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Before being granted life insurance, applicants often undergo medical tests as part of the underwriting process. While medicals are not required for most 1Life life cover policyholders, everyone applying for a 1Life 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 rejected. Let’s take a closer look.
How does it 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).
What is an HIV test?
HIV tests detect either the presence of HIV antibodies or the HIVvirus. 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 mouth. These tests can be done by a healthcare professional and the results are quickly available (usually 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 3 methods to have your HIV test:
- You can have a blood test done at any of the following pathologists: Lancet laboratory, Pathcare or Ampath.
- You can contact 1Life and arrange for a travelling nurse to come to your home or place of work or to schedule an appointment with a 1Life nominated doctor (blood test only). Call us on 0860 67 06 70 or e-mail [email protected].
Test results are sent directly to 1Life and treated with the utmost confidentiality. We 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 policy.
Depending on these results, 1Life will provide you with the cover you requested or reduce 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 crash. You will not be covered if you die of natural causes, such as cancer.
Top tips
- Remember to take along your ID, passport or driver’s licence and policy number when you go for your test.
- Use our online geo-mapping tool to find your nearest pathologist or participating Link pharmacy.
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 rejected.
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 will 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 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
