Can You Get Life Insurance or Mortgage Protection with Cardiomyopathy?

Editor’s note: First published in 2017. Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect how Irish insurers actually assess cardiomyopathy today and the real risks of applying incorrectly.

First things first. Cardiomyopathy is not an automatic decline.

That’s usually the biggest fear.

A cardiomyopathy diagnosis does not automatically mean you cannot get life insurance or mortgage protection in Ireland.

But it is one of the more carefully assessed cardiac conditions, and outcomes vary significantly from person to person.

Insurers care far less about the label and far more about what the condition looks like in real life.

If you’d like a broader overview of how Irish insurers assess cardiac conditions in general, you can read our main guide to heart conditions and life insurance in Ireland.

Does the type of cardiomyopathy matter?

Yes.

A lot.

Insurers assess different types very differently.

• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common. If it has been stable for several years, with good heart function and no hospital admissions, cover may be possible with a significant loading (age dependent)
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is assessed more cautiously, especially in younger applicants. Underwriters look closely at any history of fainting, arrhythmias, strong family history of sudden cardiac death and whether an ICD has been advised. Long-term stability improves the outlook. Early diagnosis combined with symptoms or family risk makes things much harder.
• Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and other inherited forms are usually more difficult to insure.
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy is uncommon and depends heavily on cause and progression.

Although the label matters, the details and stability matter more.

What insurers actually focus on

When cardiomyopathy is disclosed, underwriters usually look at:

• The specific type
• How long ago it was diagnosed
• Current age
• Whether it has been stable over time
• Whether there are symptoms such as fainting, breathlessness, or arrhythmias
• Any hospital admissions
• Whether there has been any intervention
• Recent echocardiogram results, especially ejection fraction

Two people with the same diagnosis can receive completely different outcomes.

Ejection fraction and cardiac tests

Insurers will almost always want to see recent echocardiogram results.

Left ventricular function, including ejection fraction (EF), is one of the most important factors.

A preserved EF with stable findings over time is viewed far more favourably than a reduced or deteriorating EF, even if you feel well.

What matters most is whether the overall cardiac picture has remained stable.

Does age at application matter?

Yes.

Cardiomyopathy diagnosed at a younger age is assessed more cautiously than the same condition diagnosed later in life.

Applicants in their 20s and early 30s often find new life insurance very difficult to secure.

As applicants move into their late 30s and 40s, outcomes can improve, particularly where the condition has been stable for several years with good cardiac function.

Age is not a simple pass or fail factor but it plays a significant role in underwriting.

ICDs and pacemakers – let’s be clear

If you have had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted then getting life insurance in Ireland is unlikely.

Pacemakers are theoretically reviewable, but in real-world underwriting they usually lead to the same outcome.

What about family history?

Family history on its own does not automatically cause problems.

If a parent or sibling had cardiomyopathy but your own cardiac investigations are normal, most Irish insurers will consider cover once you have been screened.

The difficulty arises when screening has been advised but not yet carried out.

If there has been sudden cardiac death in the family, or a known inherited form of cardiomyopathy, insurers will usually want confirmation that you have been properly investigated.

Applying before recommended screening is complete often leads to postponement.

Once postponed, that decision must be disclosed on future applications.

Sometimes waiting for the screening before you apply is the best option.

Will cover, if offered, be full cover?

If cover is offered, it will be full life cover with a higher premium.

Life insurance does not exclude specific causes of death.

Being accepted does not automatically mean you have received the best possible terms.

It’s common for loadings for cardiomyaothy to vary between the insurers, one might double your premoium,  another might treble it.

What about income protection?

Income protection is assessed more strictly than life insurance.

In many cardiomyopathy cases, especially where there are symptoms or reduced cardiac function, income protection is unlikely to be offered.

This needs to be assessed carefully before applying.

The same can be said for serious illness cover.

Why applying in the wrong order causes problems

If you apply directly to a bank or insurer without checking things properly first, you increase the risk of a formal decline.

Once you’ve been declined, you have to disclose that on future applications.

Even insurers who might otherwise have considered your case will see that previous decision straight away and wonder why the other insurer din’t offer cover.

With cardiomyopathy, the order you apply in can shape the outcome more than almost anything else.

What to do next

If you have cardiomyopathy and are thinking about life insurance or mortgage protection, the safest approach is to find the most understanding insurer before you press submit on an application.

Complete our medical questionnaire and we will find that insurer for you.

If you prefer to talk it through first, you can book a call here:

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