Pink Finance is at the forefront for highlighting the issues that gay men face when applying for Life Assurance products.

The guidelines that oversee the personal questions we're asked on Life Assurance, Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover date back to 1994.

We have a number of suggestions of how the Association of British Insurers (ABI) can improve the statement of best practice guidelines for HIV issues. We hope these suggestions will contribute to changing the insurer's attitudes and removing the discrimination that gay men face when applying for insurance.

Present

Any ‘single’ male applying for Life Assurance is still more likely than not to be asked for a lifestyle questionnaire in the UK. This normally asks if the person applying belongs to one of the following government recognised high-risk groups for HIV.

• Homosexuals
• Bisexuals
• Intravenous drug users
• Haemophiliacs
• Recipients of blood products, during medical treatment you received outside the United Kingdom
• Sexual Partners of the above groups

Single males are more often than not asked for an HIV test.

On answering yes to Homosexual, or Bisexual some companies will then ask a further set of highly personal questions relating to sexual behaviour, monogamy, STD's and even your partners sexual behaviour.

Although some companies do not ask personal questions and require HIV tests of single males for cover below £100,000, the majority do. Pink Finance has even found Life Assurance companies to be sending questionnaires on the basis of people's occupation, such as Cabin Crew! 

Previously, Life Assurance companies have also approached GP's for information about the applicant and these reports have included questions relating to lifestyle and sexuality. GP's have often provided speculative information, which has then been used unfairly by Life Assurance companies to make underwriting decisions.

Some insurance companies flatly decline gay men, others load the premiums on the plan - often doubling of even trebling the amount that we're required to pay for insurance products.

Our Proposals

Pink Finance believes that it's time the best practice guidelines used by the Life Assurance Industry are brought up to date, especially in light of the latest UK HIV figures that show rising diagnosis rates in the Heterosexual community. The Life Assurance Industry must recognise that HIV is not just a gay issue and affects everyone. 

We propose:

1. The existing 1994 guidelines should be reinforced, with special attention to questions focused on asking if a person has tested for HIV. It was deemed unreasonable to ask this question almost ten years ago, so why are companies still asking applicants?
2. The British Medical Association have recently altered their guidelines for GP's (The Blue Book), to reflect that speculative information relating to STD's and lifestyle should not be shared with life Assurance companies. The ABI guidelines should mirror this stance and Life Assurance Companies should not be allowed to ask.
3. The level at which life assurance companies ask for a personal lifestyle questionnaire and HIV test should be equal for all groups. Recent diagnosis figures for HIV in the UK support a relaxation of the discrimination that gay men face.
4. The second level questions relating to sexual behaviour, STD's, partner’s behaviour and safe sex should be removed. The questions are so intrusive that it’s unlikely the recipient will answer truthfully, or even return the questionnaire.
5. Questions relating to sexual partners behaviour should be removed, as the applicant may not even know their partners history and it is unfair to use speculative information to make underwriting decisions.
6. Life Assurance companies should not be allowed to use a person's occupation as an indication of sexuality. Using occupations such as Cabin Crew, Ballet Dancer and Hairdresser as an indication of sexuality is speculative and blatantly discriminatory. 

Process

The ABI are currently reviewing the industry practice guidelines for HIV issues (incorporating questions asked of gay men). Editor, Chris Morgan is leading the group working on the gay community’s behalf for change. He welcomes any comments, suggestions, and case examples of discrimination you may have to offer.

He has recently suggested specific changes to the ABI guidelines, which will be put to the industry for consultation. This is your chance to have you say, by forwarding any suggestions you may have.

Please email us with them.  

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