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If you have been diagnosed with Hepatitis and are looking at life insurance or mortgage protection, it is very common to assume the answer will be no.
In reality, most applications come down to detail rather than diagnosis.
Insurers care about which type of Hepatitis you have, whether it is acute or chronic, how your liver is functioning, and whether the condition is stable. I deal with applications like this every week, and many people are pleasantly surprised by what is possible once the right insurer is chosen.
The key is understanding how underwriters actually assess Hepatitis and presenting your medical history properly from the outset. That underwriting process is explained in more detail here.
Yes, in many cases you can.
Hepatitis is not an automatic decline. What matters is control, stability, and the presence or absence of liver damage.
Broadly speaking:
Mortgage protection can sometimes be easier to arrange than standalone life insurance because the cover reduces over time and is linked to the mortgage balance. This is why people are often approved for mortgage protection when they were expecting a refusal.
When underwriting Hepatitis, insurers focus on practical medical evidence rather than labels.
Regular follow-ups and good control make a very big difference. Insurers want to see that the condition is being monitored and managed properly.
Hepatitis A causes an acute infection only and does not become chronic.
Once you have made a full recovery and your liver function has returned to normal, life insurance and mortgage protection are usually available at standard rates.
In most cases, no long-term restriction applies once recovery is complete.
Hepatitis B can be acute or chronic.
If you had an acute infection and recovered fully without liver damage, insurers will usually offer cover at normal rates.
For chronic Hepatitis B, outcomes depend on viral load, liver function, and whether there is any evidence of ongoing liver damage. Many well controlled cases are accepted with a premium increase rather than a decline.
Hepatitis C is one of the areas where underwriting has changed most in recent years.
With modern treatments, many people are now considered fully cured. Where treatment has been successful and liver function is normal, insurers may offer standard rates after a suitable period of stability.
For untreated or chronic cases, premiums are usually increased, and decisions depend heavily on liver health.
Autoimmune Hepatitis is less common and is assessed differently to viral Hepatitis.
Insurers look closely at current liver function, treatment history, and whether the condition is in remission. Cases with normal liver tests and minimal treatment may be insurable, often with a loading. More active or unstable cases can be postponed or declined.
Serious illness cover and income protection are more restrictive when Hepatitis is involved.
Acute cases with full recovery may still be insurable. Chronic Hepatitis B or C is often declined for these benefits, particularly if there is ongoing liver damage.
This is one area where getting clear advice early can save a lot of frustration.
I recently worked with a client who had been diagnosed with Hepatitis B in his early thirties. His viral load was low, liver function tests were normal, and he was attending regular follow-ups.
Although one insurer declined, another offered mortgage protection with a moderate loading. By choosing the right insurer, he was able to proceed with his home purchase without delay.
This type of variation between insurers is very common.
Each insurer has its own underwriting philosophy.
One insurer may focus heavily on diagnosis labels, while another places more weight on current liver function and stability. The result is that the same medical history can produce very different outcomes depending on where you apply.
This is why specialist experience with medical underwriting matters far more than simply filling out an online form.
If you want a realistic view of what is possible in your situation, the first step is matching your medical details to the right insurer.
You can do that by completing this short questionnaire. I will review it personally and come back to you by email with clear, practical options.
Hepatitis Life Insurance Questionnaire
No phone calls, no pressure. Just straight answers based on experience.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, an independent Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He has been helping people with medical and underwriting challenges secure fair cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you want straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.
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