10-second summary: Most autoimmune conditions are insurable in Ireland. The key factor is stability — how your condition has behaved recently. For more specific conditions like arthritis, outcomes can vary more and usually need a more detailed assessment.
Editor’s note: First published in 2017 | Fully refreshed in 2025 with new underwriting criteria, stable-condition guidance, and updated remission timelines.
If you’ve got an autoimmune condition, you’ve probably Googled life insurance at least once and thought: “This is going to be hassle.”
The good news?
It’s usually far less dramatic than people imagine.
Irish insurers see autoimmune conditions all the time — everything from coeliac to lupus — and most people still get cover without any major delays. The big thing underwriters look for is stability: how you’ve been doing recently, whether things are predictable, and if any organs are involved.
And before we dive into the detail: you’re not alone and you’re not the “weird rare case” insurers have never seen. People often apologise for their medical history as if it’s their fault (it’s not). Insurers have seen it all. Your condition will fit into an underwriting pattern, even if it doesn’t feel that way.
Autoimmune disorders sit on a huge spectrum. Some barely cause a ripple; others involve multiple systems. That’s why picking the right insurer matters so much. They all look at the same medical evidence… but each one interprets it differently.
One might load heavily. Another might decline. Another might offer near-standard terms. Same condition, same person, different outcomes.
Just last month, for example, I helped someone with psoriatic arthritis who’d already been declined twice. We tried a different insurer — one that’s more understanding when it comes to inflammatory conditions — and she was approved with a manageable loading.
Mortgage protection sorted, panic over.
Same story, different insurer, different ending.
If your condition is arthritis-related, we’ve covered that in more detail here:
Life Insurance with Arthritis
Table of Contents
Underwriters are trying to answer one question: “How are things going right now?”
When you apply, they’ll look at:
No one expects perfection — autoimmune conditions ebb and flow. They simply want reassurance that your condition is being managed and isn’t aggressively worsening.
If things are settled, underwriting is usually very manageable.
This group is the easiest. If your condition is mild, stable and hasn’t caused trouble in years, underwriting tends to be very straightforward.
Examples we regularly see accepted include:
These tend to flare occasionally or need stronger medication. Still very insurable — the insurer just needs a clearer picture of your recent pattern.
Common examples:
This group involves complex symptoms or multiple organs, so underwriting is more careful — but cover is possible in the right cases.
Examples include:
If your diagnosis is very recent, insurers may postpone for a period.
It’s not a “no” — they just want to see that your treatment plan is bedding in.
Every insurer has its own internal rulebook.
They all follow medical evidence, but they weigh things differently.
For example:
This is why applying blindly or just picking the cheapest quote online doesn’t work. The front-end premiums can look identical — it’s the underwriting that varies.
If you’d prefer someone to quietly check your case before you apply, I can run your details (with no name attached) past all five insurers.
It’s a quick way to avoid declines, wasted time and unnecessary stress.
Here’s what I can tell you:
Complete the autoimmune questionnaire — and I’ll do the rest.
We regularly arrange cover for:
If your condition isn’t listed — don’t worry. There are dozens of autoimmune conditions, and insurers have guidelines for all of them.
If you’d like a real person (not a computer) to look at your case and tell you what’s realistic, just give me the basics and I’ll translate everything into “insurer language” for you.
Start the autoimmune questionnaire
Or drop me an email at [email protected].
As Ireland's leading life insurance broker, we specialise in comparing the rates and policies from the top five Irish life insurance providers and offering the very best value quotes to suit the individual needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in finding a suitable insurance plan for those with specific needs, be it a particular illness, occupation or claim history, we've got you covered in every sense!
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