HIV community is untapped protection market - Unusual Risks

clock • 1 min read

The most unnecessarily underinsured group in the UK is the HIV community, according to specialist advisers Unusual Risks.

Research by the advisers through the Terence Higgins Trust, estimates that 82% of HIV positive people in the UK have no Life Assurance at all.

This compares to Swiss Re figures for the wider community of 52% who currently have no Life Cover.

Chris Morgan, Marketing Manager of Unusual Risks Mortgage & Insurance Services Says, "The HIV community were excluded from taking Life Assurance for many years and now that the product is available many are unaware it even exists.

"Many people living with HIV who had Life Assurance products in the past, such as endowments, surrendered them on diagnosis, or they decided to freeze their pensions which included Life Assurance, or cancelled their policies due to restrictive exclusions."

Over 50% of Life Assurance providers now offer cover to HIV Positive people with the price of cover varying according to age, date of diagnosis, time on medication, current CD4 count and viral load.

Two years ago only one product existed.

Unusual Risks noted that the need for Life Assurance in the HIV community has become more apparent over the last few years as higher CD4 counts and near non-detectable viral loads are leading to improved life expectancy amongst many HIV Positive people.

More on Individual Protection

IPTF to rebrand amid widened 2027 agenda

IPTF to rebrand amid widened 2027 agenda

Focus on individual protection

Jaskeet Briah
clock 28 September 2026 • 2 min read
Quarter of over-55s have informed executors on how to locate protection policies

Quarter of over-55s have informed executors on how to locate protection policies

Canada Life research findings

Jaskeet Briah
clock 11 September 2026 • 2 min read
Sorry (not sorry) to interrupt

Sorry (not sorry) to interrupt

World Suicide Prevention Day

Cameron Roberts
clock 10 September 2026 • 3 min read

Highlights

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

"It takes longer than ever to get underwriting terms"

John Brazier
clock 12 October 2023 • 5 min read
Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

According to latest ReMark report

John Brazier
clock 11 October 2023 • 2 min read
ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

Women within executive teams have grown to 32%

Jaskeet Briah
clock 10 October 2023 • 3 min read