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Avbob pledges to honour benefits for HIV-positive people
Lynne Altenroxel and Nano Mothibi. 28 August 2003. The Star. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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"It is a victory for the millions who live with HIV and AIDS." That was the reaction on Wednesday from the Treatment Action Campaign when Avbob announced a funeral insurance policy that will pay out even if the person named in the policy dies from an AIDS-related illness.
Until now funeral insurance companies have refused to pay out if it could be proved that the death was HIV and AIDS-related, no matter how many monthly premiums had been paid. The TAC's Mark Heywood said: "We will now urge the government to regulate the industry."
Such an exclusion last year hit the poverty-stricken family of HIV/AIDS activist Sarah Hlalele, who had to pay R5 000 for her burial after her policy was repudiated because of her HIV status.
Exclusion criteria are so strict that organisations such as Community AIDS Response (CARE) advise HIV-positive patients to check the fine print on their policy and cancel if funeral expenses were not covered as result of their illness.
About 50 HIV/AIDS activists picketed Avbob Life Assurance's offices in Johannesburg on Wednesday to highlight the difficulties HIV patients face.
"As long as the policyholder does not die within the first six months, the claim can be finalised on receipt of an official death certificate without obtaining further information relating to the cause of death," Avbob said. |
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