Insurance cover against contracting the HIV virus is automatically included in some life insurance policies although many will give you the option to exclude it and achieve a lower premium as a result.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes a person to contract AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). AIDS was first noticed to exist in 1981 but after its existence became known the virus was found in some blood that had been in storage since 1959. It therefore seems probable that the virus has been around for much longer but nobody in the medical profession was aware of it.

The HIV virus attacks the white blood cells and macrophages the body. White blood cells play an important role in maintaining a persons immunity to disease. People infected with the virus therefore become susceptible to illnesses owing to the breakdown of the immune system. Once infected with the virus the infected person will remain infected for the rest of his or her life and they are able to transmit the virus to others via their blood or their sexual fluids.

Some of the most common diseases that are related to AIDS include:

• Cancer of the lining of the blood vessels.
• Pneumonia.
• Tuberculosis.
• A protozoan infection affecting the central nervous system.
• A viral infection that causes retinitis and blindness.
• Candidiasis, and severe herpes.

However as the immune system is depressed the person suffering from the HIV virus is vulnerable to many illnesses, in fact almost any symptom may occur in an infected person.

Some life insurance companies have now included what they are calling a needle-stick option in their policies. This option is meant to cover medical workers, health care workers and specialists in the event of contracting HIV from their employment situations and as a result find themselves no longer able to work. These latest options cover terminal illness and accidental death as well as needle-stick injuries for medical professionals. Terminal illness cover is added so the insured does not have to draw on life cover that is in place while still alive. A real situation that many claimants found themselves facing. This option now gives a $1 million extra cover.

Trauma insurance

Another cover to protect you from further suffering resulting from the accidental contracting of HIV is trauma insurance. Trauma insurance delivers a lump sum payment in the event of the insured person becoming diagnosed with a incurable condition which includes the accidental contracting of HIV.

If you were to suffer a medical trauma such as AIDS, life insurance alone will not be able to help unless you had the opportunity of taking up an option that gives specific protection, but not all life insurance policies include such cover. If you were to contract AIDS you could become seriously ill in a short period of time and not able to return to work. You may not even be able to take part in any productive employment for the remainder of your life. Income protection and totally and permanently disabled cover may not be suitable either since their pay out depends on the effect of the event and what occurs afterwards. It is trauma insurance that will pay out on the actual diagnosis of the condition.

Trauma insurance will provide the insured with a lump sum payment in the event of you being diagnosed with accidentally contracting HIV. The thought behind the cover is to provide for the following events:

• Pay for specialist or overseas medical attention.
• Avoid financial stress through debts and loss of income.
• Cover any other costs that may become apparent.

Disability income insurance

Disability income insurance is yet another protection that needs consideration if you are in the situation whereby your risk of contracting HIV-AIDS is greater than the normal citizen. Disability income insurance provides a monthly benefit should you find you can’t work due to illness or injury. Your disability is assessed against your ability to perform duties connected with your usual occupation in order to create an income.

This means that if you are a health care professional and have satisfied the occupational duties requirement of being totally disabled as a result of accidentally contracting HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C and are required to cease performing at least one of your normal occupational duties in order to produce your income, you can be entitled to receive the benefits.