Irish cancer survivors gain statutory mortgage protection right

Cancer survivors in Ireland who meet a five-year treatment and remission threshold gained a statutory right on 15 October 2026 to have a previous diagnosis disregarded when applying for mortgage protection insurance. RTÉ News and The Journal report that the rule covers a principal private residence valued up to €650,000, widening access under the earlier voluntary insurer code.

Who qualifies for the mortgage protection rule

Under the provisions described by RTÉ and The Journal, an applicant must have completed active cancer treatment and been in complete remission for at least five years. Insurers must then disregard the earlier diagnosis when assessing a qualifying mortgage protection application. The Journal reports that the five-year period applies regardless of the applicant's age at diagnosis.

The €650,000 limit relates to the value of the principal private residence covered by the rule described in both reports. It applies to mortgage protection insurance applications.

How the law changes the 2023 insurer code

Insurers had operated a voluntary code since 2023. Under that code, the reports say, a previous diagnosis could be disregarded seven years after treatment ended, or five years afterward if the person was under 18 when diagnosed. Its cover limit was €500,000. The new legislation uses a five-year threshold regardless of age at diagnosis and raises the reported limit to €650,000.

Campaign and response to the new law

RTÉ identifies Fianna Fáil TD Catherine Ardagh as the sponsor of the Private Members’ Bill from which the legislation originated. It says the Irish Cancer Society had long campaigned for the change. The Journal reports that Tánaiste Simon Harris had previously called the legislation a ‘major milestone.’

Insurance Ireland chief executive Moyagh Murdock called the legislation an ‘important and welcome milestone for cancer survivors across Ireland,’ according to RTÉ. She said a previous diagnosis should not create unnecessary barriers for people who had completed treatment and were moving forward with their lives. RTÉ also reports that she linked the change to Insurance Ireland members' introduction of the voluntary code in 2023 to improve access for eligible survivors.