Before, if you are HIV positive you can never get insured. Insurance companies will decline you right away if you declared it.
HIV in the Philippines
The Philippines is currently one of nine countries with rapidly increasing cases of HIV infection.
The annual reported cases of HIV in the country have increased 37 times in the last decade. Sexual transmission still accounts for over 95 percent of cases, and a major shift from heterosexual to MSM (men having sex with men) transmission has occurred.
Based on the HIV/AIDS registry of the Department of Health (DOH), 26 new HIV/AIDS cases were documented every day in 2016. The figure is up from one case in 2008; four cases in 2010; nine cases in 2012 and 17 cases in 2014.
The DOH recorded a total of 39,622 HIV cases, including 3,665 AIDS, from January 1984 to December 2016. (Salvana, Philstar)
Among the hard hit are the youth. According to Seguerra of National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson, “Out of 28 Filipinos living with HIV, 24 of these are the youth, a little more than 60 percent of new infections are among 15 to 24 years old.” (CNN Philippines)
HIV, Life Insurance and Insurance Commission
This February 2017, the Insurance Commission (IC) has issued a new underwriting guideline in the assessment for risks of personas with actual or perceived human immune deficiency virus (HIV) to help alleviate the economic strain to the person and their families.
According to Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa, the guidelines will enable insurance companies to offer fully underwritten life insurance to customers with actual, perceived or suspected to be inflicted with HIV. (Business Mirror)
According to the report of the Business Mirror, the crafting of the new guidelines was in collaboration with the Life Underwriters Associations of the Philippines, the Philippine Society of Insurance Medicine and the Philippine Life Insurance Associations – Medical Information Database.
Insurance companies are not required to create new insurance policies but instead special underwriting standards will be used in existing life-insurance policies under the new guidelines, according to the IC.
Insurance companies may now provide insurance cover to a person with HIV if the applicant is undergoing proper medical treatment, has a favorable risk profile, and the results of the medical examinations required are within normal limits.
In case of newly discovered persons who are HIV positive, the insurance companies can defer the issuance of the life insurance policy for not more than one year from the start of continuous antiretroviral treatment. This period is required to see if the patient is compliant to the treatment.
The public should also understand that persons with HIV may be insured but will undergo the rigorous underwriting procedure by the insurance company as guided by the Insurance Commission.
The same with persons with pre-existing diseases, the insurance company still has a right to defer and decline the client if the result is unfavorable. If in cases the insurance company shall accept a client, most probably the policy is rated, meaning it is more expensive than the standard person with no HIV or no comorbidities. Read more on this underwriting procedures: people with diseases getting insurance.
I always say this, “the best time to get a policy, is when you are young and healthy. Not only it is cheaper, but you lock in the premium, your health and insurability at the time you got your life insurance.
For Your Financial Health,
Read more:
- Underwriting procedures: When is the Right time to get a life insurance Policy?
- 10 Things you should know about your life insurance policy you never knew before
- Buti pa ang Kotse Insured, Eh Ikaw?
- The Cost of Dying in the Philippines
- Can You Insure your Love?
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Great Article! Thanks!
I got a life insurance 2 yrs ago and still paying my premiums so it is in effect still, I was diagnosed with HIV 4 months ago. I understand rhe the supplements policy does not cover claims if HIV related illness, what about my regular Life Insurance? Can my beneficiary claim the regular life insurance if I pass away due to HIV?
Yes, because I you got the policy first before the diagnosis, but also depends on how you answer the medical questionaire when you got the policy.
Another thing, there is only a 2 year contestability. Meaning, should you die after 2 years from the policy effective date, then you passed the contestability period. Your beneficiary can claim your life insurance with any cause of death. But please don’t Lapse your policy or else the contestability period will be back to day 1.
Thank you very much. Atleast I can assure my family of the benifits they can get in case something happen to me.
Hi Dr. Intal,
My partner has HIV and undergoing treatment right now. 1 year into treatment and his viral load is undetectable. Your article is good news for us!
I was wondering if this is already adopted by insurance companies here in the Philippines? My partner wants to get an insurance but don’t know how to go about this.
Yes, the news is from the Philippine Insurance Commission.
Hello,
I am a Financial Adviser/Life Insurance Agent of an Insurance Company.
Just this week, I had a Life Insurance Policy Application (VUL), concerning an HIV Patient, approved by our Underwriter. We were honest in disclosing the health condiiton of the applicant.
If you need any assistance, you may email me at emg12316@gmail.com
Regards,
If you would like to know
Good day Dr. Intal.
I bought a life insurance last 2010 and still paying until 2020 with a dread disease rider. Meaning if i get any dread disease i.e. cancer, stroke, renal failure, paralysis, etc. the insured will receive certain amount. But on 2013 I was diagnosed with HIV, and I am in my ARV therapy for 5 years now. What happens if i get any of the these dreaded disases? Will my dependent still get the benefit if something happens to me due to HIV related diseases?
I reviewed the policy, there is an exclusion indicating that NO AMOUNT SHALL BE PAYABLE if the dread disease was caused directly or indirectly by the presence of HIV.
If it’s a direct cause of HIV, I believe yes. But if HIV is cause by blood transfusion, it will be another story. You can talk to your agent to be sure.