Swiss Re has updated its underwriting manual to help insurance companies provide coverage to people living with HIV, addressing a long-standing barrier to financial protection for millions worldwide.
The reinsurance company’s Life Guide, an underwriting manual, was revised in 2022 to provide clearer guidance on assessing HIV risk, according to Swiss Re. The company noted that, through 2025, 370 companies across 76 countries have used the updated manual to underwrite policies for individuals living with HIV.
The shift in underwriting practices follows medical advances that have transformed HIV from a terminal illness into a manageable chronic condition since the mid-1990s. The introduction of antiretroviral therapy has enabled people with HIV to achieve near-normal life expectancy and quality of life.
There are more than 40 million people live with HIV globally, according to the World Health Organization. Of those, 77% now receive antiretroviral therapy, Swiss Re reported.
“Life Guide equips our clients with the latest underwriting guidelines for assessing HIV risk, reflecting the medical progress that now enables broader access to life insurance for people with well-managed HIV,” Rebecca Barwick, head of global underwriting and claims for life and health at Swiss Re, said in the report.
Swiss Re said it aims to encourage broader access to life insurance for individuals who need coverage.
In 2024, Swiss Re introduced Life Guide Scout, a generative AI assistant designed to help underwriters access guidance on HIV cases more efficiently. According to the company, the tool aims to eliminate lengthy searches and reduce errors in the underwriting process.
The technology allows underwriters to make evidence-based decisions about applicants’ health risks more quickly, the report stated.
The updated guidelines provide the insurance industry with a standard to assess HIV risk accurately and offer fair pricing, Swiss Re said. The company developed the tools to combine extensive insights with global analytics and risk management expertise.
