Life Insurance After Cancer (Ireland 2025)

Editor’s note: First published March 2017 | Refreshed November 2025 with updated Irish insurer guidelines, waiting times, and Code of Practice for Cancer Survivors.

Can you get mortgage protection if you’ve had cancer?

Cancer is a bastard.

Everyone knows someone who’s had it — but everything changes when it’s you.

Treatment makes you sick, your life gets flipped upside down, and by the time you finally get the all-clear, you’ve spent years in survival mode.

So when you try to move on with your life — maybe buy a home — it’s natural to feel frustrated when your bank or insurer suddenly makes things awkward.

It can feel like punishment for something you’ve already fought hard to beat.

You’ve done the tough bit.

Getting insurance shouldn’t be another battle.

That’s where we come in.

We specialise in helping cancer survivors get life cover and mortgage protection — at the best possible price, with the least possible hassle.

Some insurers are understanding with a cancer history; others… not so much (and applying to the wrong one can make things worse).

We work with all five Irish insurers and know which reinsurers to approach for different cancer types. Here are the ones we see most often:

Can you get life insurance if you’re in remission?

Yes — you can still get life insurance after a cancer diagnosis. The outcome depends on your diagnosis, treatment, and current health.

If you’ve been in complete remission or off active treatment for more than seven years, you now qualify for standard-price cover under the Mortgage Protection Code for Cancer Survivors.

That’s a major change for 2025 — and a relief for thousands of Irish families.

What information do insurers need?

They’ll look at:

• When you were diagnosed
• The type, stage, and grade of the cancer
• How it was treated (surgery, chemo, radiotherapy)
• When treatment ended
• Whether you’ve been fully discharged or still under review

Insurers will ask your GP for a Private Medical Report (PMAR), so make sure your doctor has your latest discharge or follow-up letters on file.

How soon after treatment ends can you get mortgage protection?

It depends on the stage.

For early cancers, cover can be possible within a year.

For advanced cases, insurers usually postpone applications for three to five years.

No insurer will offer cover while treatment is still ongoing or scheduled to begin — you’ll need to be clear and stable first.

How insurers assess severity

For most cancers they use the TNM staging system:

• T = tumour size
• N = lymph node involvement
• M = metastasis (whether it’s spread)

If you can get me a copy of your Histology Report, that would be really useful , it helps me find the right insurer and avoid unnecessary delays.

For more on how underwriting works, see our underwriting process guide.

For more on cancer staging and follow-up care, see the Irish Cancer Society’s guide.

How long must you wait after cancer?

Each cancer has a different postponement period.

Here’s a general guide (subject to your consultant’s reports and current health):

Breast cancer

• Stage 0 : cover possible once treatment ends
• Stage 1 : 0–2 years after treatment
• Stage 2 : 2–5 years after treatment
• Stage 3 : typically 5+ years
• Stage 4 – cover usually unavailable

Melanoma / Skin cancer

If it hasn’t spread, cover can be available within three months of treatment. For deeper or spread cases, expect 6 months to 2 years.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

The most common skin cancer in Ireland — slow-growing and 95% curable. Once removed, cover can be arranged quickly.

Testicular cancer

If there’s been no spread, cover may be possible 6–12 months after treatment. For others, the wait is usually 1–2 years.

Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Stages 1–2: postponement of 3–10 years depending on outcome.

Stages 3–4: usually declined until remission period is very long.

Leukaemia

For childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), adults often qualify since the postpone period has passed.

For chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), insurers look at your age and stage (Binet or Rai). Cover is sometimes possible after age 50 if stable.

How much does life insurance after cancer cost?

There’s no sugar-coating it — premiums are higher.

But it’s often a temporary loading, lasting one to ten years, depending on your type of cancer and recovery history.

Once you hit key anniversaries, we can review and often reduce your rate.

If you’d like me to get an indicative quote, complete this questionnaire (I’ll need your TNM stage and treatment dates).

Why choosing the right insurer matters

Here’s a real-world example from a recent client:

I want to inquire with you about life assurance. My fiancée and I have been approved for a mortgage with AIB. Irish Life said they’d postpone cover because I had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2019. I’ve been in remission since November 2019 — six years — but they still quoted a ten-year wait. I saw your site and reviews and figured you might know a better route.

We got them covered at normal rates — no loading, no postponement.

Over to you…

Don’t give up.

If you’ve been postponed or declined for life insurance after cancer, don’t take it personally — it’s about risk models, not people.

But that’s also why you need a broker who knows which insurer to try next.

I can usually tell within 24 hours whether it’s worth making a formal application.

Thanks for reading

Nick

Further reading: Irish Independent article