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Editor’s note: First published 2018 | Refreshed May 2026 with updated Irish insurer limits, clearer guidance on over-60s policies, and revised underwriting advice.
A lot of people assume life insurance becomes impossible once you hit your 60s.
In reality, that’s not true at all.
What usually happens is that people start seeing TV ads for guaranteed-acceptance plans and assume that’s their only option. Sometimes it is, especially if there are serious health issues involved. But for many people, regular underwritten life insurance still works perfectly well and often gives much better value.
The key difference is understanding what insurers will still offer at your age, and which insurers are more flexible depending on your health and medical history.
No.
Most Irish insurers will still consider applications in your 60s. You’ll obviously pay more than somebody in their 30s because age increases risk, but there are still sensible options available.
What changes is the maximum term insurers will offer, the age they allow the policy to run to, and how strictly they assess medical conditions. Some insurers will also want GP reports or additional medical evidence earlier than they would for younger applicants.
That’s why the order you apply in matters more as you get older.
One insurer might be perfectly comfortable with controlled blood pressure or mild diabetes, while another could heavily load the premium or reduce the term available.
Sometimes, yes.
But only in the right circumstances.
These plans are mainly designed for people who’ve already been declined elsewhere, have significant health issues, or simply want a small guaranteed payout without answering medical questions.
The problem is that many healthy people end up buying them without realising what they’re giving up.
The TV ads can make these plans sound incredibly straightforward and cheap.
But the monthly premium shown is often for a very small payout.
If you’re reasonably healthy, you’ll usually get significantly better value through standard underwritten cover instead.
This covers you for a fixed period, for example 10 or 15 years.
If you die during the policy term, the insurer pays the lump sum.
For healthy applicants in their 60s, Term Life can still be surprisingly affordable, particularly if there’s no major cardiac history, smoking, or significant ongoing medical treatment.
It’s usually used to protect a spouse financially, clear a remaining mortgage balance, or simply leave behind a financial cushion for family.
Whole of Life policies stay in force for your entire life and pay out whenever you die.
Because the payout is guaranteed, premiums are higher than Term Life.
People usually use Whole of Life plans for funeral costs, inheritance tax planning, or leaving behind a fixed amount for family members.
One important warning here though.
Avoid reviewable Whole of Life plans where possible.
Some older policies look cheap initially but allow premiums to rise later. Fixed or guaranteed premium structures are usually much safer if affordability matters long term.
This is where advice matters most.
A lot of people assume blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, or even previous cancer automatically means decline.
That’s often not true.
Different insurers assess medical history very differently, particularly for older applicants.
And importantly, being accepted doesn’t always mean you got the best outcome.
One insurer may offer normal rates while another adds a large loading for the exact same history.
That’s why applying blindly online can sometimes create unnecessary problems.
Don’t apply randomly to the first insurer you find online, especially in your 60s.
Some insurers reduce terms earlier than others, some are far stricter on medical history, and some are surprisingly flexible once conditions are stable. An unnecessary decline or heavy rating can also complicate future applications.
At Lion.ie, we’ll normally identify the most suitable insurer first based on your age, medical history, budget, and the type of cover you actually need.
Need a straight answer? Tell us about your health and what you’re trying to protect, and we’ll point you toward the insurer most likely to look at your case fairly first.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, a multi-agency Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore. He’s been helping people secure fair, transparent cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you’d like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.
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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