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Doctors and insurance
If your doctor's report says anything which is inconsistent with what you have told the insurance company they will be suspicious. They may wish to know more or they may turn down your application on this ground alone.
Your doctor may be asked questions about your lifestyle or sexuality. Many doctors refuse to answer this sort of question. If you are on good terms with your doctor you might like to consider discussing with him or her what sort of answers he or she would give. But if your doctor does not know about your lifestyle or sexuality it might be better not to raise the matter at all.
You have the right to see a medical report on you written by your doctor before it is sent. You can ask for any mistakes to be corrected, and in the last resort you can refuse to allow it to be sent. There are rules about what you must do in order to exercise these rights (it doesn't happen automatically) and you should seek advice (see Help and Advice below).
If you do refuse to allow the report to be sent, withdraw your application at once, before it can be turned down.
Sometimes the insurance company will wish you to go to their doctor for a medical. You have no legal right to see a medical report on you prepared by a company's doctor.
New guidance to doctors on revealing HIV test and sexual history
The British Medical Association and the Association of British Insurers issued new guidance to doctors, patients and insurers on what information about HIV and sexual health can be supplied to insurers by GPs in December 2002.
In order to prevent people from being deterred from seeking advice and getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the guidelines state that doctors do not have to reveal all aspects of their patients' sexual health history.
The guidelines state that there is no reason to disclose single incidents of STIs, or even multiple episodes, provided there are no long-term health implications.
In addition, and in line with existing ABI guidance, insurance companies should not ask whether an applicant for insurance has taken an HIV or Hepatitis B or C test, had counselling in connection with such a test, or received a negative test result. Doctors should not reveal this information when writing reports and insurance companies will not expect this information to be provided. Insurers may ask only whether someone has had a positive test result, is awaiting a test result, or is receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C.
In the event of applications for large amounts of life insurance cover (likely to be above £500,000, according to an ABI spokesman, although this figure may vary from one company to another), companies will reserve the right to ask for an HIV test and/or further medical information.