What is health insurance?
It’s a type of cover that pays your private healthcare costs if you have a treatable condition.
Whether it’s overnight care, outpatient treatment, diagnostic tests, scans or aftercare, you get the specialist private treatment you need, in comfortable surroundings, when you need it.
Our cancer pledge
Extensive cover and support at every stage of cancer treatment
Expert Select
With this option, we'll use our know-how to guide you to the best hospital and specialist for you
Wellbeing services
Supporting you towards a fitter, happier and healthier lifestyle
How does health insurance work?
You choose the healthcare benefits you need and pay a premium. Then, if you get a short-term illness or injury, and are referred by your GP, we’ll help you choose from a wide range of high-quality private facilities and hospitals.
If you make a claim, we’ll make sure It’s quick and hassle-free, so you can focus on getting better.
Do you need health insurance?
Even if you have access to free NHS care, health insurance can help you feel more in control of when, how and where you’re treated. That's faster access to the diagnosis, treatment and aftercare you need, and the comfort of an en-suite room. Think of it as the care you need, without the wait 1.
Can you add your children and partner?
Yes. Add two or more children aged 19 or under to your policy, and you'll only pay for the eldest, until they turn 20. You'll also pay less if you add your partner to your policy than if you both take out individual policies.
Already have health insurance?
Leaving an Aviva health insurance scheme?
Continuing your cover with us is easy 2.
Just call us on:
0800 015 2470
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Moving to us from another insurer
To talk about switching, call us on:
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Calls may be monitored or recorded. Calls to 0800 numbers from UK landlines and mobiles are free.
Why choose us for health insurance?
Our cover’s recognised by industry experts, and we’ve won company of the year for 11 years running. Here’s how you can count on us:
- Expert claims team
Direct access to an experienced, responsive team - Aviva cancer pledge
We’ll cover treatment and palliative care, as well as aftercare - MyAviva
Start a claim quickly online and have your policies in one place - We’re the largest UK insurer
With 15 million UK customers
Choosing where you're treated
Expert Select
With Expert Select, you don’t have to decide which hospital list is right for you when you take out your policy.
When you make a claim, our knowledgeable team, backed by clinical expertise, will offer you a choice of around four or five quality-assured medical facilities, including leading hospitals, that suit your needs best.
Hospital Options
With this option, you choose a hospital list when you take out your policy. Then, when you make a claim, you choose a specific hospital or medical facility from that list.
What does our health insurance cover?
Our policy offers wide-ranging cover against illness, cancer, accidents and curable diseases.
- Acute conditions
Our health insurance covers treatment for short-term illnesses or injuries that respond quickly to treatment (such as viruses or infections)
- Access to 100s of hospitals
Whether you choose Expert Select or a hospital list, you'll have access to a wide range of private UK hospitals and facilities. These include BMI, Nuffield, Spire and NHS private units
Expert Select (PDF 1.02 MB)
Hospital Options (PDF 505 KB)
- Cancer care cover
Cover for cancer diagnosis, treatment and aftercare as standard – read more about our cancer pledge - Hospital charges and specialist fees
Comprehensive cover, including diagnostic tests like X-rays and scans, specialist treatment and aftercare
- Outpatient consultations and treatment
Comprehensive outpatient cover, including diagnostic tests, consultations with specialists and specialist treatment – including radiotherapy and chemotherapy
- Chronic conditions
We can’t cover incurable long-term illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy and asthma – please note that cancer care is covered as standard
- Pre-existing conditions
If we look at your full medical history when you apply (full medical underwriting), we’ll usually exclude any conditions you had previously. If we don’t look at your full medical history when you apply (moratorium underwriting), when you make a claim, we’ll ask about any pre-existing conditions you had in the five years before you took out the policy. These conditions will only be covered if you’ve been free from medication, treatment, diagnostic tests or advice for them for two continuous years after taking out this policy - Pregnancy and childbirth
We only cover treatment for complications during pregnancy and childbirth 3
Your total wellbeing
The tools you need to make positive changes. Here's how our wellbeing services can be there for you.
