This report aims to contribute to a fuller understanding of the range of barriers facing people living with HIV when accessing financial products and services.
Addressing these barriers will require input and effort from a range of stakeholders. This is reflected in the recommendations of this report, which highlight actions that should be taken by the financial services industry, the financial services regulator, government, and HIV voluntary and community organisations (VCOs).
These recommendations have been developed through discussion with members of those stakeholder groups. We hope to work constructively with them to engender change to the benefit of all concerned.
Each of the sections of this report concludes with a list of recommendations but there are some more general themes that have come out of the research process. The strong parallels between the experiences of people living with HIV and those living with other preexisting conditions highlight that this is a broad issue requiring a holistic and joined up approach. NAT and other HIV VCOs should engage in such an approach by coordinating with other long-term condition and disability organisations to identify common issues, ensure strategic working and a collective voice on improving access to insurance for people with preexisting conditions.
There has been increased attention from the regulator on the issue of access for certain groups and this is to be welcomed. For example, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently launched a consultation on access to travel insurance for people with cancer. The FCA, in line with its business priorities for access and vulnerability, should continue to focus on the needs of marginalised customers, including those with preexisting conditions such as HIV, in accessing insurance and determine how these needs can be better met.