“Insurance Ireland and its members believe that the code will lead to a faster, more streamlined process for those impacted,” the industry group said in a statement. “They see the approach as a pragmatic solution that appropriately balance the needs of cancer survivors without causing a reduction in availability of cover for other consumers.”
Survey evidence by the Irish Cancer Society had earlier found that cancer survivors experienced considerably more difficulty dealing with insurers and, to a lesser degree, banks, sparking calls for an enforceable “right to be forgotten”. Those difficulties related to outright refusal of cover, excessively high premiums and unduly burdensome processes involved in securing cover.
Brokers Ireland has, in association with the new code, published a register of 170 brokers across the State who say they are available to help people who have pre-existing conditions in securing life cover for mortgages.