Be careful what you Google for, when searching for simple answers to complex questions like; Can people with HIV or other complex health conditions can still qualify for life insurance?

Google Search is part of our modern-day lives.

Who hasn’t made a quick Search for the bio of an actor, the secret to a killer Bearnaise sauce or asked, ‘Is there a sequel to Game of Thrones?’

Search is also a growing part of our personal health management. People's tendencies for a late-night search session with Dr Google self-diagnosing potential medical conditions —by searching for symptoms —are known to trigger many an anxious night of misinformation and questionable comparisons.

The reality is many of our late-night search results usually add to our anxiety and uncertainty.

The new skill of knowing ‘when to consult a professional’ is becoming the new 21th Century survival skill to learn.

Life is complicated.

Getting on with life is even more complicated; so it's important to talk about what matters most and know where we stand.

• In 2019, around 3.4 million Australians reported using an illicit (recreational) drug in the last 12 months.¹

So how does having a history of personal drug use affect your ability to create a safety net for yourself and your family?

Here's what you need to know ahead of time when you're needing to get your life insurances sorted.

Intersex Remembrance Day

'Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Girls are princesses and boys are pirates. Girls like only boys and boys don’t kiss other boys... — These are just a few restrictive ideas of gender and gender identity that have seen many queer people marginalised and scrutinised for centuries'.
(National Geographic Magazine - Jan 2017 issue)

If there is anything we know, it's that life is not black and white - and not everyone is neatly defined by an Acronym LGBTI.

Do I need life insurance if I'm Single and LGBTQIA+?

The answer is probably Yes, and here's why

Many LGBTQIA+ singles are taking control of their own lives and getting their Life Insurance sorted sooner than many of their straight allies, who traditionally risk leaving such important decisions until they’re married with children.

And that’s because LGBTQIA+ folk often face more unique challenges than our straight friends.

Many LGBTQIA+ people understand the importance of having their own Income Protection insurance in place because it helps protect their ability to continue to earn an income, to live, to love (and to party). However many LGBTQIA+ people have additional Life Insurance needs and challenges.

Life still goes on, even in the middle of a Pandemic.

Yes, it makes perfect sense to think about life insurance today - especially today - because life still happens to us all, all the time, even during difficult times.

One of the dangers of living through difficult times (and the LGBTQIA+ Community is no stranger to surviving difficult times) is we can sometimes fixate on the biggest issue and ignore the most important issue - our life, love, and relationships continue regardless.

Our innate adaptability can lead many LGBTQIA+ couples to embrace wildly different financial goals, styles and circumstances in our partners.

Are you living with a hidden complex health condition?

It's time for a fresh look at living with a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and getting your life insurance and income protection sorted.

MS affects approximately 2,5 million people worldwide, but when you live with multiple sclerosis (MS), it may already feel tough to relate to people who don’t have the condition. As people with an often hidden condition, they face challenges because of their disability but if they're also identifying as LGBTQIA+ the 'double whammy' of feeling like a “minority within a minority” can feel like more discrimination.

This question has always intrigued me because it sounds similar to the equally difficult-to-answer question, ‘how long is a piece of string?’

I suppose the answer is, ‘as long as it needs to be and as much as you need to have’.

But that's probably not going to move the answer along much, so here is a good place to start your thinking.

An interesting question we're often asked is,
'Who are the most uninsured people in the community?'
The answer might surprise (and sadden) you.

Young male P plate drivers? Young Tradies? Army Reserve personnel? Single mothers? No.

The Australian LGBTQIA+ Community is one of the most underinsured and underserved markets with financial services.

This of course then leaves them and their families at greater vulnerability than their straight counterparts.

If you're thinking about life insurances, chances are you have something worth protecting.

These days HIV or diabetes doesn't have to be a life sentence

But most insurance companies still treat you like it is.

People with pre-existing well‑managed complex health conditions have, up till now, been prevented from accessing quality Life Insurances and Income Protection cover, simply because of their conditions.

Explaining Life insurance cover

Life insurance (also called term life or death cover) is designed to protect against the financial impact of unexpected death and pay a specified amount of money to your beneficiaries, helping to make sure they’re looked after in the event should that occur.

