HIV-positive people get life assurance

Sanlam is offering what it calls "normal" health insurance cover to HIV-positive people. The cover will not be cancelled when HIV-positive people become sick or develop full-blown Aids.

Previously, life assurance cover was withdrawn when a person developed Aids.

Many companies deny life cover to HIV-positive people, while others offer it at such high premiums that few can afford it. Life assurance is needed for a variety of reasons but is mandatory to obtain a home loan.

Once an HIV-positive person buys Sanlam's cover, it remains in effect no matter how sick the person gets.

The change in life assurance cover is a result of research that showed that people who take ant-iretrovirals regularly for six months tend to comply with their treatment regimen for years and thus survive.

"[People want] to hang onto life as long as possible. There should be little reason for anyone to stop treatment," said Pieter Coetzer, chief medical adviser for Sanlam.

Research by UCT actuary Leigh Johnson has shown that people on anti-retrovirals have 80% of the lifespan of HIV-negative people.

Source: The Times via I-Net Bridge