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Aviva: Health insurance reviews

1.78
Based on 195 reviews, last reviewed 21st Feb 2026
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Latest highest rating:

4

Good website easy to navigate. Good website easy to navigate. Good products Reviewed on: 21st February 2026
Margaret 's avatar
Margaret

Latest lowest rating:

1

Through my employer I was a group scheme member BUT Through my employer I was a group scheme member. I was asked to submit both an invoice and a receipt for a pacemaker check. This I did on 22/12/2025. ... Read more Reviewed on: 9th February 2026
Angus M's avatar
Angus M

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 (195)

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

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

Good company

5
Needed to get this in order to secure a mortgage for my new property. The lady on the phone talked me through options very well, documentation sent. No problems. Would recommend Reviewed on: 21st July 2023

Customer call centre never answers.

1
It takes me more than 1 hour every time I am trying to get in touch with the customer service team. Awful. Reviewed on: 17th July 2023

Do not use this company

1
They never answer their phones & the only way to contact them is via a chat box that takes you in circles to ensure to never speak to anyone Reviewed on: 14th July 2023

Tried using them, counting the days on hold

1
Used them, well tried using them for the first time today, 45 minutes on hold, how long should you wait,1 hour, 3 hours? Don't waste your money paying for this private health care, it's slower than the NHS. Shall be chasing my refund straight away!! Reviewed on: 14th July 2023

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