If you’re one of the many South Africans thriving despite living with HIV, you’ll be glad to know it’s possible to get life insurance coverage.
World AIDS Day, celebrated annually on December 1st, holds special significance in South Africa, where millions are affected by HIV. However, thanks to medical progress and antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV aren’t just living with it, they’re thriving! This day is an important reminder of the incredible strides we’ve made in overcoming the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
If you're living with HIV, you might be wondering about your eligibility for life insurance. The good news is that insurers cannot discriminate against you based on your HIV status. However, they will assess your risk level, similar to the process for individuals with other chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes.
MiWayLife Makes It Easy
When you apply for a policy at MiWayLife, we won’t ask you to do any medical testing but we might ask you to do an HIV test. The requirement for testing is generated based on the information you relay to our call centre agents, along with other factors.
If you are required to undergo a test, we’ll send a professional nurse from a trusted service provider to administer one in the comfort of your home. We don’t offer the option for you to send us your own test results as we work with stringent protocols that need to be followed within the insurance industry. These might not be adhered to at your local clinic or pharmacy.
Know Your CD4 Count
If you’re HIV positive and have a healthy CD4 count (the number of infection-fighting white blood cells in your body), an insurer can accept your application for life cover. Knowing your CD4 count is important because the higher it is, the healthier your immune system is. However, how you manage your HIV diagnosis will play a factor in whether your policy is accepted as well as inform any loading fees.
A loading fee is a small percentage increase in the premium rates that’s calculated using your level of risk. This fee applies to anyone prone to a particular form of risk – whether it be due to their occupation or the state of their health – and is not unique to those living with HIV. (As an example, those suffering from diabetes might also pay a loading fee.) If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV but manage it well and your CD4 count improves, your insurer may reduce or even remove the loading.
The bottom line
Ultimately, just because you’re living with HIV, this doesn’t mean you can’t apply for life insurance and create a financial safety net for your family.
So, why not get a quick quote from MiWayLife today and let us impress you with our great service and affordable premiums?
Did you know:
You can now take out life cover with us online in a few simple steps. No calls and no agents! Make sure to take care of those you love today by buying MiWayLife cover online.
