A major milestone has today been reached for people living in the UK with HIV, as Pulse launches a insurance policy offering up to £200,000 of accidental death cover and either £10,000 or £25,000 life cover. Crucially, the policy does not require a doctor’s report or for the applicant to undergo a medical examination.

The unique policy, called ‘Harbour’, is underwritten at Lloyds of London and is offered through Pulse and will shortly be available through specialist HIV insurer Freedom Insurance, which has strong links with the Terrence Higgins Trust.  The term of cover is ten years and the policy is available to all UK citizens.

Paul Sandilands, Managing Director of Pulse, which is a specialist life insurance provider that already offers cover for a wide variety of medical conditions including diabetes, heart issues, cancer and depression, said: “We are extremely pleased to be launching Harbour to those who have previously struggled to secure any kind of life insurance.  A person living with HIV is entitled to be able to provide for their family and dependents without worrying about jumping through hoops or having to undergo lengthy and intrusive medical enquiries.”

There are currently 83,000* people living with HIV in the UK but many struggle to get life insurance. Pulse is the only provider which offers this type of cover to people with HIV without a medical or doctor’s report, meaning that cover can be put in place in a matter of a few days as opposed to up to several months, which is the normal length of time taken when a medical or doctor’s report is required.

Life insurance is an important financial consideration, ensuring that in the event of someone’s death, liabilities such as mortgage repayments, school and university fees and the primary earner’s salary are taken care of.

The Harbour policy is available either directly from Pulse www.pulse-insurance.co.uk or by contacting 01280 841430 or Freedom Insurance www.freedominsure.co.uk  or 01223 446915.

*According to latest Health Protection Agency (HPA) reports

Rising levels of diabetes in the UK are well-publicised with an ageing population and rising obesity levels contributing to the ever-increasing volume of cases. In England and Wales, the NHS estimates that there are 2 million people living with the condition and a further 750,000 who have the condition but have not had a diagnosis or are unaware of it.

 Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes, representing 95% of all cases, and occurs when not enough insulin is produced or when the body does not react to insulin as it should, meaning glucose levels are not lowered. Obesity is a risk factor that increases the chances of developing the condition, and is a serious concern to the UK health service as obesity levels in the UK continue to rise.

 Type 1 Diabetes is the rarer form of diabetes, occurring when no insulin is produced. It is most commonly diagnosed in child or adulthood.

Although diabetes is a chronic condition, specialist insurers recognize the importance and success of good management of symptoms in controlling the condition and life and income protection cover may be obtainable.

Diabetes can be a problem in obtaining life and income protection cover, but Pulse, with the help of a number of specialist underwriters, can frequently, although not always, arrange cover. The condition varies hugely; the following guidelines concerning underwriters’ attitudes to diabetes and life and income protection cover maybe useful;

• The most important factor in obtaining cover is to demonstrated good control of the condition. With modern medication, diabetes responds well, and is evidenced by control of blood pressure, cholesterol levels, height-weight issues, alcohol intake and HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin) readings. HbA1c is a test that indicates blood glucose levels in the previous 2-3 months and is used as a measure of long-term control of diabetes.
• As a general rule, HbA1c readings should be below 8.5 for income protection and below 10 to obtain life cover, although it is possible to obtain life cover for HbA1c readings up to 14 in the absence of complications or other medical conditions 
• Not smoking tends to increase the chances of obtaining cover
• Diabetes varies considerably between types 1 and 2. Where the condition is relatively simple and it is not associated with other problems, cover is easily obtainable. Where the condition is associated with problems such as strokes and amputation, cover is more difficult to obtain.

There have been a series of striking advertisements on television recently such as the F.A.S.T. campaign. These have been designed to highlight stroke symptoms and make it clear that the victim needs immediate help.

It used to be impossible to obtain life cover for stroke victims. A specialist part of the U.K. insurance industry is today, however, recognizing the impact that prompt and improved treatment has had. It recognizes an individual can now make a good recovery and lead a long and active life. Accordingly life cover may well be available for some, if not all stroke victims.

