Ireland Bars Insurers From Weighing Past Cancer in Mortgage Protection Cover
Insurers in Ireland must now disregard a cancer diagnosis when a survivor who finished treatment and has been in remission for at least five years applies for mortgage protection insurance of up to €650,000.
A new Irish law now requires insurers to ignore an applicant's cancer history when the applicant seeks mortgage protection insurance, as long as set conditions are met. Mortgage protection insurance pays off a home loan if the borrower dies.
The protection applies when the applicant finished active cancer treatment at least five years ago, has been in complete remission for at least five years, is insuring the home they mainly live in, and seeks cover of up to €650,000. Above that amount, insurers assess applications as usual.
The law replaces a voluntary industry code from December 2023, which applied after seven years (five if the person was under 18 when diagnosed) and only on cover up to €500,000.
Robert Troy, Ireland's minister of state for financial services, said people "should not be punished financially for something that is entirely outside their control." The Irish Cancer Society says Ireland has more than 230,000 cancer survivors. The law began as a bill from Catherine Ardagh, now a minister of state, which the government adopted.
Dublin — Under a new law, insurers in Ireland must disregard the cancer history of people who finished treatment and have been in remission for at least five years when they apply for mortgage protection insurance.
Mortgage protection insurance is life cover that pays off the remaining mortgage on a home if the borrower dies. The Irish Cancer Society says survivors had faced refusals or higher premiums for it years after their treatment ended.
Who is covered
The protection applies where the applicant completed active cancer treatment at least five years ago; has been in complete remission for at least five years; is applying for cover on his or her principal private residence; and seeks cover of up to €650,000. Above that amount, normal underwriting — the insurer's usual assessment of risk — applies.
What changed
The law is the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026. It puts on a legal footing a voluntary code that Insurance Ireland, the industry body, introduced in December 2023. Under that code, cancer diagnoses were disregarded after seven years from the end of treatment, or after five years for people diagnosed under 18, on cover up to €500,000. The new law sets five years for everyone and raises the limit to €650,000.
Robert Troy, minister of state with responsibility for financial services, credit unions and insurance, said: "People who have had to fight for their lives should not be punished financially for something that is entirely outside their control." He said he had lost two siblings to cancer.
Nikki Gallagher, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society, said there are more than 230,000 cancer survivors in Ireland and that the number will grow as detection and treatment improve.
How the law came about
The law began as a private members' bill — one introduced by an individual legislator rather than the government — from Catherine Ardagh, then named the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025. The government adopted it as a priority and amended it. Ardagh is now a minister of state. The Department of Finance said it will monitor how insurers apply the law.
The same act also gives the Central Bank of Ireland power to petition the High Court to wind up reinsurers, the companies that insure insurers; those provisions took effect on August 26.