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

THIS IS A DISGRACE - TOTAL LACK OF ANY FORM OF CUSTOMER SERVICE OR RESPECT FOR THE CUSTOMER

So far I have spent a total of 5 hours hanging on for Aviva Health Cares non-existent "Customer Service", and this is just to try & get an authorisation code. Why do I have to speak (fat chance) to an uninformed call centre operative & not someone with recognised medical.knowledge. 5 weeks later, 5 unsatisfactory phone calls and endless filling in of the hopeless online form later, I still don't have a number for my treatment tomorrow. Why on earth can't I scan all the supporting paperwork to Aviva? Why can't they read the forms I fill in and not send requests 3 days later for info already supplied? Why do they close at 5pm?? Just who is accepting this rubbish masquerading as a service. I've been with 4 private medical ins companies in the past 55 years and Aviva is unrecognisable as a service of any kind. I suspect this is to discourage anyone from making a claim!. Reviewed on: 18th September 2023

Absolutely impossible to get through to speak to someone at a time I urgently need to organise health care

Shocking service! Despite texts to the chat box thing, emailing complaints and customer service I am now on hold for over 40 minutes for the 3 time this week and this is how it has been every time i have ever tried to call. I was told months ago they were short staffed yet they are happy to put my premiums up. I hope my company cancel thousands of employee subscription subsidies to Aviva and we switch to the competitor who actually respond to calls and are better rated. Reviewed on: 7th September 2023

Try making a claim

Ring at 1730 some 60 minutes before they close and hold on the line until 1800 when you get told your call will not be answered before we close at 1830 so ring tomorrow. When you call the next day early morning you get placed on hold and constantly get asked if you would like to be called back if so press one or press 2 to continue to hold. If you continue to hold there will come a time after about 45 minutes when you will get cut off. If you want them to ring you back be sure to be available for some hours or you will miss the call. It looks as if they are completely understaffed to deal with calls and one suspects some of their staff are probably still working from home. This company is happy to take your money but NOT PROVIDE SERVICE Reviewed on: 5th September 2023

Health Insurance

Very happy to deal with this company as they are also easy to deal with needs via the phone. Reviewed on: 1st September 2023

Aviva Life and Pensions

Money for value for your Life Insurance and Pensions Reviewed on: 30th August 2023

No point of contact

You could possibly be dead before this company answers your call how despicable of this company to have your money's every month for as much as 3 decades as they've had my money and not have in place a professionalism system to call patients back Do not insure with Aviva . Reviewed on: 28th August 2023

Efficient but with a focus on customer service.

Aviva has made the customer the centre of the their coverage, knowing peace of mind is essential when it comes to health insurance. This has created a strong product that provides cover for the most important times for an insureds life. Reviewed on: 23rd August 2023

Aviva review

Responsive in a crisis. They also have great benefits such as the virtual GP. Reviewed on: 23rd August 2023

Can not get hold of anyone

They say avoid the queues but if you can’t get through on the phone it’s useless Reviewed on: 22nd August 2023

Can't get through to anyone

What are we actually paying for? I'm not convinced there's anyone there. I've called so many times, each time I'm on hold for more than an hour and I have to end the call as I have other commitments to attend to, and then today after waiting over an hour they cut me off. Twice. The live chat box just says "We have a live chat team available Mon-Fri 8am-6:30pm and Sat 9am-1pm. Unfortunately, they're busy right now, so we won't be able to connect you to an agent. Give us a ring instead on 0800 051 0929." Angry doesn't come close to how I feel about them. They are charging for a service that is simply not fit for purpose. Reviewed on: 16th August 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 Plan
from Simplyhealth 4.12 from 4 reviews
Simply Cash Plan
from Simplyhealth 2.66 from 6 reviews
Health Insurance
from CIGNA 2.00 from 3 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