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Aviva: Health insurance reviews

Name: Health insurance
Rating: 2.38 (202 reviews)

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2.38

Based on 202 reviews, last reviewed 16th Jul 2026

67% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

33% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

19%

72%

Latest highest rating:

5

It’s very reassuring to have this policy in place my husband purchased our policy after 13 hour wait in A&E left us upset and un cared for. There was definitely a stigma around it and I wasn’t sure wh... Read more Reviewed on: 16th July 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

My wife was admitted to hospital for emergency treat... My wife was admitted to hospital for emergency treatment-we wrote to them and said what do you need from us.No reply. We sent bills £8ks worth, nothin... Read more Reviewed on: 14th June 2026

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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 (202)

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

What a con!

Tip 1. when you go to the Doctor and they ask how long have you had the symptoms just reply "on the way in". Went to Doctors with pulled shoulder blade muscle from golf. 18 months later had to go with different symptoms and pain in top shoulder joint (not muscle strain). Turns out I need an operation which is NOT covered because I had complained of pain previosuly! Total crap service and 14 months of pain. Paid for the op myself and would cancel my companys health insurance if it wasnt for the other staff I have on it. Reviewed on: 15th January 2021

Simply awful service

Bought my company’s private medical insurance from Aviva on advice of broker against web advice to go for the No.1 provider AXA. Turns out that if you have something as simple as a bruise or a pulled muscle (in my case) in apart of the body you are automatically excluded from any claim for absolutely anything for two years from policy start. So, if you pull a muscle in January one year and then have pain in the shoulder due to bone cancer the following year you are not covered. Better still notes made by non medically qualified personnel are treated as if a Doctor had written them! MY strong advice is this: 1. When booking your Dr’s appointment just say you are ill with no mention of what is wrong or with what. Also only book a week or two before expected appt. 2. Do not say how long you have had the symptoms or indeed what they are but just say it started just before you walked in. 3. Do not mention or comment on any of your medical history. 4. Always request access to your medical records so you can see what is written about you. 5. Make sure if they diagnose something you are given the proper investigative procedure (X-ray, MRI, blood test etc). This will determine exact issue and if you then have another different issue some time later it should be treated as a separate claim. 6. Choose another private medical insurer. Reviewed on: 1st January 2021

Con artists

I was with bupa for over 15years through my works health insurance and not a problem even when my wife developed a condition that needed lots of treatment bupa were fantastic, then the company changed providers and whent with aviva that's when it all changed, aviva say they won't cover treatment if that treatment doesn't cure the condition permanently, they fail to mention this beforehand, absolute con artists, Reviewed on: 1st September 2020

Aviva health

I highly recommend health insurance with Aviva. I've sorted everything in a few minutes! Easy access to website and helpful phone advisors. Reviewed on: 31st August 2020

Longstanding

Always felt happy dealing with Aviva Reviewed on: 25th August 2020

Speedy Diagnostic that excludes diagnostic

So, you buy this insurance thinking that you pay a little extra to avoid long waiting lists in this pandemic in case you need diagnostics whether anything is wrong - it's in the name - Speedy diagnostic, skip queues etc. But once you need diagnosing (ultrasound is means to diagnose something afaik), then it isn't included, so essentially you have to join NHS queues to have it done. Of course they say it's in the term and condition however I failed to find where. Complete and utter waste of money! Reviewed on: 10th August 2020

Rip off on child's health insurance premiums.

I bought health insurance policy for my kid when he was not even 2 y.o. - I was an older mother, he started having bad colds when starting nursery - so I bought for the peace of mind. 5 years on, not a single claim - the premium is up almost twice. I tried to talk to them about it last year, wondering what happened to "no claim bonus" - no result, the agent was absolutely dreadful. Avoid this company, try something different for the sake of your money, or just set money aside as your emergency fund. Reviewed on: 5th August 2020

Pointless

We took this out for entire family. Every time we wanted to go private they had a reason why we couldn’t, even though when we bought the policy they were reassuring us it would be used for anything other than pre existing conditions. It was such hard work getting any treatment/ appointments through them it was easier just to wait for nHs appointments Reviewed on: 15th July 2020

Bespoke policy especially for C.I. residents, unbeatable value providing essential peace of mind.

Been with Aviva's Channel Island policy for some years now and find it second to none. Reviewed on: 14th July 2020

Disappointed

from initial contact to claim to the decision took over 3 weeks. They declined my claim despite never having my current complaint before. This company is not a company to do business with. I have today cancelled my account with them. To make matters worse this was my first claim. Dont be fooled by what they tell you to get your money. Stay well clear. You have been warned. Reviewed on: 24th June 2020

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