Table of Contents
Editor’s note: First published in 2020. Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect how Irish insurers and banks actually deal with mortgage protection declines today.
This usually comes out of nowhere.
One minute you’re sale agreed. The next minute the bank tells you the insurer has said no.
Most people panic here. That’s normal. What matters now is not making the situation worse.
From the insurer’s point of view, a decline usually comes down to risk.
That risk might relate to a medical condition, a recent diagnosis or treatment, ongoing investigations, or test results that don’t look stable enough.
If this went through your bank, they only had one insurer they could use. If it went through a non-specialist broker, it may have gone to the cheapest insurer without much thought given to how that insurer views your health history.
A decline at this stage does not automatically mean every insurer will say no.
This is the dangerous part.
After a decline, people often apply again themselves, try another online quote, or ask the bank to send the application somewhere else.
Each new decline must be disclosed forever. A rushed second application can close doors that were still open.
You’re entitled to ask why the insurer declined you.
In most cases, the insurer won’t discuss this directly with you. Instead, their Chief Medical Officer writes to your GP explaining the reasons.
It’s frustrating, but it’s standard.
Arrange a short appointment with your GP to review the refusal letter.
Mistakes happen more often than people expect. Reports can be completed by a GP who doesn’t know you well, or details can be misunderstood.
If everything is accurate, ask your GP one simple question: does this refusal seem reasonable?
Appeals don’t often succeed, but they sometimes do.
They tend to work best where the insurer declined without seeking reports, or where something important was misunderstood.
An appeal usually involves a short letter from your GP or consultant to the insurer’s Chief Medical Officer.
This is the most important step.
Before another formal application is made, your case should be reviewed against how other insurers actually assess similar situations.
This helps avoid unnecessary second declines and identifies whether cover is still realistically possible.
If it becomes clear that mortgage protection cannot be obtained, a mortgage protection waiver may come into play.
This is where a lot of confusion starts, so it’s worth explaining clearly.
A mortgage protection waiver is a decision made by the bank, not the insurer.
It allows the mortgage to proceed without life insurance when cover genuinely isn’t available, or is only available at a cost that is far higher than normal.
Waivers are not automatic.
Different lenders take different approaches, and the bank is always entitled to say no.
A waiver keeps the purchase alive, but it does not remove the risk.
If you’re buying as a couple and the unprotected borrower dies, the surviving borrower is responsible for the full mortgage.
If they cannot manage the repayments, the property may have to be sold.
This is why waivers are usually treated as a last resort, or as a temporary solution until cover becomes possible in the future.
A decline is a no. A postponement is a not yet.
Postpones usually happen where not enough time has passed since a diagnosis or treatment, where tests are still ongoing, or where recent results are abnormal but may improve.
If you’ve been postponed rather than declined, that’s often a better outcome than it feels. In many cases, waiting changes the decision.
If you want to understand this in more detail, we explain postponements properly here:
Why life insurance applications are postponed in Ireland.
If you’ve been declined or postponed, don’t keep applying and don’t assume it’s over.
The safest next step is to outline your situation so it can be reviewed properly before another application is made.
Complete the medical questionnaire
If you need to move quickly or want to talk it through, we’re on 05793 20836 or schedule a callback here
Thanks for reading
Nick
Written by Nick McGowan
Nick is the founder of Lion.ie, an Irish life insurance broker specialising in mortgage protection, life insurance, and income protection for people with medical conditions or complex underwriting issues.
He deals directly with insurers’ underwriters and helps clients avoid the mistakes that can lead to unnecessary declines or delays.
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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