Cancer survivors should have legal protection to ensure they are not discriminated against when it comes to financial products such as life insurance, an international conference has heard.
Last December, Insurance Ireland said a new voluntary code of practice would see insurers disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years before an application for products such as life, mortgage protection or income protection policies.
Where an applicant was under 18 at the time their cancer treatment stopped, the right to be forgotten will apply after five years.
Cover of up to €500,000 per applicant is to be allowed under the revised code, a ceiling that Insurance Ireland says covers more than 90pc of mortgage protection policies issued in the State.
However, it is still not underpinned by legislation. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the right to be forgotten aims to ensure equal access to financial services for individuals who have recovered from a previous illness.
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 