PRESS RELEASE

22nd September 2003

Life Assurance HIV Guidelines and Gay Men

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has recently been reviewing the statement of best practice for HIV and insurance. Pinkfinance.com have played a major role in the drafting these new guidelines, in representing the gay community.

Chris Morgan of Pinkfinance.com has been involved in all areas of the new document. However, his main areas of concern have related to the use of highly personal and speculative questioning of gay men when establishing HIV risk.

Many of his proposals have been accepted into the document, which will now be opened for consultation.

Commenting on the proposed new guidelines Chris Morgan said;

"Questions relating to lifestyle, sexual habits, monogamous relationships, length of relationships, past HIV tests, occupation (Hairdresser, Cabin crew, Ballet dancer) and Co-habitation, are all highly intrusive, and a breach of human rights.

Speculative questioning of a persons GP on non clinical issues, such as sexuality is inappropriate, and out of line with the current British Medical Association (BMA) guidelines.

Personal questioning of gay men, on policies such as Income Protection, Critical Illness and Long Term Care Insurance is unnecessary, considering that the majority of these policies do not cover HIV risk.

Under the new Statement of Best Practice on HIV and Insurance many of Pink Finance's concerns have been addressed by the inclusion of new industry standards. 

• (2.3) Outlawing the use of a person's occupation as an indication of their sexuality.
• (2.4) No longer using Co-habitation questions on application forms to identify same sex couples.
• (3.1)(3.2)(3.3) The speculative questioning of GP's, regarding a person's sexuality being brought in line with the BMA guidelines.
• (3.5) Reinforcement of the guideline relating to disclosure of past HIV tests, with companies only being permitted to ask if a person has already tested positive.
• (A.6) Removal of personal questions relating to sexuality on Income Protection and Long Term Care, in cases where the policies do not cover HIV risk (critical illness cover open for discussion within the consultation).
• (B.6) Removal of Supplementary questions for gay men which relate to the number of sexual partners, length of relationships, monogamy and Past HIV tests.
• (B.7) The introduction of a new respectful and relevant question, declaring 'safe sexual behaviour', which applies to all Risk Groups, not solely gay men."

Chris Morgan finished by saying...

"These proposed best practice guidelines demonstrate a new level of respect towards gay men from the Association of British Insurer's. The real test of respect towards the gay community will be the attitude of the Life Assurance Companies, in the coming weeks, as the document passes through the consultation. 

The Pinkfinance Life Assurance Campaign, has now given the gay community the opportunity to be heard, and respond to the discrimination of the past. The Association of British Insurers are very keen for the whole of the gay community to play their part in the consultation exercise, and we urge everyone to express their feelings."

Download the press release in Acrobat pdf here. 

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