Life Insurance - High Risk Travel Areas - HIV test

leab_2

My partner and I applied for life insurance with Norwich Union, and undertook the phone questionnaire last week. Today I received a letter stating that I was required to do an HIV test. The only reason I can think for this, is that I spent 3 months in Namibia in 2002, and it is a country with high levels of HIV/AIDS.

I tried to contact Norwich Union to hear from them exactly why I need to do the test, they said it was simply standard procedure. However my partner has not been requested to do an HIV test, and I do not know anyone else who has been asked either as part of obtaining life insurance.

Is it likely that the reason for this is my time in Namibia? Also will I have to take a test no matter which insurance company I go through? I just feel a bit short on facts, and although I am sure my results would be ok, I feel it is a bit of a traumatic thing to go through.

Hope someone can help.

zzzLazyDaisy

I think the request that you take an HIV test may be in breach of the Code of Practice (see extract of article below, and URL for full article)

Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Insurance companies should <snip> only ask an applicant to take an HIV test if they disclose unsafe sex, a history of sexually transmitted infections, or injecting drug use, according to a new guidance from the Association of British Insurers issued this week.



http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/6058B634-8C49-4687-ADAF-C74EEE1CF562.asp