Ireland’s Department of Finance has set Oct. 15, 2026, as the commencement date for statutory protections requiring insurers to disregard eligible applicants’ cancer-related medical history when underwriting mortgage protection insurance for a principal private residence. Applicants must have completed active cancer treatment and been in complete remission for five years. The protection applies to cover of up to EUR 650,000, with normal underwriting above that threshold. The framework replaces the existing voluntary code with a statutory right, reducing the standard waiting period from seven years to five years regardless of age at diagnosis and raising the cover threshold from EUR 500,000. Separate amendments taking effect Aug. 26, 2026, will allow the Central Bank of Ireland to petition the High Court to liquidate reinsurers and will exclude captive insurers from proposed levy requirements for cross-border motor insurance business.
2026-08-24Department of Finance (Ireland)
Ireland's Department of Finance sets October 15 start for statutory cancer history protections on mortgage cover up to EUR 650,000
From Oct. 15, 2026, insurers must disregard cancer-related medical history for eligible mortgage protection applications covering a principal private residence up to EUR 650,000. Applicants must have completed active treatment and been in complete remission for five years, with normal underwriting applying above the threshold.