People living with HIV

When applying for life insurance, we will ask you a range of health-related questions. If you disclose an HIV-positive status, we will ask additional questions about your diagnosis, treatment plan, viral load and related conditions.

We will request your doctor’s details and your consent for us to write to your doctor to obtain a medical report. The report will likely include details such as your CD4 count, viral load, other blood test results and treatment plan. If your blood tests are not recent, we may ask you to have a blood test.

It is important to give as much accurate information as possible so that we can provide you with the right level of cover for your needs.

Disclosing your status does not necessarily mean that you can’t claim for HIV. However, there are certain instances where an exclusion may be applied. If this is the case, we would always inform you before you agree to commence the policy.

For example, Critical Illness insurance pays a benefit for medically or occupationally acquired HIV by medical professionals through a needlestick injury. If you disclose an HIV-positive status, these events would be removed from your policy, but you would be covered for a range of other critical illnesses.

Life insurance, income protection and total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance will usually not exclude HIV. In some cases, a loading may apply and in other cases, you may receive cover without restriction, depending on your individual circumstances. In certain scenarios, we may not be able to offer you cover at all.

If you would like to understand your cover options better, we can help you navigate the application process and get a level of cover to suit your circumstances.

We believe everyone should be able to secure financial protection for themselves and their loved ones and we will do our best to provide the cover you need.

Here are some useful resources to support you as you live with HIV.

ViiV Healthcare is a pharmaceutical company focused solely on HIV and AIDS, helping people living with or affected by HIV to thrive.

ACON supports people living with HIV to live healthy and connected lives.

The National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) is Australia’s peak non-government organisation representing community-based groups of people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Health Equity Matters champions awareness, understanding and proactivity around HIV prevention, education, support and research, and provides a voice for communities affected by HIV.