Terrence Higgins Trust calls for people affected by HIV to engage with new insurance guidelines

A consultation document, released today by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and drawn up in association with THT, aims to inform all insurance companies how to treat applications where HIV may be an issue.

The guidleines will help insurers to assess all applications fairly on the basis of relevant and accurate information and will stop the practice of companies asking applicants excessive, speculative or irrelevant questions.

Martin Kirk, Parliamentary and Campaigns Manager said: “Terrence Higgins Trust welcomes the ABI’s commitment to updating the guidelines. It’s vital that everybody with HIV and those communities most at risk receive fair treatment by insurance companies based on best available medical evidence, reflecting the reality of HIV in the UK today.

"We are confident that this document represents a major step towards achieving this aim and we hope that community organisations, individuals and the insurance industry will engage with this consultation process.”

A consultation document is available on the ABI website (www.abi.org.uk)

Ends