British insurance
rules ban linking homosexuality with HIV risk

New guidelines from the Association of British Insurers that took effect on Saturday prevent insurance agents from asking male life insurance policy applicants questions about their sexual practices to determine if they are at risk for HIV infection, the Financial Times reports. Some U.K. insurance companies had asked male applicants if they had ever had sex with other men. The companies linked homosexuality with a higher risk for HIV infection when determining whether to grant life insurance policies and what to charge for them.

The new guidelines now prevent insurance agents from asking applicants about their sexual orientation or sexual activity and from engaging in "speculative underwriting" as to HIV risk. "The guidance makes it very clear that companies cannot discriminate against people on the basis of their sexuality," ABI spokesman Jonathan French told the Financial Times.

However, insurers can require some applicants to take HIV antibody tests, according to the guidelines. Negative HIV tests are required for life insurance policies worth more than $1.75 million for women and married men, and for policies of more than $440,000 for single men. (Advocate.com)