Gay people in civil partnerships should be treated by insurance providers in the same way as married couples, the ABI has said.
Fears among gay men that they might be discriminated against by life insurance firms have been responded to by the industry.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has said that people who are in a civil partnership will now be treated by insurance firms in the same way as married couples: a policy outlined in the body's newly-revised Consumer Guide for Gay Men.
Allegations have surfaced since the onset of AIDs in the 1980s that many potential customers were asked about their sexual orientation by providers - a custom which became known as the "gay question" - with their response being used to allow or deny cover on the basis of gay men representing a bigger risk for the insurer.
However, in 2005 the ABI officially outlawed this form of discrimination in the form of a Statement of Best Practice, and has been building on its gay-friendly guidance since.
Nick Kirwan, the ABI's assistant director of health and protection insurance, said: "This builds on the good work done by the insurance industry to ensure lesbian and gay people are treated fairly, and have access to practical information about insurance. We've updated our Consumer Guide to reflect changes being made across the industry to ensure that people in civil partnerships are treated the same as married couples.
Chris Morgan, a financial advisor specialising in gay issues who helped to formulate the ABI guidance, added: "It is extremely important that information is available to the gay community on life and protection insurance issues. The amendment to the Guide clarifies the industry's position on civil partnerships, and I am extremely proud to have played my part in achieving what I believe to be full equality in life insurance products."
