People with Hepatitis C and similar diseases are facing increasing discrimination from the life insurance industry, experts have posited.

With at least 500,000 people in the UK currently affected by the disease, the industry has no specific guidelines for the treatment of those hoping to take out a life cover.

But the Association of British Insurance casts more light on this and surrounding issues.

A spokesman for the body said: “Insurers are acutely aware of the issues around diseases like Hep C and do treat customers sensitively and with respect.”

The ABI, added the spokesman, was doing more to improve the treatment gay men receive when applying for life insurance products.

He said they are not asked questions about their sexuality or whether they have had tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

“If you have had a test for Hep C with a negative result then you do not need to tell your insurance company and this will not be taken into account,” he explained.

However, he warned that those that have tested positive with Hep C or HIV will certainly require the assistance of a specialist insurer or an insurance broker to determine the right cover for them.