Aviva Health Insurance Review: What Healthier Solutions Actually Delivers

Aviva traces its corporate heritage back over 320 years (through predecessor companies including the Hand-in-Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society, founded 1696) and covers around 1.2 million people for private healthcare in the UK. That makes them the third largest UK health insurer after Bupa and AXA, two insurers we compare in more detail in our AXA Health vs Bupa guide. Their flagship product, Healthier Solutions, holds a Defaqto 5-star rating at its top tier and has won industry awards including from Moneyfacts in recent years.

At time of writing (May 2026), Aviva scores around 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 55,000 reviews, though that score covers all Aviva products, not health insurance alone. When you filter for health-only reviews, the picture is less clear. Some clients mention slow claims and trouble reaching the right person.

Aviva also sells life insurance, pensions, annuity plans and other insurance products. They serve over 18 million UK customers across all their products. Most people who come to us already hold something with Aviva, which makes switching or adding health cover simpler.

Your hospital list has the biggest impact on price. Aviva offers five options:

Expert Select — Aviva’s guided option. They pick hospitals and specialists within about 25 miles of your home based on quality. Second cheapest.

Key — around 200 private hospitals including Circle, Nuffield, Spire and Ramsay. You choose. Costs around 20% more than Expert Select.

Extended — adds London hospitals. Around 18% more than Key.

Trust — NHS private patient units only. Cheapest option.

Signature — only available in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Aviva says its average premium is under £47 per month. What you actually pay depends on your age, where you live, your cover level, your excess and your BMI. For more detail, see our guide to the average cost of health insurance.

Here’s what a non-smoker with no pre-existing conditions, a £200 excess, full outpatient and Expert Select might typically pay each month:

These are guide figures only. Your actual quote will vary based on age, location, medical history and cover level. Switching to the Key list adds roughly 20%. Adding dental or the Extended list pushes it higher.

Multi-product discount: Existing Aviva customers (life insurance, car, home) get up to 10% off a new health policy. Full medical underwriting gets 10%, continued underwriting gets 5%.

My Healthy Discount: Up to 15% off year one if you’re smoke-free for 12 months, your BMI is 30 or below, and you haven’t been treated for diabetes. Drops to 10% at first renewal and 5% at the second.

Child discount: Add two or more children under 20 and you only pay for the oldest.

MyHealthCounts: Checks your health and daily habits. A good score can cut your renewal cost. We tell every client to do it.

Renewal price lock: Your first renewal will not rise as long as you have not claimed above the NCD bar.

The most useful comparison points across the leading UK insurers to focus on: outpatient as standard (Aviva’s structural edge), Bupa’s more forgiving NCD claim bar and refusal to reclassify mental health as chronic, AXA’s direct access to physio via Working Body, and Vitality’s rewards programme. The moratorium look-back is broadly the same across the major UK insurers (5 years), so it’s rarely the deciding factor on its own.

This site aims to provide unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date information on health insurance. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions by comparing health insurance providers and various cover options.

We understand that navigating private medical care can be daunting. We present information in a clear, concise manner, ensuring you have all the details you need.