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Home / Critical illness cover / - HIV or AIDS from Blood Transfusion
Background information
By the end of 2001, more than 48,000 people had been diagnosed HIV-positive.
Over the same period, over 12,000 had died with AIDS.
In addition, it is estimated that there are currently more than 11,000 people living with HIV - unaware of being HIV-positive.
While the number of people dying from AIDS is falling (due to the widespread introduction of 'combination therapy' in 1996), the number of people living with HIV is set to increase by 47% between 2000 and 2005.
(Terrence Higgins Trust, 2002)
Definition
Infection by HIV or AIDS provided:
- the infection results directly from a blood transfusion;
- the blood transfusion was given in the European Union, The Channel Islands or The Isle of Man after the cover start date; and
- there is clear evidence that the infection was acquired from the blood transfusion.
What does this mean?
A claim would be paid where there was evidence that the HIV infection was as a direct result of a blood transfusion.
NEWS
Burns linked to heart disease
23 August 2007 16:06:04
The likelihood of burn victims needing life insurance or critical illness cover has been found to be higher than might have been previously thought.
A study at the Shriners Hospital for Children has revealed that severe burns increase stress on the heart, raising the risk of heart attack and death.
Some 189 child patients were examined, with those who had suffered from 80 per cent burns found to have a "marked" reduction in the functioning of their hearts.
Burns were discovered to place greater exertion on other parts of the body also, with patients suffering from 40 per cent or more burns found to use twice the amount of calories due to stress on their metabolism.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, commented on the results, which have been published in the Critical Care Journal.
"Unfortunately, little is currently known of the mechanisms leading to cardiac dysfunction, but we know that injuries cause our bodies to produce natural protection and defence molecules, which can inadvertently have damaging effects elsewhere," he said.
Stub out and save £3,150 on life insurance
20 June 2007 14:37:23
Quitting smoking could save you more than £3,000 on life insurance premiums, a new study has shown.
The findings, from comparison site Moneysupermarket.com, revealed that a 25-year, £100,000 life insurance policy for a 35-year old smoker would cost £17.90 per month with Norwich Union.
This monthly charge is 79 per cent higher than that for a non-smoker, with the non-smoker making a saving of £2,370 over the 25-year course of the policy.
Policyholders with LV= were hit even harder for smoking, paying more than twice as much as non-smokers; quitting would save £3,150 over the policy term.
Emma Walker, head of life insurance at Moneysupermarket commented on the findings:
"The premium difference between a smoker and a non-smoker is vast and there are considerable savings to be made simply by shopping around for the cheapest deal to suit your circumstances."
"The upcoming smoking ban has inspired 1.2 million smokers to say they intend to quit by July 1st, so if you're keen to give up, you should find plenty of support from others in the same position."
However, she confirmed that providers would only lower the premiums if a former smoker had been truly successful in kicking the habit:
"In order to be classed as a non-smoker and qualify for life-insurance premium savings, insurers insist on smokers having packed it in for a full year."
"Once smokers have given up for 12 months, they should go back to their insurer and ask for non-smoker rates, subject to tests to prove they have quit."
New heart disease genes discovered
20 July 2007 14:34:50
Six new genetic variants that increase the likelihood of suffering a heart attack have been discovered, underlining the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
In response to the research published in the New England Journal of Medicine- which revealed the increased genetic risk of heart disease - the British Heart Foundation have stressed the need for people across the UK to do their utmost to prevent heart disease.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the UK's leading heart charity, said: "We already know that we can control many things in everyday life to reduce our risk of getting heart disease, for example, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity.
"This new research is helping us work out the other side of the story - the role our genes play in contributing to heart disease. They tell us that some people carry a higher risk because of genes they’ve inherited."
He continued: "We're not yet at the stage where screening can tell us who has these genes, so it makes sense for everyone to take control of their health and minimise their risk."
The British Heart Foundation estimates that 91,000 men under 75 in the UK suffer a heart attack every year, while 31,000 women are affected.
23 August 2007 16:06:04
The likelihood of burn victims needing life insurance or critical illness cover has been found to be higher than might have been previously thought.
A study at the Shriners Hospital for Children has revealed that severe burns increase stress on the heart, raising the risk of heart attack and death.
Some 189 child patients were examined, with those who had suffered from 80 per cent burns found to have a "marked" reduction in the functioning of their hearts.
Burns were discovered to place greater exertion on other parts of the body also, with patients suffering from 40 per cent or more burns found to use twice the amount of calories due to stress on their metabolism.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, commented on the results, which have been published in the Critical Care Journal.
"Unfortunately, little is currently known of the mechanisms leading to cardiac dysfunction, but we know that injuries cause our bodies to produce natural protection and defence molecules, which can inadvertently have damaging effects elsewhere," he said.
20 June 2007 14:37:23
Quitting smoking could save you more than £3,000 on life insurance premiums, a new study has shown.
The findings, from comparison site Moneysupermarket.com, revealed that a 25-year, £100,000 life insurance policy for a 35-year old smoker would cost £17.90 per month with Norwich Union.
This monthly charge is 79 per cent higher than that for a non-smoker, with the non-smoker making a saving of £2,370 over the 25-year course of the policy.
Policyholders with LV= were hit even harder for smoking, paying more than twice as much as non-smokers; quitting would save £3,150 over the policy term.
Emma Walker, head of life insurance at Moneysupermarket commented on the findings:
"The premium difference between a smoker and a non-smoker is vast and there are considerable savings to be made simply by shopping around for the cheapest deal to suit your circumstances."
"The upcoming smoking ban has inspired 1.2 million smokers to say they intend to quit by July 1st, so if you're keen to give up, you should find plenty of support from others in the same position."
However, she confirmed that providers would only lower the premiums if a former smoker had been truly successful in kicking the habit:
"In order to be classed as a non-smoker and qualify for life-insurance premium savings, insurers insist on smokers having packed it in for a full year."
"Once smokers have given up for 12 months, they should go back to their insurer and ask for non-smoker rates, subject to tests to prove they have quit."
20 July 2007 14:34:50
Six new genetic variants that increase the likelihood of suffering a heart attack have been discovered, underlining the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
In response to the research published in the New England Journal of Medicine- which revealed the increased genetic risk of heart disease - the British Heart Foundation have stressed the need for people across the UK to do their utmost to prevent heart disease.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the UK's leading heart charity, said: "We already know that we can control many things in everyday life to reduce our risk of getting heart disease, for example, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity.
"This new research is helping us work out the other side of the story - the role our genes play in contributing to heart disease. They tell us that some people carry a higher risk because of genes they’ve inherited."
He continued: "We're not yet at the stage where screening can tell us who has these genes, so it makes sense for everyone to take control of their health and minimise their risk."
The British Heart Foundation estimates that 91,000 men under 75 in the UK suffer a heart attack every year, while 31,000 women are affected.