Editor’s note: First published October 2019 | Refreshed October 2025 with updated insurer guidance and blood-disorder examples.

Life Insurance with Blood Disorders, Anaemia or Vitamin B12 Deficiency

If you’ve ever been told you’re “a bit anaemic” or your B12 levels are low, you probably shrugged it off. But when you apply for life insurance, that tiny red flag can suddenly turn into a pile of forms, medicals, and confusing jargon.

Here’s what insurers actually care about and how to make sure you still get a fair deal.

Most people who get in touch think anaemia or low B12 will stop them getting cover. It almost never does. You just need to know which insurer to approach first.

What are blood-cell disorders?

Blood-cell disorders affect how your body produces or manages red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets.

• Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body.
• White blood cells fight infection.
• Platelets help your blood clot.

For platelet-related issues, see our detailed guide on life insurance with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count). For iron overload or high ferritin results, visit our haemochromatosis guide.

Why do life-insurance companies care?

An underwriter looks at your overall health to figure out your risk of dying before your policy ends (yep, that’s literally their job).

Most blood disorders aren’t life-threatening, but they can link to other conditions. The insurer just wants to know the cause, how bad it was, and whether it’s under control before working out what to charge you.

How anaemia and B12 deficiency affect your life insurance

Anaemia means you don’t have enough haemoglobin or red blood cells. B12 deficiency (sometimes called pernicious anaemia) can cause similar symptoms but for a different reason — your body can’t absorb enough vitamin B12. Either way, insurers look for the same things:

• Underlying cause
• Date of diagnosis and treatment
• Recent blood-test results
• Any symptoms or complications
• Time off work

Complete our blood-disorders questionnaire and I’ll tell you which insurer gives you the best shot — no guesswork, no time wasted applying to the wrong insurer.

Typical outcomes:

• Mild: normal price
• Moderate: small increase
• Severe: postponed until bloods stabilise

If your GP says your bloods are grand and you’re feeling fine, the insurer will probably agree. If your GP sighs before opening your file, we’ll just need to pick our insurer a bit more carefully 😉.

If you’d rather chat it through, book a quick call here.

Other blood conditions worth mentioning

While anaemia and B12 deficiency are the big two, there are plenty of other blood conditions that crop up when people apply for life insurance in Ireland:

• Haemochromatosis: inherited iron overload that can damage organs if untreated. Usually fine once ferritin levels are normal.
• Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count. Most mild cases can still get cover once counts are stable.
• Blood Clots: one of the specific blood clots that you might have heard of is a Pulmonary Embolism.
• Thalassaemia: inherited anaemia. Mild forms often insurable; severe cases assessed individually.
• Sickle-cell disease: affects red blood-cell shape; mild cases can get cover, severe cases may need postponement.
• Iron overload (non-haemochromatosis): raised ferritin levels not linked to genes. Usually fine once under control.
• Thrombocytosis: high platelet count. Cover available once stable.
• Leukopenia / Neutropenia: low white-cell count. Insurer checks cause and stability.
• Erythrocytosis / Secondary Polycythaemia: high red-cell count, often due to smoking or sleep apnoea. Insurable when treated.
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS): rare marrow disorder. Assessed case by case.
• Pancytopenia: low red, white and platelet counts. Requires full medical info.
• Lymphoma or Leukaemia (in remission): cover possible after remission (typically five years) depending on treatment and stage.

See our full guide to life insurance with medical conditions if your condition isn’t listed here.

What blood disorders are most difficult for life insurance?

Haemophilia

Inherited clotting disorder. Mild to moderate cases might get cover; severe haemophilia is usually uninsurable for life or mortgage protection.

Aplastic Anaemia

When your bone marrow stops producing enough blood cells. It can be linked to infections, pregnancy or medication. Insurers need proof the condition has been stable for two years and recent bloods (haematocrit, neutrophils, platelets) are within range.

Over to you…

You’ve done the hard bit and found the best advisor in Ireland (and humble too!). Let us handle the insurer side so you can stop overthinking it and get back to your life.

Complete the quick blood-disorders questionnaire and I’ll tell you straight whether cover is possible, what it’ll cost, and which insurer to go with.

We’re Ireland’s specialists in getting cover for people with underlying conditions — so you’re in safe hands. Just ask these lovely people.

Also see our dedicated guides for haemochromatosis and thrombocytopenia to understand how insurers treat other blood disorders.

BTW: Anything you tell me stays between us. When I chat with insurers, I anonymise everything.

Thanks for reading,

Nick