HIV Insurance Questions & Answers

How do life insurance underwriters view a person who has HIV?

Obtaining life insurance for people with HIV can be very difficult because of the inherent and potential health risks involved.

Most insurers will not issue a traditional life insurance policy to a person with HIV. Although medical advancements continue to enhance the survivability, there are many potential health issues that can occur. The final stage of HIV infection is AIDS which can be potentially terminal.

Although some states have changed the laws to press life insurance companies in creating policies to be designed specifically for people with HIV, these policies are still quite different from a traditional life insurance policy.

Another reason why many insurers are reticent in issuing a policy is that there are many side effects which can occur from the therapies used to treat people with HIV. Another factor is that since the virus affects the immune system, a person who has been diagnosed with HIV is more inclined to be less resistant to other infections.

Life insurance for a person with HIV is obtainable but it is generally only available through alternative forms of policies.

What are the health risks of HIV?

HIV is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and is a virus that attacks the body’s anti-immune system. It specifically attacks the T-cells and the CD4 cells which the body uses to fight off infections.

HIV is generally transmitted through unprotected sexual activity. It is treatable and manageable through a variety of prescription therapies, but there is currently no cure for the viral infection.

The virus can develop through several stages. The first stage is the acute infection stage when a person becomes exposed to the virus. Symptoms common to the first stage are very similar to someone who has the flu. The second stage can be initially symptom free but a variety of infections can occur in other parts of the body which can signify the disease’s progression.

Asides form having a much weaker immune system, some people being treated can experience additional health issues from the prescribed medication such as insulin resistance, loss of bone and body fat density, and lactic acidosis just to name a few. If HIV enters the final stage it is known as AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome), and the condition can be fatal.

Finding life Insurance with HIV

Finding life insurance for people with HIV can be virtually impossible for those individuals seeking a traditional life insurance policy. The majority of insurers will issue an automatic decline for those with this diagnosis.

However, there are other non-traditional life insurance policies which can be obtainable for someone who has HIV such as a Guarantee Issue life insurance policy or a Critical Illness policy.

These types of policies are best obtained through a high risk insurance specialist or a very knowledgeable independent insurance agent.

Even these types of policies can vary significantly from each other in terms of the amount of coverage available and the cost for a premium. Life insurance companies that sell these types of policies have different criteria so they there can be considerable differences in both their availability and in their cost.