The following guidelines maybe useful in assessing the chances of success in applying for life cover;

• Cover is available if an application is made in as little as 6 months after the stroke
• Smoking, post-stroke, will increase the cost but won’t, in itself, prevent cover being available
• Terms are possible even where there are moderate complications such as those who require assistance to live independently, have major residual paralysis, limb weakness and some communication difficulties
• Stroke in combination with other conditions such as diabetes or heart attack is possible, although at increased cost
• Terms are available even on young lives, i.e. where stroke occurred under age 39
• It is possible to cover clients who have had 2 or more Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs or ‘mini-strokes’) even with residual neurological deficit 6 months after the last event.
• Any long term or ongoing complications such as loss of speech and/or mobility will have an effect on availability of cover.
• The risk of further strokes is a real issue so it is important that tests are performed to ascertain the cause of the stroke to take action to prevent a recurrence

Please contact us if you would like any more information

Mental health issues are a commonplace problem in our society today. Thankfully advances in medical science in the treatment of conditions associated with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues have greatly improved the quality of life for many sufferers but there can still be problems for sufferers, in the everyday conduct of their lives. Obtaining Life Insurance can, for instance, become a real problem.

Pulse is able to arrange life cover in a wide range of mental health cases.

We have clients with Life cover whose conditions include;

• Bi-polar Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Post-Natal Depression
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Nervous Breakdown
• Stress

Pulse is able to help with a number of kidney-related conditions, and the guidelines for what we are and are not able to do are set out below.

Polycystic kidney disease

This is a genetic problem. It is possible to obtain terms for this group over age 18 provided the kidney function is only mildly impaired, any high blood pressure (hypertension) is well controlled and there are no other major medical conditions present. 

Diabetes and kidney disease

Diabetes is a common problem in Western society. It is perfectly possible to obtain life cover for diabetics, but underwriters consider “control” as a vital element in assessing whether or not cover can be offered. If the diabetes has developed complications, of which a common one is kidney disease, the control element will be of crucial importance in establishing whether life cover can be offered. Terms are available for diabetics with kidney disease (nephropathy) provided the serum creatinine is relatively stable and less than 150 umol/L. (The creatinine level in the blood is an indicator of kidney function and a routine test for someone with diabetes-related kidney disease.)   

Kidneys and cancer

If a kidney has become affected by cancer and been removed it is perfectly possible to obtain life cover after a suitable period of time has elapsed since completion of all treatment. This will also be subject to establishing that there has been no spread and/or evidence of any recurrence. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment will increase the chances of obtaining cover. It is recognised by underwriters that it is perfectly possible to live a long and productive life following the removal of a kidney. The human body was well designed in having two of them!

Individuals on dialysis

It is possible but difficult to obtain cover for this group of individuals.  Where individuals have been on dialysis for at least 2 years, have normal urinary findings and no complications/other conditions, terms may be available for a maximum term of 20 years and maximum policy expiry age no later than 55.

Individuals awaiting transplants

The technology surrounding transplants is comparatively new but underwriters recognise the extraordinary success that has been achieved in this area. Underwriters, however, will wish to await the settled outcome of a transplant before offering terms. Therefore an amount of time will be required to elapse after a transplant, before terms can be offered. The period of postponement varies according to the status of the donor:

•        A transplant from an identical twin donor will enable underwriters to offer terms as quickly as one year after the operation.
•        A transplant from a living relative may require two years to elapse
•        A transplant from a deceased donor may require three years to elapse.

The British Heart Foundation has designated February National Heart Month. Over the year, the BHF has not only raised significant sums of money in relation to heart disease, but also increased awareness in the general public concerning heart and circulatory problems.

