Compare HIV life insurance UK

Life insurance with HIV is now quicker and easier to get than it has ever been in the UK. We believe life insurance is always worth considering if you have children or a mortgage to think about, as it’s the cheapest and best way to protect your loved ones.

We get that not everyone knows the ins and outs of how life insurance works, especially if you have medical conditions. This is why we’ve put together this handy guide, to explain everything you need to know about HIV and life insurance in a simple way.

Life insurance can provide your family with financial security, and it can be more affordable than you’d imagine if you talk to an expert. Getting the right support can be the key to finding the perfect policy to look after your loved ones for years to come.

Why are we HIV life insurance experts?

HIV treatments have come a long way over the last 20 to 30 years. This means that people are living longer and healthier lives. This is brilliant and as an extra bonus this has also made getting life insurance much easier than it would have been in the past.

We’re proud to have helped thousands of people with medical conditions like HIV find the right policies to look after their families.

Our life insurance specialists can answer all your questions about HIV and life insurance in areas like:

Is life insurance available for people with HIV?
Recent diagnosis and your best options for insurance cover
Which life insurance companies are a good option for someone with HIV?
What is the best life insurance for HIV patients?

We believe in fair treatment for everyone applying for life insurance, especially for people with pre-existing medical conditions. No one should be treated unfairly, and HIV shouldn’t stop you getting the cover you need. Our team of specialists are constantly searching the market to find the best policies and providers for people living with HIV.

Rated "Excellent" 5 out of 5

"This company went above & beyond to get me cover even though I have MS, I am very happy I managed to get cover, Amazing staff, Dean went above & beyond, I highly rate this company."

by Elizabeth Turner-Long - 9th August 2023

Can I get life insurance with HIV?

YES – most of the time there shouldn’t be any major issues getting the cover you need, particularly if the CD4 is good and your viral load is undetectable. Often, you’ll be able to get life insurance that is affordable and works well for the level of cover you want.

There are also some options available if you want a quicker and easier way of getting insured, without the hassle of answering a lot of medical questions. This includes policies like:

Guaranteed life insurance with HIV will often give you affordable cover with premiums started from around £10 per month. This type of cover will have no medical questions, so will be available instantly. These policies can seem appealing as they can be less hassle for people with serious pre-existing conditions.
Over 50’s life insurance with HIV is something that might also be suitable if you’re just looking for something quick and easy. Most people will buy this type of policy for funeral expenses or just to have a small amount of cover.
Personal Accident (with accidental death cover) with HIV can offer lots of other cover features including hospitalisation, accidental cover, and accidental death. This is another option for people with HIV and cover is available for as little as £8 per month.

What is the best life insurance for HIV positive UK?

There are a few different options for life insurance policies. We’d suggest thinking carefully about what’s important to you and what you want to protect for your family. This will help you decide on the level of cover and policy that feels right for you.

All these policies will shield your loved ones against financial risk if anything were to happen to you and can provide you with some peace of mind.

How does life insurance for people with HIV work?

It’s understandable to wonder how life insurance for someone with HIV works. When you apply, you’ll be asked a few basic questions about your health and lifestyle, and this is the same for any life insurance application.

People with HIV are likely to be asked a few extra questions such as:

When were you diagnosed with HIV?
What is your CD4 count and viral load?
Is your HIV undetectable?
Do you have any history of drug use?
Do you have any other related medical conditions e.g. hepatitis?

These are just examples and the questions you’re asked might vary slightly. These questions aren’t anything to worry about and just help insurers get a clearer picture of your overall health.

Some insurers might ask for further medical evidence such as a report from your GP. Don’t worry, this a really simple process and you won’t need to do anything. You give permission for the insurer to access your medical records and they take care of the rest.

Does life insurance pay out for HIV?

YES – in the event of your death, your life insurance policy should pay out a cash lump sum to support your loved ones during a hard time.

A life insurance pay out can prevent your family from strugglingly financially, helping to cover key costs such as:

Funeral expenses
Mortgage or rent payments
Repaying debts
General cost of living

Life insurance is a small cost now that can make a massive difference to your family in the future. Some insurers will work better for people with HIV, so it’s sensible to do a bit of research before making any decisions.

Does critical illness cover pay out for HIV?

YES – if you have an existing critical illness cover policy and are diagnosed as HIV positive, most critical illness policies will pay out.

HIV is one of the 36 main conditions covered by most insurers, so it’s very likely you would qualify for a pay out. The pay out from your policy can provide much needed financial support to cover expenses like mortgage payments, private medical treatment (if needed) and more.

More information – What are the 36 critical illnesses?

Will I need a medical to get life insurance for HIV patients?

YES – it’s possible that insurers will want to get some extra medical information when you have HIV. You don’t need to be too concerned about this, as this is a very normal process and happens all the time for people with medical conditions.

This extra evidence can either be a medical report from your GP or in some cases a nurse screening. This isn’t anything you need to sort this out yourself, as the insurer will organise this and pay for it too.

A bonus of providing more medical information is that it guarantees that your policy is valid. This means your loved ones are less likely to run into issues and additional questions when they need to submit a claim with your insurer.

How much does life insurance cost if you are HIV positive?

We know that no one wants to pay too much for their life insurance, and everyone wants to get the best value for their money.

If you need life insurance and you have HIV, these are a few of the main factors that insurers will look at when deciding how much you pay:

Your age
Your height and weight
Your occupation
If you have any high-risk hobbies
Smoker status
Date of diagnosis
Treatments/medication

Life insurance can be very affordable if you speak to the right providers, as some will be better than others for people with HIV.

