Mareli Mans, Head of FundsAtWork & GI Product & Pricing at Momentum Corporate

Momentum Corporate has announced a landmark shift in its group insurance underwriting, effectively removing the insurance ceiling for HIV-positive employees. In a first-to-market move, healthy HIV-positive individuals can now access full group risk protection including Death, Disability, and Income Protection benefits above traditional automatic acceptance limits.

The South African insurance industry has for decades relied on legacy actuarial models that automatically triggered a high-risk classification for HIV-positive individuals, resulting in either more expensive premiums or exclusion from policies.

However, medical science and antiretroviral treatment (ART) have over time transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition with HIV management via antiretroviral treatment normalising lifespans. Despite this, group insurance structures have often lagged. Momentum Corporate’s latest update aligns insurance logic with the reality of modern medicine, ensuring that a manageable health status is no longer a barrier to comprehensive financial resilience.

Aligning actuarial logic with modern medicine

This technical shift represents a move away from restrictive caps toward a more inclusive, wellness-oriented model. By leveraging advanced data and contemporary health outcomes, Momentum Corporate now offers full cover to HIV-positive employees who demonstrate well-managed health profiles, treating the condition with the same proactive logic applied to other chronic manageable diseases.

“The gap between medical progress and insurance underwriting has existed for too long,” says Mareli Mans, Head of FundsAtWork & GI Product & Pricing at Momentum Corporate. “We are essentially ending the era of the insurance ceiling for HIV-positive members. By modernising our approach, we are recognising that an individual’s ability to protect their family’s future should be defined by their current wellness and health management, not by outdated risk perceptions.”

A new standard for inclusivity in the workplace

The update has a number of positive implications for employees, employers, and the broader financial services market. For employees it provides a direct pathway to financial security that was previously blocked. It secures the high levels of cover required to protect their families and lifestyles, regardless of their HIV status, provided they are healthy and managing their condition.

For employers it enables a truly inclusive employee benefits strategy. Organisations are now able to offer a benefits package that genuinely leaves no employee behind, ensuring a culture of equality and care.

For the broader financial services market, it signals a necessary evolution in how risk is perceived in South Africa. Momentum Corporate is setting a precedent that encourages the industry to shift toward more equitable, data-driven underwriting.

Prioritising wellness and resilience

This update is grounded in Momentum Corporate’s commitment to wellness as a driver of financial stability. While insurance has historically absorbed part of the financial impact of health events, this proactive shift aims to reduce the protection gap before a crisis occurs.

“Reducing risk is everybody’s responsibility. When individuals take ownership of their health, the financial system should reward that diligence with comprehensive protection. This is about more than just a policy change; it’s about ensuring that our insurance products reflect the resilient, modern South Africa we serve,” says Mans.

In an increasingly uncertain economic environment, the need for robust financial buffers has never been more critical. By removing legacy restrictions, Momentum Corporate is strengthening the safety net for thousands of households, ensuring that the South African economy remains functional and its citizens remain protected.