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Aviva: Health insurance reviews

Name: Health insurance
Rating: 1.94 (189 reviews)

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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

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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

Avoid avoid avoid

If I could, I would give them less than 1 star. Very expensive premium which turns out to be a total scam because they do not cover anything I require for medical purposes. Even suggested that I go to the NHS the cheeky buggers. On top of this the system is I believe purposefully convoluted & customer service terrible. Avoid at all costs Reviewed on: 30th August 2022

Uncaring and avoiding liability

Could not be worse. Paid the premium/never claimed for over 40 years and then they look for any reason to avoid liability. They paid in the end but I had to contribute. Avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 20th August 2022

Terrible

I've been fortunate to have had private medical insurance for over 40 years. We recently changed to Aviva. Never again! They rejected a claim on the most spurious of grounds and subsequently proved totally inflexible when asked to reconsider. We have now left them. Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

Most comprehensive

Most competitive and comprehensive cover for health insurance. Reviewed on: 15th August 2022

Covered my claims but slow communication

They have covered a very big claim so I am very grateful, but communication very poor, slow and ineffective eg I ask a question and the lady calls back a few days later, I’m expecting the answer but the question has to be repeated on 3 or 4 calls before she finds the answer Reviewed on: 12th August 2022

Will find a way not to cover your claim, avoid the huge premium which will give you nothing

I have paid into my company health insurance to cover my family for years and as soon as it comes to making a claim, they managed to find a reason not to support us. Needless to say I will be feeding back to my company but I am sure Aviva won't care!!! Reviewed on: 3rd August 2022

Beware

When I tried to make a (totally genuine) claim I immediately got the impression they were going to do everything they could to avoid honouring the claim. And that’s exactly what happened. They confirm all the terrible stories we’ve heard about health insurance companies. Wish I’d stuck with BUPA. Reviewed on: 3rd July 2022

Total Madness

Been with them for many years and because we have a house in France I phoned them to ask if it was possible to increase my policy to include my times whilst in France , as there are many Aviva agents there . When I said I could be there for anything over 3 months per year , they cancelled my policy there and then . Totally stunned I was told that being out of the UK was not allowed , when did this happen I asked ,the 3 month clause happened in January they said , why was I never told . We do not tell clients I was informed but if we find out we cancel their policy . I would have thought it benefitted them we not being in the UK – still do not understand this , so now I do not have private cover If other people are in the same position and holiday abroad for more than 3 months then I hope you cancel being with them and find someone else Unbelievable behaviour – speechless . Reviewed on: 2nd July 2022

Avoid Avoid Avoid

Absolutely rubbish. Happy taking your money, but very poor communication when you put a claim in. They ultimately almost always find any excuse to refuse the claim. Much better to put your money into a savings account and draw money from there when you need it. Reviewed on: 29th June 2022

Customer service where are you?

After more than 2 hours wait on the phone they disconnected me. No ways to get in touch. Live chat not working either. Simply appalling. Beware of the "invited" reviews on Tripadvisor Reviewed on: 29th June 2022

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