Life Insurance After a Brain Tumour in Ireland

Editor’s note: First published March 2017 | Updated March 2026 to reflect current Irish underwriting practices for benign and malignant brain tumours.

When people hear the words “brain tumour”, their first reaction is usually that getting insurance will be impossible. In reality, that isn’t always the case.

We arrange life insurance and mortgage protection for people who’ve previously had a brain tumour more often than you might think.

Many brain tumours are benign, and once treatment is complete, insurers will often consider cover after a waiting period.

The outcome depends on the type of tumour, how it was treated, whether it was fully removed and whether there are any ongoing neurological symptoms.

Another important factor is the insurer you approach.

Insurers assess medical risk differently, which means one insurer may postpone cover while another may be willing to consider an application.

That’s why the order you apply matters.

If an application is declined unnecessarily, that can make future applications more difficult.

What’s the difference between a benign and a malignant brain tumour?

A benign brain tumour does not spread to other parts of the body. However, it can still cause problems depending on where it sits in the brain and how much pressure it places on surrounding tissue.

A malignant brain tumour behaves like cancer. These tumours can invade surrounding tissue and are assessed under cancer underwriting rules.

This distinction is important because insurers treat the two situations very differently.

How long do insurers usually wait after a brain tumour?

If the tumour was benign and successfully treated, insurers will often consider an application after a waiting period has passed following surgery.

If the tumour was malignant, the waiting period is usually longer. Many insurers will postpone cover for two to five years after treatment, depending on the grade of tumour and whether there has been any recurrence.

Once the postponement period has passed, coverage may be available, but premiums will be higher for several years before returning to standard rates.

In Ireland, the Code of Practice for Cancer Survivors can be used for a mortgage protection application.

What information will insurers need?

Before we approach insurers, we need to understand your medical history in a bit more detail. Typically, this includes:

• the exact diagnosis
• the date of diagnosis
• whether the complete tumour was removed
• whether there are any ongoing neurological symptoms
• whether there has been any recurrence

Your latest neurological report would be very helpful in this regard.

Once an application is submitted, the insurer will normally request a report from your GP to confirm the medical history.

Is serious illness cover possible after a brain tumour?

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances.

Because serious illness cover policies pay out for benign brain tumours, insurers will usually exclude brain tumours from the policy going forward.

This means you could still be covered for other conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke.

What about income protection?

Income protection depends heavily on the specific medical details. Some benign tumours with full recovery may still be acceptable, but ongoing neurological symptoms can make covering difficult.

Why choosing the right insurer matters

Different insurers assess brain tumours very differently.

Some insurers are more cautious when it comes to neurological conditions, while others are willing to consider cover once recovery has been stable for a period of time.

If you apply to the wrong insurer first and receive a decline, that decision must be disclosed on future applications, causing the next underwriter to raise an eyebrow.

For that reason, we usually speak with insurers informally first to see whether an application is likely to succeed.

Over to you

If you’ve had a brain tumour and are unsure whether you’re eligible for life insurance, feel free to contact us before submitting an application.

If you complete this questionnaire, we can usually tell you within a day whether cover is realistic and which insurer is most likely to offer the best outcome.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to talk it through first, you can schedule a call here.