進入英語學習論壇下載音頻

AIDS patient Li Wei lost his discrimination case against a domestic insurance company last month.

He's now appealing as insurance companies have been required by the industry to abolish discriminatory contracts targeting policyholders like him.

The Insurance Association of China, for the first time, in a document issued last week requires insurance companies to scrap liability exempt clauses for policyholders with HIV/AIDS in accidental death or disability and long-term insurance coverage by Oct 1.

"Finally the good news has come for China's 700,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, including me, regarding rights for insurance," Li said yesterday.

Li, a 32-year-old Yunnan native, purchased an accidental insurance package with Ping'an Life Insurance Company in early 2008.

Later he filed a lawsuit against Ping'an after finding HIV/AIDS conditions in its compensation exempt clauses, which are usually reserved for things like war, military operations, riot, armed rebellion and nuclear radiation.

"This long-overdue correction will help me win my case and deal a blow to HIV/AIDS discrimination in the insurance industry," he told China Daily yesterday.

Tang Rong, the lawyer who represented Li in court, said this change is only a partial victory.

"We'll closely watch Ping'an and other insurance companies on whether they'll follow the new rules," he said.

Currently, such discriminatory clauses can be found in accident insurance contracts made by almost all domestic insurance companies.

Up to 65 percent of the general public discriminates against HIV/AIDS sufferers, according to a recent survey by the Chinese Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

Questions:

1. By what date insurance companies are required to scrap liability exempt clauses for policyholders with HIV/AIDS in accidental death or disability and long-term insurance coverage?

2. What compensation exempt clauses are usually reserved for?

3. According to a recent survey by the Chinese Center of Disease Control and Prevention how many percent of the general public discriminate against HIV/AIDS sufferers?

Answers:

1. By Oct 1.

2. Things like war, military operations, riot, armed rebellion and nuclear radiation.

3. Up to 65 percent.

（英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Siberian-born Kristina Koveshnikova is a freelance journalist from New Zealand who has worked in print, television and film. After completing a BCS degree majoring in journalism, she won an Asia NZ Foundation/Pacific Media Centre award to work for China Daily website. Kristina previously did internships at ABC 7 News in Washington DC and TVNZ in New Zealand and has written for a number of publications, including The New Zealand Herald and East & Bays Courier.