The short answer
- HIV is no longer an automatic decline - a few carriers now write it.
- You generally need to be in treatment, undetectable, with a good CD4 count.
- Expect a rating and a limited set of carriers, but genuine term and permanent cover exists.
- Guaranteed issue was the old fallback; for many, it is no longer the only option.
What changed
HIV is no longer an automatic no
For years HIV meant an automatic decline. A handful of carriers now offer standard life insurance to applicants who are in treatment, undetectable and in regular care - real term and permanent cover.
See who will write me →What actually changed
For most of the epidemic, an HIV diagnosis meant an automatic decline from traditional life insurers, and guaranteed issue was the only route. That has shifted. Because modern antiretroviral therapy has transformed life expectancy, a small but growing number of carriers now underwrite HIV-positive applicants who are well managed - offering real term and permanent policies, typically at a rating rather than a refusal.
What underwriters look for
The bar is specific, and it rewards being engaged in your own care:
| Factor | What helps |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Consistent antiretroviral therapy, good adherence |
| Viral load | Undetectable, and stable over time |
| CD4 count | Comfortably in the normal range |
| Engagement in care | Regular monitoring with your provider |
| Other health | No AIDS-defining illness; no untreated hepatitis co-infection |
| Lifestyle | Non-tobacco and otherwise healthy both help |
Adherence and being in care is the whole game
What unlocks the newer carriers is documented, consistent treatment with an undetectable viral load. If your numbers are good and you are regularly monitored, you are exactly the applicant these programs were designed for. If your control is not yet where it needs to be, improving adherence over time can open the underwritten route later.
What the cover looks like
Expect a rating rather than preferred pricing, and a limited menu of carriers. Term is commonly available, sometimes with an age cap on the length, and a few carriers offer permanent cover. The single most important practical step is working with an independent agent who knows which carriers write HIV - most do not, and applying blindly to a carrier that still declines HIV puts an unnecessary decline on your record.
If you do not yet qualify
Guaranteed issue remains available to anyone - it asks no health questions at all, though it carries a two year waiting period and smaller amounts. It is the floor, not the ceiling: as your treatment and labs stabilise, the fully underwritten door can open.
The order to apply
- Gather your recent numbers - viral load, CD4, treatment history
- Work with an agent who knows the HIV-friendly carriers - this is not optional here
- Apply only where HIV is actually written, so a decline never lands on your file
- Never omit the diagnosis - it is recoverable from records, and non-disclosure voids a claim
Common questions
Can you get life insurance with HIV?+
Yes, which is a genuine change from a few years ago. A small number of carriers now write HIV-positive applicants who are in treatment, undetectable and in regular care, typically at a rating. Guaranteed issue, which asks no health questions, remains available to everyone else.
What viral load and CD4 do you need for life insurance with HIV?+
The carriers that write HIV generally want an undetectable viral load that has been stable over time and a CD4 count comfortably in the normal range, alongside consistent treatment and regular monitoring. Exact thresholds vary by carrier.
How much does life insurance cost with HIV?+
Expect a rating rather than preferred pricing, so more than a comparable applicant without HIV, but far less than the old reality of no cover at all. The exact cost depends on your control, age, health and which carrier writes the policy.
What if I was recently diagnosed with HIV?+
A very recent diagnosis, before your treatment and viral load have stabilised, usually means the underwritten carriers will wait. Guaranteed issue is available in the meantime, and once you are established on therapy and undetectable, the fully underwritten route may open.