Aviva health insurance review

Who is Aviva?

Aviva is the largest general insurance provider in the UK. As well as offering health insurance, it has car, van, travel, pet, home and life insurance.

Its history can be traced back hundreds of years, but it has been operating in its current form since 2000, and trading under the “Aviva” brand name since 2002.

What’s included with Aviva’s health insurance?

Aviva health insurance covers the cost of private healthcare at hundreds of private medical facilities across the UK, including the likes of Nuffield, BMI and Spire Healthcare.

You’ll be covered for:

• Treatment for short-term, illnesses, viruses and infections
• Cancer diagnosis, treatment and aftercare
• Hospital charges and specialist fees
• Outpatients consultations and treatment
• GP video consultations

You can also choose to add extra coverage for an additional fee. These add-ons include:

• Dental and optical cover
• Mental health treatment
• Physiotherapy and osteopathy
• Chiropractor and acupuncturist referrals
• No-claim discount protection
• Access to more healthcare facilities

It’s possible to upgrade to a family policy. By adding your partner and/or children to your policy, you’ll be granted the following benefits:

• 24-hour stress counselling helpline
• Gym membership discount
• MyHealthCounts smartphone app

Exclusions

Aviva Health Insurance will not cover you in the following scenarios:

• Claims while you’re overseas
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Chronic health conditions, including arthritis, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy
• Pregnancy (although treatment for complications during pregnancy and childbirth is covered)

Claims process

In most cases, you’ll need to be diagnosed by a GP before making a claim. You could do this through Aviva’s Digital GP service.

After you’ve been diagnosed you can make a claim online using the MyAviva service, by calling 0800 068 5821 or by sending an email to avivapmiclaims@aviva.com.

Once your claim has been accepted, you can go ahead and receive your treatment. Aviva will settle the bill directly with the healthcare provider.

You’ll be contacted if you need to pay an excess or any part of the bill.

Managing your policy

You can make amendments to your policy at any time using the online MyAviva service.

Pros and cons

Our verdict

Aviva is the most popular general insurer in the UK and it delivers a solid health insurance package.

Just bear in mind that overseas treatment isn’t covered, and neither is treatment for pre-existing and chronic conditions.

Frequently asked questions about Aviva Health Insurance

• Is there a way to lower the cost of my premium?

  Aviva allows you to add a voluntary excess in order to lower your premium.

  You can also opt for a reduced level of cover, which features access to fewer private medical facilities. With this policy, you’ll only be covered for private in-patient and day-patient care if NHS treatment isn’t available within six weeks.

• How do I cancel my Aviva health insurance?

  You can cancel your policy online using the MyAviva service.