Life insurance with HIV
If you are living with HIV and assume life insurance is not available to you, this page may change your mind. The UK insurance market has shifted significantly in recent years. Several mainstream and specialist insurers now offer life insurance to people living with well-managed HIV on antiretroviral therapy. This is a genuinely new development, and many people do not yet know about it.
The short answer
Life insurance with HIV is now available in the UK. If you are on antiretroviral therapy with a stable CD4 count (above 350, ideally above 500) and an undetectable viral load, several insurers will offer cover. Typical terms involve a premium loading of +50% to +150% on top of standard rates. This represents a fundamental change from even five years ago, when a positive HIV diagnosis meant an almost automatic decline. The market has caught up with the medical reality that well-managed HIV is a long-term condition, not a terminal one.
The market has changed. Here is what happened.
For decades, an HIV diagnosis meant automatic decline from every UK life insurer. The underwriting was based on data from the pre-treatment era, when HIV progressed rapidly to AIDS and life expectancy was severely reduced.
Modern antiretroviral therapy has fundamentally changed the picture. A person diagnosed with HIV today who starts and maintains ART can expect a near-normal life expectancy. Multiple long-term studies now support this, and the insurance industry has begun to reflect this reality in its underwriting.
Several UK insurers now have specific underwriting pathways for HIV. These are not informal arrangements or one-off exceptions. They are established underwriting criteria, applied consistently, that assess HIV as a manageable long-term condition rather than an automatic decline.
What insurers ask about HIV
Insurers who accept HIV applications have clear criteria. The more boxes you tick, the better your terms are likely to be.
What is your current CD4 count?
Your CD4 count is a measure of immune function. A count above 350 cells per microlitre is typically the minimum threshold for insurers. Above 500 is considered ideal and is associated with the best available terms. A sustained count above 500 for 2 or more years demonstrates long-term immune stability.
What is your current viral load?
Undetectable viral load is the single best indicator for underwriting purposes. It shows that your ART is working effectively and that the virus is fully suppressed. Most insurers require an undetectable viral load for at least 12 months, ideally longer.
When were you diagnosed with HIV?
Time since diagnosis matters. A longer history of well-managed HIV demonstrates a track record of stability and ART adherence. Recent diagnosis is not necessarily a barrier, but 2 or more years of stable management is viewed positively.
How long have you been on antiretroviral therapy?
Consistent ART adherence over time is critical. Interruptions in treatment, changes due to resistance, or significant side effects are all noted. A stable, well-tolerated regimen for 2 or more years is the ideal scenario for underwriting.
Have you had any AIDS-defining illnesses?
A history of AIDS-defining illnesses (such as Pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposi sarcoma, or significant opportunistic infections) makes underwriting considerably harder. Many insurers who accept well-managed HIV will not offer terms if there has been an AIDS-defining illness.
Do you have any other health conditions?
Co-existing conditions are assessed alongside HIV. Hepatitis B or C co-infection, for example, adds complexity. Cardiovascular risk factors, kidney function, and liver function are all considered as part of the overall assessment.
Your latest blood results make the difference
CD4 count, viral load, and how long you have been on stable ART. With these details, our specialist brokers can tell you exactly where you stand.
Get QuoteWhat terms to expect
For people who meet the key criteria - stable ART, undetectable viral load, good CD4 count, no AIDS-defining illnesses - here is what the current UK market looks like.
Best case: well-managed, CD4 above 500
+50% to +100% loading
Undetectable viral load for 2+ years, CD4 consistently above 500, no AIDS-defining illnesses, stable ART with good adherence. This is the profile that attracts the best terms currently available. A +50% to +100% loading means your premiums are 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate. For many people, this is entirely affordable and far better than the automatic decline that was the norm until recently.
Typical case: well-managed, CD4 350-500
+100% to +150% loading
Undetectable viral load, CD4 above 350 but below 500, stable ART, no AIDS-defining illnesses. These terms are still very much workable. A +100% to +150% loading means the premium is 2 to 2.5 times the standard rate. For a policy that would otherwise cost 30 pounds a month, you might pay 60 to 75 pounds.
More complex cases
Higher loadings or individual assessment
Detectable viral load, CD4 below 350, treatment interruptions, co-infections, or a history of AIDS-defining illness. These cases are harder but not necessarily impossible. They require individual assessment by a specialist underwriter. Terms, if available, will carry higher loadings, and the range of insurers willing to consider the application narrows significantly.
