Indicating a change in attitude towards
insuring HIV-positive people, UK insurer Pulse Insurance has
launched Harbour, a product which it claims is a first-of-its-kind
in the country. Harbour offers customers either £10,000 ($15,000)
or £25,000 life cover and up to £200,000 of accidental death cover.
The term of the life cover is 10 years and is underwritten at
Lloyds of London.
“We are extremely pleased to be launching
Harbour to those who have previously struggled to secure any kind
of life insurance,” said Pulse MD Paul Sandilands.
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Pulse is targeting the 83,000 people which the
Health Protection Agency estimates to be living with HIV in the
UK.
Of note, Pulse does not require applicants for
Harbour policies to undergo a medical examination or to produce a
doctor’s report. According to Pulse, it is the only provider which
offers this type of cover to people with HIV without a medical or
doctor’s report.
The insurer emphasises that this means that
cover can be put in place in a matter of a few days as opposed to
up to several months, which is the normal length of time taken when
a medical or doctor’s report is required.
“A person living with HIV is entitled to be
able to provide for their family and dependents without worrying
about jumping through hoops or having to undergo lengthy and
intrusive medical enquiries,” said Sandilands.
Established in 1998, Pulse specialises in
arranging life and travel insurance to cover difficult to place and
non-standard risks. Amongst its specialties is cover for people who
have stroke-related conditions. According to Pulse, cover is
available even if application is made in as little as six months
after the stroke and the victim also suffers from conditions such
as diabetes.
Pulse claims that it is able to provide
indications of cost for more than 80% of enquiries it receives.
