Life Insurance and HIV
It's an unfortunate situation, but getting life insurance with HIV can often be an exhausting and difficult process.
That doesn't mean you can't get insurance, but it's likely going to cost more and it's certainly more difficult to obtain than individuals that have other conditions. One of the issues is that the health industry doesn't have enough information to understand the patterns associated with the treatment of HIV. As the insurance companies continue to gather more information and life expectancy continues to increase, the possibility of getting life insurance will go up as well.
Application
When you apply for life insurance, do not lie about your condition. If you don't disclose the information, they likely will decline your benefits in the event that you need them. Additionally, medical background checks will likely reveal that you have HIV anyway. An HIV test will most likely be required, and the results of the test will dictate the options you have available to you. With the strict insurance underwriting principles, it is very likely that you will be declined coverage. Don't let a declination from an insurance company discourage you, keep applying until you find a company that will take you. If you do get approved, expect to pay higher premiums due to the condition.
Factors
Younger patients will likely find it harder to get insurance than older patients. HIV has a 24-year life expectancy according to the insurance industry. With an expectation like that, it's unlikely in the insurance companies eyes that you would outlive the policy. An older person is a lower risk because a younger person with HIV will likely end up requiring the insurance company to pay for treatment. Of course, with the advanced in medicine, this might not be the case in another few years. However, insurance companies are always playing the odds and they don't base their predictions on future medical technologies.
Options
There are options for people with HIV. You can work with an insurance broker that specializes in difficult life insurance cases like HIV. There are two potential plans that a broker may offer — simplified issue insurance plans and guaranteed issue. With a simplified issue insurance plan, the policy has a limited death benefit. In many cases, this could be no more than $250,000. You will pay higher premiums, but you might be able to take a lower death benefit to pay lower fees. Guaranteed issue provides you with a plan that doesn't require a medical exam. The death benefit is typically only $25,000. Policy requirements prevent payouts for those who die within one to three years of acquiring the plan.
Group life insurance is a third option. There are no medical qualifying requirements, and group plans are able to take everyone as part of a larger pool. You may be able to get this insurance through your employer or an organization you are a part of. It's a suitable option for people who have it available to them.
