Editor’s note: First published 2016 | Refreshed October 2025 with updated insurer examples, back-dating rules & Irish pricing data.
10-second summary: Each birthday pushes your premium up. Apply before your next one – or back-date your policy – to lock in a younger rate and save hundreds over the term.
Age is the single biggest factor affecting your life insurance premium.
You can quit smoking or start juicing kale, but you can’t rewind the date you appeared on this great spinning ball of earth – and insurers never forget it.
Still, there’s a little-known trick: back-dating your policy.
Do it right and you could save a weekend in Paris’ worth of cash. Let’s break down what age does to your quote, how back-dating works, and how birthdays trigger extra medical hoops.
How quotes increase with age
Every candle costs you. Premiums creep up each year because the older you are, the closer you are to a potential claim – and insurers price for that risk.
- Age 49 → €62.71 per month
- Age 50 → €70.22 per month
- 25-year saving if you act early: ≈ €2,250
So yeah – age isn’t just a number. But you can rewind the clock.
What is back-dating life insurance?
Back-dating tells the insurer, “Pretend this started before my birthday.”
If Brian turned 50 on June 18 and we start the policy from June 1, he locks in his 49-year-old rate.
He pays for June, then enjoys lower pricing for decades.
Do medicals depend on age?
They do — but it’s not just about age.
Insurers look at two main factors:
- Your age
- The amount of cover you’re applying for
If you’re younger and only need a modest amount of cover, you’ll usually just complete the health questions on the application form. But if you’re applying for a larger sum — or you’re a bit older — the insurer may request a nurse medical, GP report, or both.
Think of it like this:
- Under 50 + average cover → usually paperwork only
- Over 50 or high cover amount → expect a medical or GP report
So if your birthday’s creeping up — 40, 45, 50, 55 — apply before the big day to avoid extra hoops (and possibly higher premiums).
Maximum ages for cover in Ireland
- Term Life Insurance: apply up to age 74 | cover to age 91
- Whole-of-Life Insurance: apply up to age 74
Left it late? You still have options—but if you’re 74 years and 11 months old, stop reading and call us now.
Can you back-date other cover types?
You can usually back-date income protection and mortgage protection too – handy if your birthday falls mid-application.
Related Guides
Over to You…
If your birthday’s coming up, don’t hang about – you can still be “younger” on paper and save a few quid.
Even if it’s just passed, we might be able back-date and cut the cost.
Next step: Complete my quick questionnaire or book a chat to see what’s possible.
Thanks for reading,
Nick
Originally published 2016 | Refreshed 2025 for current rules and prices.