Legal Aid NSW has issued a warning to insurance companies offering coverage to people with health conditions that they need to abide by the law.
In its report What’s the Risk? Access to insurance for people living with health conditions , Legal Aid found two thirds of the people it surveyed affected by health conditions reported having difficulties obtaining insurance, particularly life insurance, income protection and travel insurance.
Chief Executive of Legal Aid NSW and National Legal Aid chair, Brendan Thomas said a Health Conditions and Insurance Project was funded by the Agency to understand better the experience of people living with health conditions when accessing general and life insurance products.
Mr Thomas said the survey involved 281 people with range of health conditions.
He said insurers must comply with obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act if they refuse insurance coverage or put additional requirements on people with health conditions.
“Our recommendations are directed to both preventing discrimination against people with health conditions, and ensuring that people with health conditions and problems with insurance are aware of their options for redress,” Mr Thomas said.
“If access to insurance for people living with disability or health conditions is impeded, they have a greater risk of poverty.”
He said cancer survivors were among those calling on insurers to review policies that exclude coverage for health conditions to ensure that they comply with the law.
Legal Aid’s 42-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
