10-second summary: Yes, you can often get life insurance or mortgage protection with kidney disease. But the insurer you apply to first matters. Apply to the wrong one and that decision follows you, limiting your options and increasing your cost.
So, you’ve got kidney disease, and now you’re thinking:
“Right, that’s me uninsurable. May as well cancel the mortgage application and move into the shed.”
Not so fast.
In many cases, mortgage protection is absolutely possible. It just depends on what you’ve been diagnosed with, how stable things are, and which insurer you apply to.
And that last bit matters more than most people realise.
What Actually Affects Your Chances?
Insurers don’t just see “kidney disease” and make a decision. They look at the detail.
- The condition itself (CKD, PKD, IgA nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome, etc.)
- The stage (especially if you’ve been told Stage 1–3 CKD)
- Your eGFR and creatinine levels
- Whether things are stable
- Any treatment (medication, monitoring, transplant)
- Underlying causes like diabetes or high blood pressure
Two people with “kidney disease” can get completely different outcomes.
Why the Order You Apply Matters
Not all insurers assess kidney conditions the same way.
One might decline you, another might offer cover with a loading, and another might postpone.
But once you’ve been declined, that doesn’t disappear.
Every future application asks if you’ve ever been refused.
Which means applying to the wrong insurer first can limit your options.
Getting accepted by an insurer isn’t the goal.
Getting the best possible terms from the right insurer is.
How Kidney Disease Affects the Cost
If you’ve got a kidney condition, you won’t be quoted the same price as someone with a clean bill of health.
There’s no point pretending otherwise.
How Much More Expensive Is It?
This is the question everyone really wants answered.
In simple terms, insurers increase the price by applying a loading.
- Mild / early-stage kidney issues: often 50% to 100% higher
- Moderate cases: typically 100% to 150% higher
- More serious or less stable cases: can be 200% to 400% higher, or declined
The exact outcome depends on your results, stability, and which insurer you apply to.
One insurer might load you heavily. Another might offer better terms.
Which is why applying to the right one first matters.
Life Insurance if You’re on Dialysis
If you’re currently on dialysis, I’m sorry, but none of the insurers in Ireland will offer life insurance or mortgage protection.
Your option in that situation is usually a mortgage protection waiver from the bank.
Life Insurance After a Kidney Transplant
If you’ve had a kidney transplant, things can change significantly.
You may have been declined before, or assumed cover wasn’t possible.
After a successful transplant, insurers may consider you again, but only once things are stable.
Most insurers will want to see at least 12 to 24 months of stability, with no complications and good follow-up results.
Even then, premiums will be higher.
In kidney transplant cases, insurers typically apply a per mille loading.
In simple terms, this is an extra cost per €1,000 of cover.
- Typical range: €8 to €15 per €1,000 of cover
- Lower end: often where the transplant was from a living donor and recovery is strong
- Higher end: more common with cadaver donors or more complex histories
Here’s what that actually looks like.
If you take out €200,000 of cover:
- €8 per mille = €1,600 per year extra
- €15 per mille = €3,000 per year extra
Over a 20 or 30-year policy, that difference can add up to tens of thousands.
And this is where it gets important.
Different insurers price transplant cases very differently.
One might come in at €8 per mille. Another might be closer to €15.
Which means who you apply to first can have a massive impact on what you end up paying over the lifetime of the policy.
This is one of the clearest examples of where applying correctly can make the difference between getting reasonable cover and overpaying significantly.
What Will Insurers Ask You?
Expect detailed questions. This is normal.
- When were you diagnosed?
- What stage is your condition?
- Your latest eGFR and creatinine levels
- Any medication or treatment
- Whether the condition is stable
- Any related conditions
- Recent specialist appointments
They may also request a GP report or medical screening.
If you’ve had recent tests, we can often use those to speed things up.
Don’t Do This on Your Own
You can apply directly online if you want.
But if you apply to the wrong insurer and get declined, that decision follows you.
Which makes the next application harder.
We approach this differently.
We check your situation across all insurers first, on a no-name basis, before anything is submitted.
That way, you’re applying once, properly, to the insurer most likely to give you the best outcome.
Fast Recap
- Yes, life insurance with kidney disease is often possible
- Dialysis is a hard stop for insurers
- Transplant cases can be considered after stability
- Each insurer assesses risk differently
- The order you apply matters
Ready to Find Out Where You Stand?
If you want a straight answer based on your situation, start here:
Complete the kidney questionnaire
Complete the kidney transplant questionnaire
It takes a couple of minutes, and we’ll tell you exactly what your options are.
Editor’s note: This guide was originally published in 2017 and has been updated for 2026 to reflect current underwriting practices across Irish insurers.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, a multi-agency Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He’s been helping people secure fair, transparent cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you’d like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.