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You already know you need mortgage protection to draw down your loan.
The real question now is simple: which insurer gives you the best outcome for your situation?
All our partners – Aviva, Zurich, Royal London, Irish Life and New Ireland – will clear your mortgage if you die during the term.
That part is standard.
They differ in how they assess medical history, how flexible they are later, what benefits they include, and how much you can increase cover without answering health questions again.
You can buy Mortgage Protection through your bank, directly from a life insurance company, or through a broker.
But you don’t have to buy Mortgage Protection from the bank giving you the mortgage.
You’re free to arrange your own policy and, once it meets your lender’s requirements, assign it to the bank.
So where should you buy it?
| Where You Buy | Choice of Insurers | Underwriting Comparison | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your Bank | One insurer | No | Convenience |
| Direct From an Insurer | One insurer | No | Brand Loyalty |
| Mortgage Protection Broker | Multiple insurers | Yes | Comparing price, benefits and underwriting |
The obvious advantage of buying through your bank is convenience because you’re already dealing with them for the mortgage, so adding Mortgage Protection can seem like the easiest option.
The downside is choice.
Your bank can’t compare the whole market to find the insurer offering you the best combination of price and underwriting.
That may not matter much if you’re young, healthy and have a completely straightforward application.
It can matter a lot if you have a medical history.
A broker can compare Mortgage Protection across different insurers rather than simply offering you one option. We compare Aviva, Irish Life, New Ireland, Royal London and Zurich before recommending where your application should go.
But remember, there’s more to that comparison than price.
If you’re fit and healthy, finding the cheapest policy may be relatively straightforward.
If you have a medical history, the cheapest quote you see on a screen might look very different after medical underwriting.
You see insurers can assess the same medical condition differently so one might offer you standard rates, another might increase your premium, while a third could postpone making a decision until more time has passed or further medical information is available.
That’s why, where there’s a significant medical history, we’ll speak to all of the insurers before deciding where an application should go.
For example, if you’ve had diabetes, cancer, heart problems, anxiety or depression, epilepsy or another ongoing medical condition, we’ll consider which insurer is likely to view your particular circumstances most favourably before focusing on price.
If your application is straightforward: compare the cover and price available to you.
If you have a medical history: compare the underwriting first, then the price.
The cheapest advertised quote isn’t much use if the insurer then increases your premium after medical underwriting.
| Insurer | Waiver of Premium | Increase Option | Children’s Cover | Notable Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviva | No | Yes (event-based, capped) | €5,000 | Digital GP, mental health support, Best Doctors |
| Zurich | Yes | Yes | No standard children’s life cover | Waiver of premium benefit |
| Royal London | No | Yes | €5,000 | Helping Hand support services |
| Irish Life | No | Yes (typically higher limits) | €7,000 | MedCare services |
| New Ireland | No | Yes | €4,000 | Digital GP, physio, counselling |
If you have any medical history, insurers assess risk differently.
Some are more relaxed on BMI.
Some are stricter on a history of cancer.
Some are tougher on anxiety.
If you apply to the wrong insurer first and receive a loading, postponement or decline, you may have to disclose that decision when applying elsewhere.
That’s why we prefer to work out which insurer is likely to suit your medical history before submitting a formal application.
If you have a medical history and would like our guidance, please complete our medical questionnaire.
If you are buying together, a dual-life mortgage protection policy usually provides better long-term protection. It allows two potential payouts instead of one.
If you’re not married and buying together, we recommend two single life policies to reduce any potential inheritance tax
This allows you to buy another policy without having to answer medical questions again. Regardless of what happens to your health, this guarantees you can get cover again in the future.
This costs a little extra but is well worth it.
Lets you increase cover after certain life events (insurer specific, but usually marriage, birth/adoption, new/increased mortgage) without answering medical questions.
Zurich currently includes a waiver of premium benefit. If you cannot work due to illness or injury for more than 13 weeks, they cover your premiums for up to one year,
No other major provider includes this on standard mortgage protection.
If you are healthy and want to compare prices, use our quote tool.
If you have a medical history or are unsure how insurers will assess you, complete our medical questionnaire first.
We will steer you toward the insurer most likely to give you the right terms.
Editor’s note: First published 2018 | Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect current Irish insurer rules, underwriting behaviour and product features.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, an Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore. He’s been helping people get 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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