Zimnat Life has launched a life cover product dubbed “My Legacy Plan” which is targeted at people living with HIV.
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
The insurance company’s new product is looking to tap into an estimated 1,3 million Zimbabweans living with the HIV virus, while 600 000 people are on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
Speaking to NewsDay on the side lines of the launch, Zimnat Life managing director Munyaradzi Javangwe, said the product was aimed specifically at people who were living with HIV and who are on ART programmes.
“What we saw in the market was that people who are HIV positive are being marginalised. We saw this opportunity to do this, and hence we have been working for the past one-and -a-half years to develop this product,” he said.
“Initially one of the things we found is that this is quite a risky group. But, if one is on an ART programme and you are not drinking, smoking, exercising and are relatively of normal weight, you actually have the same life expectation as somebody who is not HIV positive. So, therefore, the product becomes suitable, that is why we launched it.”
He said there was a flexible premium payment plan, ranging from monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual.
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Under the “My Legacy Plan,” cover would be available to anyone aged 18 to 60 years who is compliant to treatment and depending on one’s needs, cover will range from $10 000 to $250 000 and premium will start from $25.
This product will encourage drug intake and compliance and assists in fighting the stigma against those living with HIV, while there will also be special counselling services before product uptake whenever needed during the term of the policy.
Applications can be made through the 200 Zimnat agents nationwide, including trained corporate agents organisations already working with the HIV community.
“We understand that clients will entrust us with highly sensitive personal information that should be handled with utmost confidentiality, hence we have put in place rigorous internal processes,” Javangwe said.
He said that for the business to remain viable that they would be targeting between 10 000 and 15 000 clients of those living with HIV.
