Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has said cancer survivors are now protected by a new law that allows them the “Right to be Forgotten” when they seek mortgage protection insurance.
The Louth TD said it is “only right and fair” that insurers are prevented from penalising survivors because of their medical history.
As of 15 October 2026, insurers will be required to disregard an applicant’s cancer-related medical history when considering an application for mortgage protection insurance, where the statutory criteria are met.
Deputy McGreehan said: “Cancer survivors and their families have been through enough pain and punishment. They should not be penalised financially due to their medical history. These new laws will prevent insurers from penalising people who have had a cancer diagnosis.
“Cancer survivors along with the Irish Cancer Society and my party colleague Minister Catherine Ardagh have advocated for these changes. I seconded the Bill as Minister Catherine Ardagh brought it into the Dáil.
“Survivors know that this change in the law will make a huge difference to the more than 230,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. They will no longer face hike premiums or outright rejection when seeking mortgage protection. It’s only right and fair that they are not penalised for their diagnosis. I hope this legislation will allow people to move on with their lives.”
The new protections apply where:
- the applicant completed active cancer treatment at least five years ago;
- the applicant has been in complete remission for at least five years;
- the application relates to mortgage protection insurance for the applicant’s principal private residence; and
- the amount of cover sought is up to €650,000, with normal underwriting applying above that threshold.
For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.
ENDS
Note to Editors
The Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 provides for the disregard by insurers of an applicant’s medical history in respect of a cancer diagnosis for the purposes of an application for mortgage protection insurance relating to the applicant’s principal private residence, once the applicant meets the statutory criteria.
The Act builds on the Voluntary Code of Practice introduced by Insurance Ireland in December 2023. Under that Code, cancer diagnoses were disregarded after seven years from treatment completion, or after five years where the individual was under 18 at diagnosis, for mortgage protection insurance up to €500,000.
While the Voluntary Code represented progress, this legislation provides even greater protection by placing the right to disregard on a statutory footing, reducing the required end of active cancer treatment period and remission period to five years regardless of age at diagnosis, and increasing the cover threshold to €650,000 with normal underwriting applying above that threshold.
The legislation originated as a Private Members’ Bill introduced by Deputy Catherine Ardagh, originally named the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025. Government adopted the Bill as a priority piece of legislation and brought forward amendments to deliver a statutory framework for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection insurance.
In advance of commencement, the Department of Finance engaged extensively with industry to support a smooth transition to the new framework. The operation of the legislation will now be monitored to ensure that the protections are implemented effectively across the market.
The Act also provides for amendments to the Insurance Act 1936 and the Insurance Act 1964, which commenced on 26 August 2026.
The amendments to the Insurance Act 1936 provide the Central Bank of Ireland with the power to petition the High Court for the liquidation of reinsurers. This will bring reinsurers in line with other financial services sectors such as credit institutions, credit unions and investment firms.
The amendments to the Insurance Act 1964 keep captive insurance undertakings (i.e. group insurers) outside the scope of proposed new levy requirements for cross-border motor insurance business following changes introduced under the Sixth Motor Insurance Directive. This is in line with the current Insurance Compensation Fund framework, where captives are excluded from the requirement to pay the Insurance Compensation Fund levy in respect of domestic insurance business.
