Posted by (American Life InsuranceGuide.com 02/11/2020 California News) ——Lina Gonzalez, Democratic Senate of Long Beach, California,California Insurance BureauCommissioner Ricardo Lara and the non-profit organization ``Equality California'' announced the ``HIV Fair Insurance Act'' on February 2020, 21.The bill intends to prohibit life insurance and disability insurance companies from rejecting policy applications from policyholders on the grounds of "carrying HIV".
HIV Fair Insurance Act
The proposed HIV Fair Insurance Act would overturn a law passed in 1989 when treatment options for people who tested positive for HIV were extremely limited.At that time, the treatment method was ineffective, the cost was very expensive, and accompanied by serious side effects, many HIV-positive people did not receive treatment.
Today, with the development of access to medical technology, advances in HIV testing technology, and the emergence of more effective treatments, people who are HIV-positive can still achieve health and longevity through treatment and control.Nowadays, medical experts treat people living with HIV just like other treatments.Chronic diseasesame.
California Senate Proposal No. 961, the HIV Fair Insurance Act, will adopt anti-discrimination protection measures in life insurance and disability insurance products for this specific group of people, prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating against people living with HIV (HIV) to ensure that everyone is equal Opportunity to get the insurance benefits they deserve.
AIDS carrier = chronic disease?
"Thanks to modern medicine, people living with HIV can live a happy and healthy life," said Rick Ziber, executive director of the California Equality Foundation. “It’s time for our laws to keep up with scientific developments and protect Californians living with HIV from discrimination by insurance companies. Our goal is to end HIV by 2030, which means eliminating all HIV The spread, death, and stigma misunderstandings. This bill is a key step in achieving this goal.”
When formulating life insurance and disability income insurance in a U.S. insurance company, it should treat otherChronic diseaseIn the same way, treat a person's HIV-positive status.
"Community Health Family" Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tasnim Khan said: "Due to the adoption of highly effective HIV treatment programs, including new antiretroviral drugs and existing antiretroviral therapies, in the past 20 years , The life expectancy of HIV-positive patients has changed dramatically.” “It’s time to acknowledge advances in HIV care and prevention and update the law in a timely manner to prevent discrimination against people living with HIV.
Impact on insurance
According to the American Life Insurance GuideCommunity Broker NetworkThe information provided is that in the current life insurance policies and insurance policy applications that include disability income benefits, the insured must sign an HIV consent form, authorizing the insurance company to test or inquire about the insured’s HIV status.
The current California law allows insurance companies to rely on positive results of an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test,Refusing to provide life insurance or disability income insurance to individuals who test positive for HIV.And such testing methods are rarely used today.
Once the new bill is formally implemented, it may change the application process and review process of all related business insurance companies.
(Reported by American Life Insurance Guide Network)
appendix
1. "Equal Insurance HIV Act announced to end discrimination against HIV-positive Californians for life and disability income insurance", 02/11/2020, Senator Lena Gonzalez of 33rd District, https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/
