The short answer
Burial insurance for HIV patients is available, but options are often narrower. Many policies with health questions ask about HIV or AIDS, and a "yes" commonly means that company can offer only guaranteed issue. Guaranteed issue asks no health questions but usually has a waiting period of about two years before the full benefit is paid for death from illness.
Key takeaways
- Many burial insurance applications ask directly about HIV or AIDS.
- HIV.gov reports that more than half of people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States are aged 50 and older.
- When they do, a guaranteed issue policy is commonly the option available from that company.
- Guaranteed issue asks no health questions and usually pays the full benefit for death from illness only after about two years.
- Company rules differ, so a Licensed Insurance Agent can compare several companies to help you see your options.
Can you get burial insurance with HIV?
Yes. HIV does not shut you out of burial insurance. It mainly changes which type of policy a company may offer. Burial insurance, also called final expense insurance, is a small whole life insurance policy meant to help pay for a funeral and final bills.
HIV.gov explains that HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, and AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. It also says people with HIV who take treatment as prescribed can live long and healthy lives. Burial insurance rules at many companies have not caught up in the same way. Many short health-question applications still ask about HIV or AIDS as a single yes-or-no question.
This matters for burial insurance shoppers. HIV.gov reports that more than half of people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States and dependent areas are aged 50 and older, the same age range in which many people start planning for final expenses.
See how the three policy types work: level, graded and guaranteed issue.
How insurers commonly look at HIV
| Situation | What is commonly offered |
|---|---|
| The application asks about HIV or AIDS and you answer yes | Guaranteed issue is commonly the option available from that company. |
| The application does not ask about HIV | Other questions still apply, such as recent hospital stays or other conditions. A level or graded policy may be possible. |
| Other serious conditions alongside HIV | Kidney disease, liver disease or cancer may be asked about separately and can also affect the type offered. |
Companies may also check prescription history with your permission. HIV medicines will usually show up in that check. So answering honestly is both the right thing and the practical thing to do.
What the waiting period means for your family
On many guaranteed issue policies:
- If death is from illness during the waiting period, the family usually receives the premiums paid, often plus some interest.
- If death is from an accident, the full benefit is often paid from the first day.
- After the waiting period ends, the full benefit is paid for any cause covered by the policy.
Example: a hypothetical policy has a $10,000 benefit and a two-year waiting period. If the insured dies of an illness in month 14, the family would receive the premiums paid plus the stated interest, not $10,000. After month 24, the family would receive $10,000. Your policy's exact terms are in the section usually called "graded death benefit" or "limited death benefit."
Who this is and is not right for
- It may fit if you want a set amount for funeral costs that stays in place for life, and you expect to live well past the waiting period.
- It may not be worth it if your health is declining quickly. During the waiting period, many policies return premiums rather than the full benefit. Putting the same money into savings may do a similar job.
- Check first whether you already have life insurance through a job, a union or an old policy. It may already help pay for funeral costs.
Your privacy and state rules
Some states have their own rules about how insurers may ask about HIV or use HIV tests. For example, Virginia's rules bar insurers from asking about sexual orientation, and Virginia and Wisconsin require written consent before an insurer runs an HIV test. Many burial insurance policies do not use blood tests, but the rules show that you have rights.
If you have a question or complaint about how an insurer handled your health information, contact your state insurance department.
Questions you may see on the application
Wording varies by company. Questions often look like these:
- Have you been diagnosed with or treated for HIV or AIDS?
- Have you been in the hospital in a recent period of time?
- Have you been diagnosed with kidney disease, liver disease or cancer?
Answer exactly what each question asks. A wrong answer can let the company deny a claim, usually during the first two years of the policy.
What to have ready and what to ask a Licensed Insurance Agent
Have ready:
- Your age and state (guaranteed issue policies have age limits)
- Your medicines and doses
- Other conditions and recent hospital stays, with rough dates
- How much you want to leave. Our coverage calculator can help.
Ask the Licensed Insurance Agent:
- Do any of the companies you work with not ask about HIV on their application?
- If this is guaranteed issue, how long is the waiting period and what is paid during it?
- Is accidental death covered in full from day one?
- Is the price fixed for life?
To size the benefit, compare it with average funeral costs. If you already own life insurance, see using an existing policy after a serious diagnosis. A Licensed Insurance Agent can compare companies for you. This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Your health information is private, and you can ask any Licensed Insurance Agent how it will be used.
Common questions
Can I get burial insurance if I have HIV?
Yes. Guaranteed issue burial insurance is commonly available to people with HIV, within the company's age limits, because it asks no health questions. It usually has a waiting period of about two years for death from illness. Some companies with health questions may not ask about HIV, so it is worth having a Licensed Insurance Agent check.
Can I get burial insurance with AIDS?
Guaranteed issue is commonly the option available with an AIDS diagnosis, because many health-question applications ask about AIDS directly. It usually has a waiting period of about two years. During that time, death from illness usually returns premiums, often with some interest, rather than paying the full benefit.
Will the insurance company find out I have HIV?
Often, yes. With your permission, many companies check prescription history, and HIV medicines usually show up. Answering honestly avoids problems with a claim later, because a wrong answer can let the company deny it. Guaranteed issue policies do not ask health questions at all.
If I am diagnosed with HIV after I buy burial insurance, can the policy be canceled?
Generally, no. The health questions cover your health when you apply. On a whole life burial insurance policy, a later diagnosis is generally not a reason for the company to cancel the policy or raise the premium, as long as premiums are paid and your application answers were accurate. Ask the Licensed Insurance Agent to show you the policy terms.
Is there burial insurance for HIV with no waiting period?
It is uncommon, because many health-question applications ask about HIV directly. If a company's application does not ask about HIV, and your other answers fit, a level policy with no waiting period may be possible there. Be cautious of anyone who promises no health questions and no waiting period together. Ask to see the terms in writing.
Does a guaranteed issue policy cost more?
Usually, yes. Guaranteed issue often costs more for the same benefit than a policy with health questions, because the company takes on more risk. The price is commonly locked in for life once the policy starts. A Licensed Insurance Agent can show you real quotes.
Is burial insurance worth it with HIV?
It depends on your health and budget. If you expect to live well past the waiting period, a guaranteed issue policy can lock in a set benefit for your family. If not, savings may do a similar job. See our guide on whether burial insurance is worth it.
Can my family buy burial insurance for me?
A family member can often own and pay for a policy on you, but you usually must agree and sign the application. The health questions still apply to you as the person insured. See our guide to burial insurance for parents for how that works.