10-second summary: Mortgage protection is often possible if you have diabetes. The outcome depends far more on your control and how the application is handled than the diagnosis itself. Applying in the wrong order can cause delays or higher costs that could have been avoided.
If you want help, you can complete this short diabetes questionnaire and I’ll come back to you with an indicative mortgage protection quote, taking your situation into account.
Worried this could hold up your mortgage?
If you’re buying a home, the bank requires you to have mortgage protection before they release the funds.
Stress.
If you also have diabetes, it’s very normal to start worrying that this could become the thing that derails the whole purchase.
More stress.
Most people end up on forums at this point and come away even more stressed than when they started.
You mainly hear about the cases that went badly. You rarely hear from the people who quietly got cover and moved into their new home. The truth sits somewhere in the middle.
Diabetes does add an extra layer of underwriting. But in many cases, mortgage protection is still achievable if it’s handled properly.
The reality, without the sugar-coating
Having diabetes does not automatically mean a refusal.
What it does mean is that insurers will look more closely at your application. They will want to understand how stable things are and whether there are any related complications.
Two people with the same diagnosis can end up with very different outcomes. That usually comes down to control, timing, and which insurer sees the application first.
This is where people often run into trouble, not because of their diabetes, but because of how the application is submitted.
What insurers actually look at
Insurers are not trying to catch anyone out. They are trying to assess risk. For diabetes, the things that matter most tend to be fairly consistent.
- the type of diabetes you have whether it is Type 1, Type 2, or gestational.
- how well it is controlled, usually using your most recent HbA1c results.
- any complications and whether there are other risk factors in the background, such as smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight.
What they want is a clear picture of how things look now.
Where people usually get caught out
The biggest problems we see are not caused by diabetes itself.
They are caused by the process.
Applying to the wrong insurer first can trigger postponements or loadings that then follow you to the next insurer. Submitting incomplete information can lead to unnecessary medical reports and delays. Letting the bank push you down a default route often means the application is handled in the least flexible way possible.
The first application matters more than most people realise. Once an insurer has made a decision, that decision does not disappear.
That’s why order and preparation matter.
What about cost?
It’s common for diabetes to result in a higher premium. How much higher depends on the individual case.
Some people with excellent control end up paying close to standard rates. Others do pay more. There is a wide range, and it varies between insurers.
What’s important is setting expectations properly and avoiding unnecessary loadings caused by a rushed or poorly handled application.
Is cover always possible?
No adviser can guarantee an outcome, and anyone who does should make you nervous.
There are situations where insurers will postpone or refuse cover, usually where control is poor or where there are significant complications.
In cases where multiple insurers refuse, it is sometimes possible to apply for a mortgage protection waiver from your lender.
In practice, this is relatively uncommon when the application is handled carefully from the start.
What about other types of cover?
Right now, your priority is getting your mortgage protection so the purchase can go through.
Life insurance is often assessed in a similar way to mortgage protection and is usually possible.
Income protection is sometimes available in Type 2 diabetes with good control, but is often not an option in Type 1 cases.
Serious illness cover is unlikely, though you can get cancer-only cover.
These are conversations to have once the mortgage protection is sorted, not before.
The safe way to move forward
Your goal is simple.
Get the mortgage protected with as little stress and delay as possible.
That means applying once, applying in the right order, and making sure the information submitted reflects your situation accurately.
If you’d like us to help, the next step is straightforward.
Complete the diabetes questionnaire here. We’ll review it and come back to you with a clear view of your options.
Thanks for reading
Nick
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, an independent Irish life insurance and mortgage protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He has been helping people with medical conditions secure fair cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you want straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.