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Don’t risk a reduced or declined claim. Make sure you take an HIV test when you take out a 1Life Insurance life cover policy so that your family is covered should something happen to you.
Before being granted life insurance, applicants need to answer questions about their health, and in some cases go for medical tests such as an HIV test and blood pressure check as part of the underwriting process. While medicals are not required for most 1Life Insurance life cover policyholders, everyone applying for a 1Life Insurance life policy needs to take an HIV test. If the test isn’t taken, your family’s claim against your policy may be reduced or even declined. Let’s take a closer look.
How does HIV testing work?
If you buy 1Life Pure Life Cover, the life assured must take an HIV test within 3 months of the commencement date of the policy. (The commencement date is the first day of the month that you chose for cover to commence). You can find this date on your policy schedule, that you can access on the online policyholder services portal or WhatsApp service centre.
Who needs to get tested for HIV?
The life assured on the policy (the person insured) needs to go for the HIV test. The life assured is also the person who needs to answer the medical questions when applying for a life cover policy.
What is an HIV test?
HIV tests detect either the presence of HIV antibodies or the HIV virus. Rapid tests use a small sample of blood, such as a finger prick, or saliva, which can be taken from a small swab of the inside of your cheek. These tests can be done by a healthcare professional, and the results are quickly available (usually within a few hours). HIV tests that use larger blood samples are conducted in a laboratory and the results take a few days.
Choose your HIV test method
You can choose one of two methods to have your HIV test:
- You can have a blood test done at a laboratory, such as: Lancet Laboratory or Pathcare.
- You can have a test done at a participating pharmacy such as Clicks or Dis-Chem.
You need to book your test at a lab or pharmacy near you, at a convenient time. 1Life Insurance’s Find a lab or pharmacy tool will help you find a facility near you and book your test.
When the test is complete, the results are sent directly to 1Life Insurance. They are treated with the utmost confidentiality, and we do not and cannot, under any circumstances, disclose the results to you or anyone else. If you wish to know the results, we can send them to the doctor nominated on your application.
Top tip: Remember to take along your ID, passport or driver’s licence and policy number when you go for your test.
Is self-testing for HIV an option?
Yes, if you want to check your HIV status. No for an insurance policy application. Insurance companies need to be 100% sure that the person tested for HIV is in fact the life assured, and that the test is approved and reliable. As such, an independent healthcare practitioner, such as a nurse, laboratory worker or pharmacist, must administer the test and check the ID of the person being tested.
How does testing for HIV affect my policy?
Depending on your HIV test results and if you test within the required 3 months, 1Life Insurance will provide you with the cover you requested or adjust your cover to accidental death cover only at a reduced premium. Accidental death cover means you will only be covered if your death is an accident, for example if you die in a car accident. You will not be covered if you die of natural causes, such as cancer, if you have accidental death benefits only.
What if you don’t take the HIV test within 3 months?
If you do not take the HIV test within the required 3 months, your cover will be changed to accidental death cover only. This means that if you die of natural causes, for example TB or cancer, your family’s claims against your policy will be declined.
Also, because of this initial delay, once you have taken the test you might have to go through telephonic underwriting again to ensure that your risk status has not changed. This means that we may contact you and ask our underwriting questions again. A decision will then be made as to whether we can convert your cover from accidental death cover to a full life cover policy and how much cover we can grant you.
If you have not taken the HIV test in time, contact us on 0860 67 06 70 as soon as possible to discuss your options.
World leading policies
1Life Insurance follows South Africa’s HIV Testing Protocol, which has been acknowledged as one of the best in the world. The protocol sets out quality standards for HIV testing and addresses aspects such as pre and post-test counselling. So, don’t be afraid to take your HIV test - you are in good hands!
Original article published on: 5th December 2016
Updated on: 11th December 2018
Updated on: 20 June 2024