New protections for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection

Dublin, 21 October 2026 – Irish Mortgage Corporation (IMC) has welcomed new legal protections that require insurers to disregard an eligible applicant’s previous cancer diagnosis when assessing mortgage protection insurance.

Effective from 15 October 2026, the ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ provisions apply where an applicant has completed active cancer treatment and been in complete remission for at least five years. The protections cover mortgage protection insurance for a principal private residence, up to €650,000.

For people who previously faced difficulties obtaining cover, the change could remove a significant barrier to buying a home or switching their mortgage.

Steven Cumiskey, Senior Mortgage Sales Manager at Irish Mortgage Corporation, said:

“The Right to Be Forgotten represents a significant and positive change for cancer survivors applying for mortgage protection insurance. It allows eligible individuals who have completed active treatment and have been in complete remission for at least five years to move forward without their previous cancer diagnosis affecting their application.

This change promotes fairness, reduces barriers to homeownership, and provides greater peace of mind to those who have moved beyond their cancer journey.

Most importantly, it allows eligible cancer survivors to look to the future with greater confidence, without their previous diagnosis defining their financial options.”

What has changed?

Previously, cancer survivors could encounter difficulties securing mortgage protection cover even years after treatment had ended.

A voluntary industry code introduced in December 2023 provided some protections, generally disregarding a cancer diagnosis seven years after treatment ended, or five years where the applicant was under 18 at diagnosis. That code applied to qualifying mortgage protection cover up to €500,000. The new statutory framework brings the qualifying period to five years for eligible applicants and increases the cover limit to €650,000.

The significance is not simply a change in insurance rules. It gives eligible applicants reassurance that their previous cancer diagnosis should no longer stand in the way of accessing qualifying cover.

Who do the new protections apply to?

The protections apply where:

• Active cancer treatment was completed at least five years ago.

• The applicant has been in complete remission for at least five years.

• The application is for mortgage protection insurance relating to the applicant’s principal private residence.

• The amount of cover sought falls within the €650,000 limit.

Applicants should not assume that reaching five years after diagnosis alone is sufficient: both the treatment-completion and complete-remission conditions must be met.

The change does not guarantee insurance cover or mortgage approval. Other relevant underwriting considerations and the lender’s mortgage assessment remain separate.

A reason to revisit your options

IMC is encouraging anyone who previously delayed buying a home or switching their mortgage because of cancer-related insurance difficulties to seek advice on whether the new protections could apply.

Our advisors and mortgage protection team can help clients understand the requirements, explore their options, and coordinate the insurance and mortgage aspects of their application.

You do not need to have all the answers before getting in touch. A conversation can help establish where you stand and what your next steps could be.

Speak to Irish Mortgage Corporation

If you have previously had cancer and would like to understand what these changes could mean for your mortgage protection options, contact Irish Mortgage Corporation for a free, no-obligation chat.

Whether you are preparing to buy your first home, moving or considering switching, our team is here to provide clear, personal guidance.