New law ends insurance discrimination for cancer survivors – Ó Muirí

Cancer survivors will now have enforceable rights when applying for mortgage protection insurance after new legislation passed all stages of the Oireachtas, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí said the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ law means insurers must disregard an eligible applicant’s previous cancer diagnosis when assessing them for cover, removing a barrier that has locked survivors out of home ownership for years after recovery.

The legislation also raises the sum assured threshold to €650,000. Deputy Ó Muirí said the change was long overdue.

“A cancer diagnosis shouldn’t be a barrier for a person’s whole life. For too long, people who have overcome cancer have continued to face barriers to buying a home, switching their mortgage, or securing their family’s future, even years after completing treatments.”

Deputy Ó Muirí added that it was unacceptable for survivors to be penalised for an illness they’ve already recovered from.

“It is unfair that a person who has faced serious illness and made a full recovery should then be discriminated against based on their illness.

“This law gives survivors certainty and real rights. Their ability to buy or fully own a home should never be dictated by their medical history.”