industry best practice and consumer guide.
Currently Chris is campaigning for equality with regards to Life Insurance, Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover for the HIV Community. He is a well known advocate, activist and campaigner on Insurance issues, who undertakes regular speaking engagements on HIV Insurance issues.
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You can read more about HIV Life Insurance & HIV Life Assurance Here at our useful guide …
HIV Insurance – Part 1 – The Unusual Risks Guide to HIV Life Insurance, HIV Life Assurance, HIV Mortgage Life Insurance, HIV Whole of Life Assurance
You can read more about HIV Income Protection & HIV Critical Illness Cover here at our useful guide …
HIV Insurance – Part 2 – The Unusual Risks Guide to HIV Income Protection & HIV Critical Illness Cover.
You get to know your adviser by reading Chris Morgan’s full career biography here ...
You get to know your adviser by reading Chris Morgan’s full career biography here ...
Adviser Career Biography – Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan is a fully qualified Financial Adviser and has been writing on HIV Insurance and HIV Finance issues for over 20 years. His column has previously been resident for publications such as Baseline Magazine and Pink Paper.
For more information about HIV Insurance and Finance matters he may be contacted at Unusual Risks Mortgage & Insurance Services by phone 0845 474 3075. Email: Enquiries@unusualrisks.co.uk Web: www.unusualrisks.co.uk Blog: www.unusual-risks.co.uk