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Aviva: Health insurance reviews

1.81
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
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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
Aaron E's avatar
Aaron E

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
J h's avatar
J h

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!

1
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

Terrible customer service

1
Have spent around 5 or 6 hours over last two weeks trying to get through by phone. On line forms submitted - no response. Chatbot unable to answer questions I need answered about my policy, about claiming etc etc eventually submitted a claim but now need to query the response - nightmare service, and it’s costing me money. Reviewed on: 10th August 2023

Lack of Customer Support

1
I am on hold now. Been waiting nearly one hour for a simple request. I have asked online, email, chat, etc. without any luck. So now I am trying phone support. I just need a copy of my monthly bill. How hard can that be? Worst support ever. Canceling policy. Reviewed on: 4th August 2023

Will cancel on renewal

1
So took medical insurance out with aviva ,had a medical claim to make on a new condition I had ,and basically put everything in my path they could to make a claim ,so am paying myself now. Reviewed on: 3rd August 2023

Close this company down

1
So moved our medical cover from a competitor which I will add has been brilliant. We moved as my company chose to move to Aviva. Well now I need some medical assistance ( not life threatening) but I can’t get hold of anyone. 4 days now I’ve been trying to call them and no luck so far. Each time I am on hold for an hour listening to some pathetic music and an apology for the wait. God help me if my condition is life threatening. These people just don’t answer the phone. I am better of using the NHS and my local GP. What am I actually paying for here. I am appalled by this level of service. Are they for real? Looking at the reviews I am not the only one in this situation. Avoid if you are reading this message and about to take health cover with Aviva. You can thank me later Reviewed on: 2nd August 2023

You will need an hour or more to get through on the phone

1
I am a recent customer of Aviva health insurance. I have phoned them a number of times and actually got through three times. On each occasion they keep you waiting for an hour+ whilst listening to music and a voice telling you 'sorry' and that they will get through soon. They don't deserve our custom with such dreadful attitude to customers. I will be cancelling my insurance and moving to a company that does care. Reviewed on: 1st August 2023

Absolutely Useless

1
On hold now for over an hour, trying to get through for the past 2 days, total of 4 calls (a total of 4 hours spent trying to get through). The awful thing is think I should have stayed with the NHS, as would have got a better service. Thinking about reverting to them NHS. Every day counts, as opposed to having my time wasted by this useless company. Reviewed on: 28th July 2023

Good but not great

3
They covered most of what I wanted but inadequately Reviewed on: 28th July 2023

Like the rest of AVIVA - utterly dreadful

1
Having been with Simply Health (SH) for years and experiencing their exceptional service, coming to AVIVA was a dreadful shock. Impossible to speak to anyone, expect a minimum 1 hour on hold if you call. The portal is so basic and requires YOU to update all progress (SH it was automatically done). Invoices come to you so you have to forward them to AVIVA but this can't be done through the portal?? Doctor will be at one location however other treatments could be anywhere. You have to pay for prescriptions and as they are private they will be expensive. Everything seems to geared up to be awkward and troublesome, it is the standard insurance 'embuggerance'. We are off back to Simply Health. Avoid if you want a smooth clear and caring customer journey - sure not going to get it here! Reviewed on: 27th July 2023

terrible service

1
45 minutes - i'm still on hold now. i wasted 25 minutes on hold last Friday. need to make a claim on my policy. the chat bot service is useless, doesnt help at all. I will be cancelling all of my policies with Aviva Reviewed on: 24th July 2023

Impossible to get in touch about claim

1
Urgent claim has no response 5 days on. Getting in touch by phone - about to give up after 30 mins of music. Chat option does not work. Extremely poor. Reviewed on: 22nd July 2023

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