• The benefit payout is either paid to the owner of the policy, your nominated beneficiaries, or your estate.
• High-quality life cover can also payout upon diagnosis of a terminal illness in the final 24 months.

Practically speaking - don't leave your debt to people you love

Why you may need life cover

Most people don't know that 30% of all life insurance payouts have been for terminal illness

Expenses to protect could include:

• How much would be needed to pay off all your debt upon your unexpected death?
• How much would your surviving partner (and any dependents) need to pay living expenses?
• How much do children need to complete education and how will this be funded?
• If you unexpectedly passed away, would you want your partner to need to downsize and move to a cheaper location?
• Would you want them to have the stability of being able to remain in a familiar environment and help any children complete their education with the advantage of having a parent at home to look after them?
• And what are the practical cost for end-of-life expenses and how will this be funded?

Real Life Statistics

• 30% of all life cover claims are for terminal illnesses.
• 43,477 deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease in Australia in 2017 and kills one Australian every 12 minutes. ^{Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Injury, June 2017}

This is not just about getting a Life Insurance policy, this is a human rights issue.

We believe that every Australian should have equal access to high-quality Life Insurance products, no matter what their sexuality, gender, race, age or beliefs. We believe this is not just about getting Life Insurance, this is a human rights issue.

Life Insurance can help you be certain your loved ones are provided for; your child's educational needs are taken care of and your chosen family won't have to worry about their future if you’re not there to continue to protect and provide for them.

When does life insurance payout?

Life insurance will normally payout upon the death of the life insured and can help their dependants cope financially after you die.

Many people don't know that high-quality life insurance can also pay out upon the diagnosis of a terminal illness in the remaining 24 months, as well making it a strong part of a backup plan.

A sad but all too-common experience

Often, when a couple establishes a life insurance policy to protect each other, one person has their application accepted, but the other is refused because of a pre-existing health condition.

Both are left feeling that a wedge has been driven between them and that their needs and choices were not understood, honoured or valued.

At Unusual Risks Insured our mission is to change this and be the change we want to see in the world.

If you’re part of a gay couple, here’s 6 power money decisions that help LGBTQIA+ couples get on the same page financially, and stay on track together.

Because who wants to spend a lifetime arguing about money, right?

Straight and living with HIV? It's becoming more common than you'd think

The typical straight guy (or girl) next door who is just living with a chronic health condition called HIV, is increasing

HIV is not a top-of-mind conversation starter for most straight guys and girls so many straight people believe HIV is not a health issue for the straight community, but they would be very mistaken.

• In Western Australia during 2020, more straight men were diagnosed with HIV than gay men.
• Despite new HIV numbers declining nationally for more than a decade, the number of straight men contracting the sexually transmitted HIV virus is on the rise.

Life Insurances are important financial tools that help us manage the ups and downs of life, love and business. It's an easy way to safeguard our unpredictable futures, just in case.

But delaying important decisions and continually 'waiting for a convenient time' to get these important parts of life in place - is a risk as we all over time can become uninsurable for a variety of reasons.

But some health conditions can be unexpected, unpredictable and then uninsurable - and that can create a significant equally unexpected problem for many people.

Valentine’s Day means different things to different people

But ultimately it's about Love — and Love Takes Action

What some people miss is that life insurance is really love insurance — by having sufficient life insurance, they're safeguarding the future of the ones they love. Drew Browne

Four thoughtful ways you can act on your love today

What has sexuality got to do with a Life Insurance application?

The simple answer is — Not much.

The honest answer is — A lot more than you'd think

• Life Insurance companies traditionally haven't designed their products and services with LGBTQIA+ people in mind and tend not to consider the needs of diverse communities.

Research shows when service providers assume their clients are heterosexual and use heterosexist language, this can result in discomfort, alienation, and even ongoing discrimination against a significant part of the broader Australian community, their families, and friends.

Co Parents need life insurance and this is why

While you might not be together romantically, raising children together leaves Co Parents financially connected in many ways — whether you want to acknowledge that or not.

Remind me again what is Co Parenting?

The term Co Parenting was traditionally only used to describe a situation where a parent had split from their previous partner following a separation or divorce, but who were still actively involved in the lives of their shared children.