10-second summary
Yes, you can get life insurance and mortgage protection if your BMI is outside the normal range — whether it’s high or low — but the insurer you apply to matters more than your weight alone.
Different insurers use different BMI limits, pricing bands and medical thresholds. Apply to the wrong one first, and you can limit your options or pay more than necessary.
If you want a straight answer based on your height, weight and health, complete this short questionnaire and I’ll guide you to the right insurer first time.
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is outside the normal range, you’re not alone and you’re not uninsurable.
Most of the cases we deal with involve a higher BMI, but a low BMI can also raise questions for insurers.
BMI is one of the first things insurers look at. It affects whether you’re accepted, how much you pay, and which insurers will consider you in the first place.
This is where most people go wrong. They assume all insurers treat BMI the same.
They don’t.
Some insurers will offer standard rates up to a BMI of 32. Others will increase premiums much earlier. Some will postpone or decline depending on your age, overall health, or whether your weight is considered stable.
Which means the order you apply in matters.
Being accepted doesn’t mean you got the best outcome.
That’s where we come in.
We work with all major Irish insurers and place your application with the one most likely to give you the best result — before it affects your future options.
Choosing the right insurer first time can be the difference between a standard price and paying significantly more.
Complete the BMI questionnaire and I’ll tell you:
Which insurer suits your BMI best. What price range to expect. Whether you’re likely to be accepted.
No guesswork. No paying more than you need to.
Related Guides
BMI limits explained
High blood pressure and life insurance
Cholesterol and life insurance
How underwriting works
Editor’s Note: This guide was originally published in 2016 and has been updated in 2026 to reflect current Irish insurer BMI limits, underwriting approaches, and pricing trends.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, a multi-agency Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He’s been helping people secure fair, transparent cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you’d like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.
