Write a review

Aviva: Health insurance reviews

Name: Health insurance
Rating: 1.94 (189 reviews)

View other Aviva products

1.80

Based on 189 reviews, last reviewed 5th Sep 2025

50% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

71% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

19%

71%

Latest highest rating:

5

Reasonable cost, clear communication, I have had thi... Reasonable cost, clear communication, I have had this account with them for the last 9 years and have no complaints so far - luckily I haven't had to ... Read more Reviewed on: 5th September 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

Discussed with the level of care been waiting 3 week... Discussed with the level of care been waiting 3 weeks now got an NHS appointment quicker Reviewed on: 4th September 2025

Read all reviews See your review

About this product

Aviva health insurance helps pay for private medical care for short-term injuries or illnesses.

You'll have access to a range of private hospitals and facilities that include Circle, Nuffield, Spire and NHS private units. Aviva won't increase premiums at first renewal if you haven't made a claim that's reduced your no claim discount level.

Aviva health insurance reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used Aviva before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

Aviva Health insurance reviews (189)

Review of the Aviva, Health insurance:

Horrendous. Utterly diabolic!

Horrendous. Absolutely horrendous. A nightmare. Utterly diabolic system, specifically designed to put your in constant stress, strain and struggle, so you run out of energy and give up. I have been having Aviva health insurance policy for a few years at the time I had to make a claim. Everything was fine while I paid, its a big company, so you kind of thinking you are protected, they have such a nice and shiny web site… Then when you dare to make a claim, this is where a nightmare starts. 1. No one picks up the phone for hours. Literally, for hours. No customer service presence EVER. The phone automatic msgs constantly says they are extremely busy, whatever time and day you call. You need to wait at least 45 mins on the phone to get throgh to the real person (thats the quickest I ever managed to get through after my many efforts) Im pretty sure this shortage on staff and responce is there deliberately. 2. Once you made a claim on their web site, and added all supporting documents, including GP referral and previous tests and scans (its mandotory before they even look into your claim) they suppose to contact you within 7 days. Guess what? Noone does. You have to chase them. Again. Call and wait for hours or try to get throgh their chatbot on the web site. 3. The chatbot is another nightmare. Everything is made to kick you off and not get you through to the real person. It is really hard to get through their automatic system. Sometimes just impossible. It is also, Im sure, made deliberately. 4. Once you made a claim, they will start looking for anything, literally, anything in you medical record to reject the claim. Trying to say its pre existing medical condition and etc. They try really hard, mind you. 5. Once you managed to get through these previous steps, and your claim was accepted, you still cant go to the consultant, no. They need to AUTHORISE your treatment. Otherwise its not gonna be paid for you. And this is your owns fault if you went to the doctor before they authorised any treatment in their system. They also choose a hospital for you and provide you the names of the authorised consultant. Only after this you can call to the hospital and book the appointment with a consaltant they choose. 6. Same steps happen with everything, every appointment or test you need to make. Whether its scans or tests or doctor consultations. Time flies by, appointments are not happening immediately, and here we are many months after without health issue being solved or any real result. ;) Congrats. 7. After months and months of struggle with their system, my surgery have been eventually postponed by the Spire hospital on the last day before the actual surgery. 3 weeks after the surgery assesment they suddenly decided I have to go to see a cardiologist and a GP, just to make them feel safer with what they do. ;) I have done this. And guess what? To the time I have done this (it was another month or so) the consultant who was suppose to perform this surgery just left this hospital ;))))) The end. At this point I could stand it no more! So I went to Russia (this is where Im from), and in 2 weeks there they have done all the tests and scans from scratch, prepared me for the surgery and performed the actual surgery. Done. And guess what? It was free. After this I canceled this ridiculous, torturing insurance and never looked back.) Eveything is hard, to the extent, its too much effort to make anything work. This is made deliberately by Aviva, to kick you off when you need them and cynically get their profit. And when you having health issues the last thing you want is more stress, struggle and palaver in your life. Having health issies is streessful enough. Then Aviva just adds more streess and struggle in already very hard circumstances. The whole reason of having private health insurance in the first place, is to have a stress free healthcare and fast specialist appointments. This is not what this is about. They just take your money and dont care about the rest. They dont even pick up the phone. Reviewed on: 17th January 2025

Costumer service

After transferring my previous health insurance from Bupa to Aviva like for like. They not suppose to ask for any GP forms to be filled but they do everything to not pay. After 53 min waiting to somebody pick up my call more than a week ago, they asked to take the form to GP to fill the form. I did and I’ve sent them all a week ago. I haven’t heard anything from them so I try to ring them. I was on hold for 1 hour and 23 min till the cut off the call. I am waiting with my chest pain till they magically contact me. It’s so frustrating Reviewed on: 6th June 2023

Absolutely soul destroying lack of service

Following a major heart event we for the first time had cause to use our Aviva healthcare insurance. It’s been awful. Every interaction is poor and phone wait times are always well over an hour. No one follows up even when they say they will. Email responses take about 10 days if at all. I honestly believe we may have had quicker response directly through the NHS. I will never insure with them again. Reviewed on: 31st May 2023

Totally unimpressed!

