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INSURANCE & HIV/AIDS. Ms Teboho Motebele AIDS Law Project Wits university Tel: 27 11 717 8636 Email: motebelet@law.wits.ac.za Website: www.alp.org.za. TYPES OF COVER. LIFE COVER – benefit paid for life event – eg death ASSISTANCE COVER – eg funeral cover
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INSURANCE & HIV/AIDS Ms Teboho Motebele AIDS Law Project Wits university Tel: 27 11 717 8636 Email: motebelet@law.wits.ac.za Website: www.alp.org.za
TYPES OF COVER • LIFE COVER – benefit paid for life event – eg death • ASSISTANCE COVER – eg funeral cover • DISABILITY – physical & mental impairment • HEALTH – Hospital, Major medical, Emergency transport, Dread disease
LOA PROTOCOL • 1988 - HIV testing –pre/ post test counselling • No cover for HIV • AIDS exlusions • Present Practice Available cover • Inception HIV testing – no exclusion • No testing, HIV excluded • No testing – very low cover • Testing at renewal intervals • HIV/AIDS specific cover – R50 000
PROBLEMS FOR PWA’s • Informed Consent/ Pre test Counselling • Blanket refusal of life cover • No insurance = no access to home loans • Wildey worded AIDS exclusion clauses e.g Denial of liability where insured was HIV positive regardless of cause of death • Interval HIV testing • suddenly with no life cover = home loan at risk = possibility of eviction
PROBLEMS FOR PWA’s • Funeral policies -AVBOB • Target market - poor, less informed and educated, most vulnerable to HIV infection • extensive misleading advertising – no medical examination - not alerting potential clients to AIDS exclusion • Interpretation: No HIV testing required = HIV/AIDS not being an issue • Body snatching =refusal to release body of deceased=debt for the family
INDUSTRY INITIATIVES Public outcry/ criticism • Pre test counselling – possibly 1st quarter of 2003 • Mortgage Insurance cover – discussion stage • R150 00 • Legislation
RECOMMENDATIONS • National testing policy – pre test counselling, confidentiality – legal requirement • Envisaged mortgage cover for HIV supported • Hoffman/SAA - PWA NOT the same/risk not the same • Funeral Policies – • Use of exclusion clauses • Accurate advertising & • Consumer education • Brokers – • Training • Penalty for misconduct • Insurer liability