MyHealthCounts
An online health and wellbeing tool that helps you find out how healthy you are. It could also help save you money when it’s time to renew your policy
Aviva Digital GP
An app that gives you access around the clock to five GP video consultations per member, per policy year, and repeat NHS prescriptions – at no extra cost ‡
Get Active
We’ll help you get fit and stay healthy with savings on gym services, discounted lifestyle products and offers at over 3,000 nationwide health and fitness clubs ‡
24-hour stress counselling helpline
If you’re stressed and want to talk to someone, our experienced counsellors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (if you’re aged 16 or over)
Mental health support
If you're struggling with stress, anxiety or poor mental health, it can be difficult to get back on track. We can help by providing easy access to information and articles, on a range of topics ‡
‡ These services are non-contractual and can be withdrawn at any time.
Aviva Digital GP is powered by Square Health. It’s available if you’re a resident of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, at home or abroad. Terms and conditions and the privacy policy can be viewed in the Aviva Digital GP app before you sign up, and mobile data charges may apply.
How much does health insurance cost?
It depends on things like your age and where you live and, if you’re switching to us, your claims history.
But you can control the features you have and don’t have, which can increase or decrease your premiums.
Enhance your cover
- Dental and optical cover: for routine dental treatment and optical expenses
- Mental health treatment: to add day patient and inpatient care to your core outpatient cover for acute psychiatric conditions
- Extended hospital list: increase the number of hospitals you can use, mostly in the Greater London area. This is instead of Expert Select, our core route to treatment or the standard Key hospital list
- Other treatment and therapies: such as a physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor or acupuncturist referral if you have a sports injury or whiplash after an accident
- No claim discount protection: a small sum to help keep future premiums down
Reduce your cover
- Use the NHS for some services: you'll still be covered for private inpatient and day patient care if NHS treatment isn't available within six weeks
- Policy excess: pay towards the cost of a claim – choose from £100, £200, £500, £1,000, £3,000 or £5,000 – no more than once per person, per policy year
- Reduced hospital lists: you can choose the Signature hospital list, which includes hospitals in Scotland and Northern Ireland only, or the Trust hospital list of NHS Trust and Partnership private hospital units, if you live within the catchment area
- Reduced outpatient cover: you can choose to reduce your outpatient cover to a limit of £0, £500 or £1,000. These reduced limits don't apply to cancer treatment
Renewal price guarantee
Take out a new health insurance policy with us, and we'll guarantee your premiums won't increase at first renewal if you haven't made a claim that's reduced your no claim discount level.
Health insurance overseas
Can I get health cover if I live outside the UK?
No, you need to be a permanent UK resident to take out our health insurance.
Will health insurance cover me for travel outside the UK?
No, we don't offer international health insurance.
Ready to get cover?
^ Calls may be monitored or recorded. Calls to 0800 numbers from UK landlines and mobiles are free.
Already with us?
Manage your cover with MyAviva
- Update your details
- Start a claim
- View your policies
- View your discounts
Please note the MyAviva app is not currently available in the Isle of Man.
How our claims process works
Once you’re covered with us, making a claim and accessing private treatment is quick and easy.
Visit your GP
See your GP if you're feeling unwell. If they want you to see a medical professional, tell them you've got health insurance with us. It's simpler to ask your GP for an open referral, so we can help find the best medical facility and consultant covered by your policy. If you choose the Expert Select hospital option, you'll need to ask for an open referral.
Make a claim
You can make a claim quickly online using MyAviva or over the phone. We'll just need to know your symptoms, when they started, and what you've been referred for. If we approve your claim, you'll get the private treatment you need.
And we’ll pay for treatment
After you've received any eligibile treatment, send us your invoices. We settle most bills directly with the hospital or specialist, but we'll contact you if you need to pay any part of an invoice – for example, if you have an excess.
Can’t see what you need?
Take a look at how else we can help protect your health. There's no cash-in value at any time.
Cancer Essentials
Get a cash benefit on diagnosis and money towards cancer drug costs.
Age: 18-69
Cover: £5,000 cash benefit
Payment: When we've received a letter from the GP and specialist
Physio Essentials
Flexible treatment options to recover from illness and injury.
Age: 18 or over
Cover: Face-to-face and virtual physiotherapy
Critical Illness Plan
Financial support if you or your children are diagnosed with one of the 53 conditions we cover.
Age: 18-64
Cover: Up to £1,000,000
Payment: If you become critically ill and live for 10 days after diagnosis
Health articles
Keep on top of your health and wellbeing with our guides and articles.
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How much does health insurance cost?
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Ways to enhance or reduce your health insurance
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How health insurance excess works
When applying for health insurance, you'll usually be able to choose an excess amount. So what is excess, and how does it work?
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