My first claim a year ago took longer than the same NHS time. I complained and nothing came from it. This time , I have been trying to make a claim for well over a month, they then disputed the claim, I obtained a new referral to prove this was not a previous non recorded condition , this was two weeks ago - they then sent me authorisation form for me to sign so that they could obtain more information from my GP, this was two weeks ago and still Aviva have not contacted my GP for the information. I have emailed countless times to obtain progress report, I even sent an official complaint brought he website a week ago, and still no response ! Today currently I have been holding on the phone for 1 hour , and now I am online on the chat facility , guess what ? No one there either! I have this procedure request going through NHS and they are going to get me booked in for June with local anaesthetic, I want this procedure under general hence why I’m attempting to go private. I had an op’ last year and the same op was arranged quicker through NHS than with Aviva and it seems to be happening again this time, totally unacceptable, and I am paying £135 per month! Makes me feel like an idiot to be honest I am going to cancel my policy Reviewed on: 15th May 2023

Awful experience

Avoid dealing with them, they will do their best not to cover any claim and you will end up paying monthly fees for nothing. Very bad experience. Reviewed on: 4th May 2023

AVIVA - no thanks

I have had both car and health insurance with this company and overall customer service is way down [bottom] the list of their priorities. Trying to speak to anyone is a nightmare. The website looks pretty but offers little useful info. I emailed them twice about my health insurance. 4 weeks later i have had zero response. Not even an acknowledgement. My wife's company uses these fools for their company health provider - but certainly not on renewal. The complaints from staff about AVIVA are numerous. Simply Health will be getting their not insubstantial business. Reviewed on: 22nd March 2023

An hours wait to speak to someone on the phone? Really?

Just tried to get in touch to see a consultant, but had to wait an hour on the phone. No notice of how far you are in the queue or a callback. Eventually got through and AVIVA recommended a consultant. We've now found out the consultant doesn't actually work at the hospital anymore. So, again on the phone for an hour to get another consultants name. This one isn't registered with the hospital anymore either. Is this some sort of sick joke by AVIVA? Reviewed on: 13th March 2023

Is this really private health care?

Had the policy for 3months under moratorium underwriting, and despite needing to make a claim which fell within the regulations they still wouldn't cover the claim. So the under writers dont seem to be able to read. Not only that, I cant get over how appalling the service is. On hold for never ending periods of time, appalling turn around time of 5 working days for a claim to be reviewed (which will likely be rejected anyway). Shambolic, dont waste your money. Find a proper private health insurer that isnt a jack of all trades. Reviewed on: 13th March 2023

Impossible to access - NHS GP is quicker!!!

The much advertised Aviva Digital GP service is completely useless. There are frequently no appointments at all available in the 7 day booking window (let alone a choice of time and choice of GP as you are promised!) . It is actually quicker to try and access your NHS GP, which is saying something. Had much better service with my previous health insurance (AXA and Babylon virtual GP). Reviewed on: 7th March 2023

Private Health . Quicker with the NHS

I have been trying for over a week to get through on the telephone but never succeeded. There is no call back service . They ignore emails , I’ve missed appointments and my health has seriously deteriorated. They are incompetent and anyone thinking of joining them you have more chance of winning the lottery Reviewed on: 2nd March 2023

Appalling Wait Times, Claim Rejected

I am sad to say that I would recommend any private health insurance over Aviva. The whole experience was shocking. I initially tried updating a claim online which they never ancknowledged. I finally had to ring them a week later and was on hold for thirty minutes. My claim for radio frequency ablation treatment was subsequently rejected despite them having previously authorised an MRI scan to find out that my lower discs were misaligned. Avoid Aviva. Reviewed on: 4th February 2023

Do you have a different Aviva product?

Share your experiences with products to help others make smarter financial decisions and learn more about different products available. Write a review

Are you a business? Get insights, reply to reviews, invite customers and understand their needs

Alternative products

Health Cash Plan
from AXA 3.00 from 6 reviews
Health Insurance
from BHSF 1.00 from 1 reviews
Health insurance
from WPA Health Insurance 1.50 from 28 reviews

Want to see more from Aviva?

Lifetime Mortgage
from Aviva 5.00 from 3 reviews
Landlord Insurance
from Aviva 4.50 from 3 reviews
Pet Insurance
from Aviva 4.17 from 11 reviews

View all products

Join Smart Money People

Keep up to date on ratings of your favourite businesses. Find out about our awards and write new reviews with ease

Create an account

News, guides and insight from our team

View resource hub