need help ASAP..can a life insurance agent do an AIDS/HIV test in my home legally.... - HIV Prevention Message Board

gagcas · 06-24-2004, 11:35 AM

hi everyone,

im from another board topic, and after wasting a whole day looking on the ent i thought i would try here. my best friend was thinking about getting some more life insurance for herself and when the insurance agent came to her house to do all the paper work, he also did an in home HIV test as well. we live in PA and i was under the impression that only a mediacal professionall in some type of medical place could perform those. this was just your everyday insurance salesman. no medical training or back round what so ever.

now he had her sign a release form but at the time she just assumed that this was part of the routine and didnt know any better. can he even perform it in her home, regardless if he had release for or not. what about contamination and what not?

any help on this what so ever would be greatly appreciated. thanks again ahead of time. or even where on the web i could look for the protocol for testing and who can do it.

susieq0726 · 06-25-2004, 06:14 AM

Hi,

I am in the insurance industry and yes, an insurance company can require an HIV test from a potential insured. With that said, I have never in my life heard of an insurance agent performing the test themselves. I don't know if it's a state thing or not. (I live in Virginia) I know none of the agents I am associated with have ever done the test.
The procedure is usually ordered by the insurance company and they have a vendor such as Port-a-medic (this is a medically trained facility that staffs trained individuals to do these tests) They will come to your house and usually check blood pressure, weight, temperature, collect a urine sample and do the finger ***** thing for a blood sample.
I would find it odd that the insurance agent did it himself. If I were your friend, I would have them call the insurance company and ask if this is normal.

gagcas · 06-25-2004, 06:25 AM

thank you for your response. i had contacted our health board here and they had said if she did everything herself then it was like her doing the test, but the only thinkg she did her self was put the swab in her mouth and sheisnt really sure she did that. this was about a month ago and she really couldnt remember. but as far as everything else, he did it al. our health board said if he did any of it he needed to be certified and had training in doing the proceedure and im undwerstanding it as if he did ANY part of it then no she didnt administer the test herself. he could be in seriuos trouble. thank you agin for responding. i didnt think this was kosher at all for him to be doing it. she will be contacting teh rep. and asking him for his certification info. theyn have been giving her the runa round pretty bad and i think now with me doing some research she had some ground to stand on and will be maiking sure this doesnt happen to anyone else.

susieq0726 · 06-25-2004, 06:51 AM

I would seriously consider changing insurance company/agents. Especially if she is getting the run-around. There are many others out there that are trustworthy and do not conduct business in this manner.