Insurance success for people with HIV

At least 3000 people living with HIV are set to reap the benefits of having access to life insurance for the first time.

The move has been praised by prevention and support organisations who say the stigma of living with the disease had previously prevented any cover being offered to those with the disease.

They have labelled the decision as "sound" and "timely" with more New Zealanders living with HIV than ever before.

Without life insurance, many of those with HIV have been unable to gain a mortgage for a house.

The managing director of Hamilton insurance broker Your Life and Associates, Reuben Waihi, made life insurance available to people with HIV after the company advocated on behalf of an HIV woman who was initially refused cover by insurance companies.

"We believe that everyone's needs are different so when one of our customers with HIV was unable to get life insurance despite being in good health, Neil Peters, a client adviser, was determined to offer a service that met her needs."

Aids Foundation spokeswoman Dawn O'Connor said the move was a real recognition that people were living and working with the disease. Previously insurance firms had acted as if people with HIV "would die within a year" however, that was no longer the case.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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