{"id":1,"date":"2010-02-22T14:49:10","date_gmt":"2010-02-22T14:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pink-finance.co.uk\/?p=1"},"modified":"2010-06-14T09:30:54","modified_gmt":"2010-06-14T09:30:54","slug":"hello-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pink-finance.co.uk\/?p=1","title":{"rendered":"The War is Over !"},"content":{"rendered":"

First Published September 2005 … Edited May 2010<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In March 1999, I decided to leave the security of working for a major bank, promising to end the personal questions asked of gay men on Life Assurance. I didn\u2019t feel enough was being done to challenge the insurance industry at the time. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My vision was for gay men and women to be able to walk into my office, and be offered insurance products from the whole of the market \u2013 not just a few \u2018gay friendly\u2019 insurers. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My dream was to be able to offer the best products at the cheapest premium available. People choosing to come to me for advice based upon a reputation for good service and integrity. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Not through the fear of being forced to take a HIV test! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, I can announce the end of gay questions on Life Assurance applications. The last 18 months have been tough, but I\u2019ve ultimately been able to reach an agreement with the Association of British Insurers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The new statement of best practice relating to HIV and Insurance was launched on the 3rd October 2005. This will mean the removal of the personal questions that are asked of gay men when applying for insurance products. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The \u2018gay\u2019 question on Life Assurance application forms is to be replaced with a new \u2018common question\u2019, which is to be asked of all risk groups regardless of sexuality.
\n\u2018Within the last 5 years have you been exposed to the risk of HIV? This can be caught through unsafe sex, intravenous drug abuse or blood transfusion.\u2019 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Any explanations required relating to these must relate to behaviour and not sexuality).\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are a number of other areas of the best practice of relevance to gay men that have been included in the new \u2018best practice\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n