A consultation paper to update the way insurance companies deal with life insurance applications where HIV may be an issue has been published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The ABI is preparing a new statement of best practice to enable insurers to assess applications fairly and effectively while avoiding intrusive of inappropriate questioning.
The document covers insurance where HIV can be an issue - term life, critical illness, income protection, long-term care and the life insurance element of whole life and endowments.
Richard Walsh, head of health at the ABI, said: "It is important in our view that all customers should feel that they are being treated with respect and that their premiums should fairly reflect the relative risk they bring to the insurance pool.
"This Statement marks a significant step forward for both the industry and all our customers. The industry wants to offer terms that fairly reflect risk. Customers do not want intrusive or inappropriate questions. Following this consultation, I am optimistic that we can achieve both of these goals," said Walsh.
Proposals within the document include the introduction of standard questions to assess levels of risk which do not use speculation or inference to assume information, and the explanations insurers should give to their clients if they have been asked to take an HIV test and what happens if the test is positive, negative or inconclusive.
Walsh said the ABI had already consulted the Terrence Higgins Trust and Pinkfinance.com, and other organizations involved in HIV and AIDS work.
The consultation document is available on the ABI website (www.abi.org.uk).
