Saturday Magazine

9 Mar 2025

Saturday, 9th, March, 2025; Dr. John Rule, National Association Of People With HIV Australia (NAPWHA), (CALI) Strengthens Protections for People Living with HIV and AIDS

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Saturday, 9th, March, 2025; Dr. John Rule, National Association Of People With HIV Australia (NAPWHA), (CALI) Strengthens Protections for People Living with HIV and AIDS

Richard Keane, Macca and Paul talk to Dr. John Rule, National Association Of People With HIV Australia (NAPWHA), (CALI) Strengthens Protections for People Living with HIV and AIDS.

Australians living with HIV and AIDS can look forward to greater financial security, as life insurers will treat their condition the same as any other medical condition.

The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) has strengthened the Life Insurance Code of Practice to formalise the industry’s support of people living with HIV.

“Life insurance plays a vital role in providing a financial safety net for all Australians and these changes help to make it more accessible to more people,” said Christine Cupitt, CEO of CALI.

“These amendments reflect the modern society we live in and a deep commitment by our members to fairness. Life insurers recognise the significant advances in medical science that are transforming the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.”

While many life insurers have already implemented these practices, Ms. Cupitt said formalising them in the Life Insurance Code of Practice was a strong signal of the industry’s commitment to modern standards of privacy and fairness.

Among the changes, insurers will no longer ask about an individual’s sexual preferences and practices to determine their risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV and AIDS, during the underwriting assessment.

Dr. John Rule, Senior Research Manager for the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA), said he welcomed these reforms with a new sense of optimism.

“We are pleased to see that individuals living with HIV or AIDS will be treated just like any other medical condition when determining coverage. We look forward to continuing to work alongside the industry to advocate for Australians living with HIV and AIDS,” he said.

The changes represent an important step toward fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within financial services.

https://cali.org.au/australians-living-with-hiv-and-aids-can-be-more-confident-about-their-financial-future/