Putting the premium in context
A loading of +50% to +150% sounds significant in percentage terms, but life insurance premiums for younger, otherwise healthy individuals are often modest in absolute terms. Here is an example to illustrate:
A 35-year-old non-smoker with no other health conditions seeking 200,000 pounds of level term cover over 25 years might pay around 15-20 pounds per month at standard rates. With a +100% loading for well-managed HIV, that becomes roughly 30-40 pounds per month. Still very manageable for the security it provides, and a world away from having no cover at all.
The exact premium depends on all the usual factors - age, sum assured, term, smoker status - as well as the HIV-specific criteria. But the point is this: cover is available, and for many people it is genuinely affordable.
The honest answer
We understand that applying for life insurance with HIV can feel daunting. Many people living with HIV have been told for years - or simply assumed - that insurance is not an option. That is no longer true for a significant number of people. The market has changed because the medical evidence changed first: well-managed HIV on ART is now understood to be a chronic, manageable condition with near-normal life expectancy. Not every insurer has caught up. Not every case will be accepted. If you have a history of AIDS-defining illness, or if your viral load is not suppressed, the options are still limited. Our partner brokers will tell you honestly if that is your situation. But if you are well-managed on ART with good blood results, there is a real chance of getting cover. It is worth finding out.
Critical illness cover with HIV
Critical illness cover is harder to obtain with HIV than life insurance. The market for life insurance with HIV has opened up significantly; critical illness has been slower to follow. Some insurers may offer critical illness with an HIV-related exclusion, meaning the policy would not pay out for conditions directly related to HIV but would cover cancer, heart attack, stroke, and other specified conditions.
This is an area where the market continues to evolve, and it is worth asking about. Even critical illness with an exclusion provides meaningful protection against many of the conditions that concern people most.
Income protection with HIV
Income protection with HIV is possible in some cases, typically with an HIV-related exclusion. The policy would cover you if you could not work due to unrelated conditions. As with critical illness, the market is still developing and terms vary between insurers. Employer group income protection schemes, which often have limited medical underwriting, may also provide cover regardless of HIV status.
Not sure where to start?
A confidential conversation is all it takes. Our specialist brokers handle HIV applications regularly and know which insurers to approach for the best terms.
Get QuotePut your policy in trust
Once you have secured life insurance, writing your policy in trust is the essential next step. It ensures the payout goes directly to your chosen beneficiaries, outside your estate, without probate delays or inheritance tax. It is free and our partner brokers set it up on every policy.
Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning
Frequently asked questions
Is it really true that I can get life insurance with HIV?
Yes. Several UK insurers now have specific underwriting criteria for HIV. If you are on stable ART with an undetectable viral load and a good CD4 count, life insurance is available. This is not a theoretical possibility - it is an established market that has grown significantly over the past few years.
Will the insurer tell my GP or anyone else about my application?
Insurers are bound by strict confidentiality rules. They may request a GP report (with your consent), but they do not share your application details with anyone outside the underwriting process. Your HIV status is handled confidentially throughout.
What if I was diagnosed recently?
A recent diagnosis is not an automatic barrier, but most insurers want to see a period of stable ART with good blood results. Typically, 12-24 months of undetectable viral load and a stable CD4 count is the minimum. If you were diagnosed very recently, it may be worth waiting until your treatment is established before applying, to avoid a premature decline.
I have HIV and hepatitis C. Can I still get cover?
Co-infection adds complexity, but if your hepatitis C has been treated and cured with direct-acting antivirals, this is viewed much more favourably than active co-infection. Cleared hepatitis C alongside well-managed HIV can still result in insurable terms, though loadings may be higher. Active hepatitis C co-infection is considerably more difficult.
Can I get a mortgage with HIV?
Yes. Mortgage lenders do not ask about health conditions. The health questions come from the life insurance that protects the mortgage. Since life insurance with HIV is now available, the full chain - mortgage, life insurance, and home ownership - is accessible. Decreasing term life insurance to cover a mortgage is typically cheaper than level term, which helps manage the cost of any loading.
Do I have to disclose my HIV status on a life insurance application?
Yes, if the application asks about HIV or about any ongoing medical conditions or medication. Non-disclosure can void your policy entirely, meaning a claim could be rejected. The good news is that disclosure to an insurer who accepts HIV applications leads to valid, enforceable cover. Honest disclosure is always the right approach.
Find out what cover is available to you
A confidential call with your CD4 count and viral load is all that is needed. Our specialist brokers know which insurers accept HIV and how to present your application for the best terms.
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