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Aviva: Health insurance reviews

Name: Health insurance
Rating: 1.94 (190 reviews)

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1.81

Based on 190 reviews, last reviewed 18th Oct 2025

50% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

50% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

18%

72%

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

I cancelled my policy in its last month as I cant af... I cancelled my policy in its last month as I cant afford it.I told them clearly I would not renew,sent back documents & blocked their number. They hav... Read more Reviewed on: 18th October 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 (190)

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

Need reporting to ombudsman.

I’ve had this health insurance since December 2020, never claimed with them, in November 2023, I enquired about a health problem. I could not get through , for days, plus, left on hold for unacceptable time, and more frustrating, when the recorded message says they will be with me shortly!! When I managed to get through, the lady was harsh, and rude, I was only really enquiring, as I didn’t know what I was going to do. I ended the call, when the lady told me abruptly, just answer yes or know!! I cancelled my direct debit . One funny thing is, ring aviva , as if you wish to purchase health insurance, guess what, they answer immediately. Imagine having bad news regarding your health, and Gou through the additional stress trying to speak to these people. Absolute disgrace of a place. Took all that money, no help whatsoever, not just me either, by the looks of things. They need reporting to the ombudsman, I may still do that. Reviewed on: 8th February 2024

Rubbish - go to BUPA or AXA instead

Rubbish. Impossible to get through to on the phone and their list of specialist that they allow is so limited you may as well just stick with the NHS. Terrible insurance policy Reviewed on: 6th February 2024

Biggest waste of money

I've had health insurance with Aviva since I was a child. Not my choice, I refuse to pay for it but my dad still insists on paying the extortionate yearly fee in case of emergencies, (he cancelled his and my mum's many years ago). I have never once used it or claimed anything. I've started getting health issues in the past few years so thought I might as well make use of the expensive health insurance to beat the extremely long waiting lists on the NHS. For starters I end up having to sit on the phone for over an hour every time I want to make a claim. Then end up speaking to someone who knows absolutely nothing about what I'm calling about and I'm back in another queue to speak to another department. To then be told that they don't cover that because of company policy, the T's and C's, it's a long term condition (for something I've not yet been officially diagnosed with), it's pre existing, etc etc. There is always an excuse as to why I can't claim and I end up having to go through the NHS because I can't afford to pay for private care myself. What happens then with the thousands of pounds that have been paid for a health insurance I can't even use? Biggest waste of money that just goes straight down the drain. Coincidentally I also had to cancel my car insurance with Aviva because they inflated it so much last year. Now with AXA for the car and at the mercy of the NHS for health. Reviewed on: 31st January 2024

Cancelling, waste of time and money!

I am in the process of cancelling our Aviva Health Insurance policy. Complete waste of time and money. The Digital GP thing sucks too! My 17 yr old daughter used it before Christmas rather than ring out of hours when she had recurring tonsillitis yet again. They looked at her throat on video and grumpily told her she was fine. Following morning she went to GP - she was not fine at all. She has been referred for a tonsillectomy. I rang them at 8:35 am today (their lines open at 8:30am) and 25 minutes on hold later I get through, only to be told that they won't cover the tonsillectomy because she had tonsillitis as a 12 yr old therefore it is a pre existing condition. I told them that is ridiculous, every child gets tonsillitis during their childhood but they won't listen. Any excuse not to pay. Avoid! Reviewed on: 26th January 2024

I gave 1 star because there is no 0 .

I gave 1 star because there is no 0 ... I have waited for 1h30mn to cancel my policy and the lady on phone told me that I should send a letter by post to confirm my decision.... What a waiste of time. Reviewed on: 25th January 2024

The worst health insurance.

The worst health insurance. I have this through work and nothing seems to be connected, awful and broken customer support. Chased them for 2 weeks to activate my account, then their Digital GP wasn't linked to the policy, an hour with customer support for him to tell me that this is where his knowledge ends. gives me a wrong number!!! Had to search for the right one and call, for them to tell me it's a 40min wait... It's taking me 3 weeks to book a treatment, emailing, called and overall trying to find info on their scattered website. Can you do worse? I truly don't think so. Reviewed on: 23rd January 2024

Aviva !! Nobody cares just want your money

Tried phoning Aviva many many times in June July some times waiting 30+minutes before hanging up the phone time after time being told they are busy at the moment we were 75 years old at the time .I wrote to the ombudsman and they came to the decision I was at fault for not waiting long enough on the phone. I had a broken leg . And a few weeks later stated loosing might sight in one eye I need help and none was given being treated now by NHS. Reviewed on: 11th January 2024

Worse health insurance

Useless hopeless and pointless. They don’t cover emergency. They close Early on weekends so pls Don’t have an emergency or a . health problem on the weekend. When you make a claim, pray you get authorisation. Waste of money and time and so far in the few months I have been a member, it would have been cheaper to pay direct and not have insurance Crooks and deceiving. Stay away. Reviewed on: 18th December 2023

Impossible to get through

Impossible to get through via phone, waited for over an hour then got cut off. Reviewed on: 12th December 2023

Impossible to contact, poor service

I can definitely see why this company have such bed reviews. Never get through by phone so email. Constantly assured the payment to the hospital is covered yet I am almost £400 out of pocket as had to pay outstanding invoices myself to avoid further action. Service is provided by my work place but would never recommend to anyone Reviewed on: 12th December 2023

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