Regulation: Insurer reveals that technical difficulties delayed ABI compliance
Norwich Union has admitted that it failed to make the 1 October deadline for the Association of British Insurers' (ABI) new HIV guidelines.
This revelation came only days before the rules, which force providers to change their medical questions relating to HIV exposure on both paper applications and online submissions, came into effect.
Commenting on the delay, Pat Bullock, development underwriter at Norwich Union, said: "We will not have it in place in time for the 1 October deadline because of technical difficulties. However, we will be compliant by the 10 October - only five working days later.
"I have also heard that other providers will be experiencing even further delays," he added.
These speculations have, however, been quashed by the majority of insurers, which strongly denied that they have had any problems.
Steve Casey, product manager at Bupa Individual Protection, said: "Bupa is certainly not one the companies suffering delays. We are fully aware of the changes and in a position to comply."
"While we are aware that Norwich Union has experienced delays, we are not aware of any other companies having difficulties," said Richard Walsh, head of health at the ABI.
He added: "We expect providers to comply in time, but at the end of the day Norwich Union is a huge company and a few days won't make that much difference. The main point is that they will comply."
Roger Edwards, products director at Bright Grey, said while he also does not think anyone is experiencing diffi-culties in implementing the new guidelines, a key issue is the question that asks people to disclose whether they have ever had unsafe sex.
Illustrating the point, Edwards said: "What exactly does unsafe sex mean? Will a client be embarrassed by this question? What happens if a couple sit in an IFA's office and they say they haven't taken part in unsafe sex, but in reality one of them is having an affair. That person is not going to own up during an interview so it will become non-disclosure."
"Like the rest of the industry, Bright Grey is going to adopt the new question, but we have asked the Association of British Insurers if they will review the wording again as soon as it is practicable as we do not believe that the wording is as good as it could be," he added.
The ABI HIV working group will ensure that high risk groups are treated with fairness.