How to get cheaper life insurance with HIV

There are some easy and simple ways that you can save money on your policy. Here are a few of our top tips for how you can save some money when buying life insurance with HIV.

Talk to the right people: Certain insurers will have a better understanding of HIV and will be able to offer lower prices for you.
Apply at the right time: Ideally try and apply for life cover when your health is good, as this can lower costs. We’d also say it’s better to apply as early in life as you can, as prices get higher as you get older.
Speak to a life insurance expert: A HIV life insurance specialist will be able to tell you which insurers and policies are a good fit for you and where to find the best prices.

Are HIV tests required for life insurance?

Depending on your answers to certain medical questions, a life insurance provider might want you to take a HIV test. This can also be alongside other medical checks for different conditions.

Some reasons an insurer might ask for a HIV test are:

Travelling or living abroad
Your occupation
History of drug abuse (injected drugs)
STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
History of alcohol abuse
High cover amounts

The results will never be shared with anyone you haven’t consented to see them, so there’s no need to worry about this happening. If you’re worried about taking these tests, your life insurance advisor will be able to talk you through the process and answer any questions you might have.

Facts about life insurance HIV tests

Here are the answers to some of the main questions our customers ask about HIV tests and life insurance.

Who pays for the test?	The life insurance provider will pay for the test
Where do I go for a test?	Most tests are either done by a nurse or at a private clinic
Does being asked for a HIV test affect life insurance?	NO – being asked to take a test won’t affect your chances of getting life insurance. It’s only the results that might have an impact.
What if I refuse to take a test?	Insurers have the option to refuse to cover you if you won’t take the tests they ask for

Frequently asked questions about HIV and life insurance

Does life insurance test for HIV?	Some insurers will require a test for HIV depending on your situation. Don’t worry, the results of these tests won’t be shared with anyone that you haven’t consented to seeing them.
Does a HIV test affect life insurance?	Having a HIV test will only affect your policy if the results are positive. The only reason the price you were expecting may go up is if you didn’t disclose HIV initially.
Do have to tell life insurance I have HIV if I already have cover?	NO –You don’t have to inform your insurance company that your HIV status has changed if you already have life insurance.
Can you get life insurance if you’re HIV positive?	YES – there are a lot more life insurance options available now for people who have HIV. The key to finding the right policy is to speak to an expert who can quickly and easily compare prices across the market.

More about HIV

Here we have put together some useful information about HIV, including facts, statistics and helpful resources.

Medical conditions linked to HIV

There are several medical conditions that have a known link with HIV such as:

Cardiovascular disease
Kidney disease
Diabetes
Certain types of cancer
Mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety)
Alcohol use
Drug use
Hepatitis (e.g. Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C)
Bone disease
Liver disease

Celebrities with HIV

There are many cases of well-known people in the public eye who have or had HIV. This includes:

You can read a full list of celebrities with HIV on Wikipedia.

Wikipedia – List of HIV-positive people

HIV support UK

Here we have a list of some of the HIV support services and charities currently operating in the UK.

National AIDS Trust
Free Testing for HIV (Selected areas of England)
Terrence Higgins Trust
HIV i-Base
Elton John AIDS Foundation

HIV statistics UK

Here we have some key facts and figures about HIV in the UK. Though the number of people diagnosed with HIV has lowered significantly in recent years, there are still thousands of people living with HIV in the UK.

UK residents living with HIV (total) – 106,890 (as of 2019)
Percentage of HIV patients receiving treatment – 98%
Number of UK residents receiving HIV treatment/care – 94,954 (includes 45 children under 15)
Percentage of virally suppressed HIV patients – 89%
Average ages of HIV patients – 48% are over 50, 8% are over 65
Life expectancy with HIV – 80 years old (as of 2020)

Common questions about HIV

What are the symptoms of HIV?	The main initial symptoms of HIV are: High temperature Sore throat Body rashes Tiredness Joint and muscle pain Swollen glands Recurring infections
How long can you live with HIV?	The average life expectancy and health care for someone who is HIV positive has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, since the introduction of HAART (highly active antiretroviral treatment) medication. In 1996 the life expectancy for someone diagnosed with HIV at age 20 was 39 years of age, this has increased to age 70 years in 2011, so over 30 years longer. More information – Average life expectancy UK
What are the 4 main stages of HIV?	If HIV remains untreated then the virus will go through 4 main stages which include: Seroconversion illness is the short period after contracting the virus (also known as primary or acute infection) where you might show symptoms similar to the flu The asymptomatic stage follows the seroconversion period, which is where the virus is infecting new cells in the body, making copies of itself and weakening your immune system. Most people won’t show any symptoms at this stage of the virus. Symptomatic HIV is one of the later stages where HIV treatment needs to be introduced to reduce the impact on your weakened immune system. Late-stage HIV is where HIV has had the chance to cause severe damage to your immune system and can allow other infections to develop such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB) and even cancer
Can you get rid of HIV?	There is currently no known cure for HIV and the body isn’t able to get rid of the virus itself. HIV is a chronic condition so it will be classed as life-long. However, if you are treated using HAART then you will now be able to live a long and healthy life. The risk of transmitting HIV is also far lower now, provided you are on the right treatment.
How serious is having HIV?	HIV is a serious medical condition, but it is now highly treatable. Many people with HIV can live long and happy lives provided they receive and stay on the right treatment.