Can You Get Mortgage Protection After an Abnormal Smear

Editor’s note: First published April 2015 | Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect current Irish underwriting practice and how insurers actually assess abnormal smear histories.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re worried about one simple thing — and you’re not alone in that:

Do I need to wait for my next smear before I can get mortgage protection?

The honest answer is: sometimes, but not always. And this is exactly where people get caught out.

I’ve dealt with many cases where someone assumed they had to wait, only to find out later that they could have been covered months earlier if they’d applied to the right insurer, in the right way.

A real example (and why order matters)

A client contacted me while buying her first home.

She had been under hospital care for several years due to abnormal smears — something she’d been managing and living with for quite a while.

Her most recent result was abnormal again, and she was due for another follow-up in a few months.

She asked the same question most people ask:

Should I wait for the next smear, or is it worth trying now?

I fully expected most insurers to postpone her application.

Four of the five did.

One didn’t.

Because of the grade of her previous results, the time elapsed since higher-grade changes, regular monitoring, and how her history was presented, the insurer offered immediate cover at the normal price.

She was able to draw down her mortgage and move into her new home — without having to put everything on hold.

If she’d applied to the wrong insurer first, she’d likely still be waiting.

How insurers actually look at abnormal smears

Insurers don’t treat “abnormal smear” as one thing. They’re really trying to work out whether this is something minor and monitored, or something that genuinely needs more time.

In practice, they look at:

• The grade of abnormality (CIN 1, 2, or 3)
• How long ago higher-grade changes occurred
• Whether treatment was required
• Whether follow-up smears are normal
• Whether you’re under active investigation

That’s why blanket advice like “you’ll need a normal smear first” is often wrong — it ignores the detail that actually matters.

If you’re waiting for a colposcopy (or results)

This is one of the few clear lines, and it’s worth being upfront about it.

If you’re currently waiting for a colposcopy or its results, insurers will postpone any application for life insurance or mortgage protection.

A colposcopy is basically the insurer’s line in the sand. It’s used to confirm whether abnormal cells are present, determine the grade of those cells, and decide whether treatment is needed.

Until that process is complete, insurers won’t make a decision — even if everything else looks straightforward.

If the results confirm CIN 1, cover can often be arranged without waiting for a further normal smear.

CIN grades and what they usually mean for cover

This is a general guide — not a promise — but it reflects how Irish insurers typically behave in the real world.

CIN 1 (low-grade changes)

Often acceptable for life cover, especially if monitored and stable. In plain English, this is usually where insurers are most comfortable.

CIN 2 or CIN 3 (moderate / high grade)

More cautious.

Insurers usually want confirmation of treatment (if required), confirmation that there was no invasion, and sometimes a follow-up smear depending on timing and history. This is where choosing the insurer carefully makes a real difference.

A time-critical case (LLETZ treatment)

Another client needed mortgage protection in place within weeks to draw down — there was no flexibility on timing.

She had CIN 2 and was scheduled for LLETZ treatment shortly, but couldn’t wait for a follow-up smear.

Here’s how insurers reacted:

• Two insurers would not consider cover until a normal follow-up smear
• One insurer would consider life cover once post-treatment reports confirmed no invasion and complete excision

That single underwriting difference made the drawdown possible.

This is exactly why applying blindly can cost you months.

Serious illness cover and abnormal smears

Serious illness cover is assessed more strictly, and people are often surprised by this.

In some cases, insurers will offer cover with an exclusion for cancer of the cervix or uterus.

In one case, once a normal smear was confirmed later, the insurer was happy to remove that exclusion.

Again, sequencing matters.

What medical information insurers usually need

In many cases, a well-completed gynaecological questionnaire is enough.

Sometimes insurers will request a GP report or a consultant letter confirming grade and monitoring — not because anything is wrong, but because they need it on file.

If you can provide clinic letters confirming low-grade changes, this can speed things up significantly and avoid unnecessary GP reports.

Weeks can matter when you’re buying a house.

The mistake people make

The biggest mistake I see is not the smear history itself.

It’s applying to the wrong insurer first.

Once an insurer postpones or declines, that outcome often has to be disclosed to the next one — even if another insurer would have taken a different view.

That’s why advice matters here.

A common timing mistake that catches people out

This is the situation I see most often with abnormal smears.

Clients have already sorted their mortgage protection and received acceptance terms, but they decide not to issue the policy yet because they don’t want to pay a few extra months of premiums before drawdown.

Then, before drawdown, an abnormal smear result comes back.

At that point, insurers may have to postpone cover until further tests or a normal follow-up smear are completed. Even though terms were available before, the policy can no longer be issued when the bank needs it.

The result is an expensive mistake.

Trying to save a small amount on premiums can delay drawdown or put the purchase at risk.

Make sure your cover is in place when you sign binding contracts.

What to do next

If you’re dealing with abnormal smears and worried about mortgage protection, don’t guess.

Complete the gynaecological questionnaire, and I’ll review your history before deciding when, where or whether to apply.

That way, you avoid unnecessary delays, you don’t trigger the wrong underwriting response, and you give yourself the best chance of getting cover when you need it.

Thanks for reading

Nick