10-second summary: Most people with Multiple Sclerosis can get life insurance or mortgage protection in Ireland. The price depends on severity and stability. The biggest risk isn’t usually the diagnosis — it’s applying to the wrong insurer first.
Editor’s note: First published 2018 | Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect current Irish underwriting practice and how Irish insurers assess Multiple Sclerosis.
If you have Multiple Sclerosis and you’re now applying for life insurance or mortgage protection, your head is probably spinning a bit.
You Google it.
You read forums.
You see horror stories.
And suddenly you’re wondering whether your mortgage is about to fall apart.
Let’s calm this down.
The Biggest Risk Isn’t Usually MS – It’s Applying Incorrectly
In Ireland, most people with MS can get life insurance and mortgage protection.
The part that catches people out is not eligibility.
It’s the order you apply.
Irish insurers assess MS differently.
Some are comfortable with stable, relapsing-remitting cases.
Some add higher loadings.
Most are cautious if there’s been progression.
When you apply, the insurer gives a decision, and that decision becomes part of your insurance history.
If you apply to a cautious insurer first and receive a heavy loading or a decline, future applications will ask whether you’ve ever been declined or offered special terms, and you have to answer yes. This puts the next insurer you apply to on alert.
Even if you’re accepted for cover, this isn’t the same as getting accepted on the best terms.
And with MS, who you go to first can make a real difference.
Can You Get Life Insurance With MS in Ireland?
In most cases, yes.
Life insurance and mortgage protection are usually available once your condition is stable and properly documented.
Insurers will want to understand:
- When you were diagnosed
- The type of MS
- Number of relapses
- Current symptoms
- Medication
- Any disability or mobility issues
They will almost always request a medical report from your GP before confirming terms.
If your MS is stable, well-managed, and without significant disability, cover is often offered, but at a higher premium – how high depends on the insurer you choose.
How Irish Insurers Differ
This is where proper advice actually makes a difference.
Insurers don’t just vary on price. They can also vary on how long they’re willing to insure you for.
In some MS cases, the maximum term available can be limited. Right now, only one Irish insurer will consider terms longer than 25 years in certain situations. The others may cap the term depending on stability and severity.
That doesn’t mean long cover isn’t possible. It just means that if you’re younger and need a longer mortgage term, who you go to first really matters.
I’ve seen two people with very similar medical histories get very different outcomes simply because a different insurer looked at the case first.
Mortgage Protection With Multiple Sclerosis
If you’re buying a home, the bank will require mortgage protection unless you qualify for a waiver.
Having MS does not automatically prevent you from getting mortgage protection in Ireland.
I’ve arranged cover for clients in their twenties and thirties who were recently diagnosed and understandably worried.
In most cases, insurers will want to see a period of stability first – often six to twelve months – before offering cover. Once that stability is clear and the medical report supports it, cover is usually possible, just at a higher premium.
The key is approaching the right insurer first.
How Much More Expensive Is It?
What you pay depends on how stable the MS is and how it’s affecting you now.
If your MS is mild
Usually, this means relapsing-remitting, no mobility issues, and no real impact on day-to-day life.
In those cases, you’re typically looking at somewhere between 50 and 100 per cent extra on top of the normal price
e.g if the normal price is €40 per month, you will pay €60-€80
If it’s moderate
There may have been relapses, some progression, or the use of aids. Maybe some limitations, but still functioning independently.
Loadings here often fall in the 100-150 per cent range.
If it’s advanced or progressive
Where there’s significant disability or a clearly progressive course, pricing can go above 150 per cent.
In more severe cases, cover may not be possible.
Can You Get Serious Illness Cover or Income Protection?
Once you have been diagnosed with MS, serious illness cover is not available in Ireland.
Income protection is not available either, unfortunately.
That’s consistent across the Irish market at the moment.
You are eligible for cancer only cover and multi-claim protection cover.
What Should You Do Now?
If you’re ready to apply, don’t just click through a comparison site.
With MS, it pays to get the order right.
Take a proper look at your medical notes first.
Work out which insurer is likely to be most comfortable with your situation. Then start there.
That way, you’re not making things harder than they need to be.
If you’d like me to assess your situation properly, complete this questionnaire:
I’ll discuss your case anonymously with the appropriate insurers before any formal application is submitted, so we know we’re applying to the best insurer the first time.
If you’d prefer a chat first, you can book a call here:
https://info.lion.ie/meetings/nick352
You don’t need to guess your way through this.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, an independent Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He’s been helping people get 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.