In the past, the Life Insurance industry has been reluctant to offer cover to individuals with a history of heart disease.  We are pleased to be able to arrange life insurance involving an increasingly wide range of heart problems:

STABLE ANGINA - Cover is available provided there are no complications. Where there are other problems such as diabetes, moderate height/weight issues, cover may still be available albeit at a significantly increased premium.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - Cover available especially where the condition is well controlled and there are no complications. Combinations of problems make cover more difficult to achieve and more expensive.

HEART ARRHYTHMIA (irregular heart beat) – cover should be available at close to normal rates provided there are no complications. It is possible to obtain cover where there are co-existing conditions e.g diabetes, although this will increase the premium.

HEART ATTACKS: We can arrange life insurance if the attack has taken place six or more months ago and there are no complications. If the applicant is a smoker we should still be able to arrange cover but the premium may well be at least double that of a non-smoker.

If the applicant has had more than one heart attack and/or has other conditions such as diabetes, terms are available at an increased premium, although in some cases it will not be possible to insure.

We are also able to insure those who have undergone HEART SURGERY – as follows:

ANGIOPLASTY (opening of partially blocked arteries in the heart using a balloon) and STENTING - cover should be available if an application is made six months after a successful procedure.

BYPASS SURGERY – Cover is available if an application is made one year after successful surgery, providing there have been no complications.

HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT – Cover is available if an application is made one year after a successful operation, providing there have been no complications.

AORTA GRAFT SURGERY FOR SWELLING OF THE AORTA (aneurysm) – Cover is available if an application is made six months after a successful operation, providing there have been no complications.

STROKES – Cover is available if an application is made one year after the stroke. Smoking and/or other medical conditions will increase the cost and may affect availability of cover.

The above are general guidelines.  If you have a client who has been declined life insurance or who you believe will experience difficulty in obtaining cover, please do contact us. We can tell you quickly if we think we can help. Because our premiums are usually more expensive than in standard cases we give indications of cost first, so that individuals can decided whether or not to complete a full application.

The objective of Pulse is to be able to arrange life cover for individuals and groups who have been declined are finding it difficult to obtain the cover they require from the standard market. Sometimes the nationality of an applicant may be the problem.

Pulse has successfully arranged life cover for a wide range of non-UK nationals, some of whom are not even resident in the UK. Applicants can qualify for the cover we provide simply by owning a property in the UK or mainland Europe. We are able to quote in a range of currencies, including Sterling, US Dollars and Euros.

Recent examples of non-UK nationals who were finding it difficult to obtain life insurance and who Pulse was able to help include:

• A Dutch national living and working in Holland, but working for a UK company
• An Italian national working in Poland for a Polish company
• An Irish national who was unable to find cover in Ireland due to his pre-existing medical condition

For more information or to obtain an indication of cost, please call us on 01280 841430 to speak to one of our account managers.

Pulse beat off stiff competition from five other companies in a competition organised by Cover Magazine, the health insurance and protection publication, to be awarded “Small Intermediary of the Year”, with the judges referring to the company as “a firm with an excellent proposition and ambition.”

The whole Pulse team are thrilled and honoured to receive this award which we regard as recognition from the insurance industry that we are providing a worthwhile and important service.

The awards ceremony was held at the Emirates Stadium in London on Thursday 8th October, and the Pulse team attended with several of its underwriters.  Managing Director Paul Sandilands collected the award from Bill Turnbull, of BBC breakfast and Strictly Come Dancing fame.

Paul Sandilands and members of the Pulse team after collecting the award!

Pulse is now able to offer Income Protection – click here to read more.

Welcome to our new website!  We hope you like it and find it easy to get around. The website enables you to fill in your enquiry online, with no need to download any documents, saving you precious time in the process.

It is a busy time for Pulse at the moment, in addition to our brand new website we are moving to new offices this month.  Our new address and contact details can be found on the ‘contact us’ section of the website.

If you would like to keep up to date with our news please email us at admin@pulse-insurance.co.uk and we will add you to our mailing list.