What is health insurance?
Health insurance gives you access to private medical treatment through paying a regular premium. Life can change in the blink of an eye – our cover is there to help support the wellbeing of you and your family.
You’ll usually be covered for health conditions that happen after the first day of your policy. Health insurance doesn’t cover anything you’ve already seen a doctor for. These are known as pre-existing conditions, and cover things like diabetes or arthritis.
The benefits of our health insurance
Faster access to treatment 
Private healthcare can help shorten wait times for consultations, tests and other procedures.
Tap into Aviva Digital GP† 
Unlimited online appointments on the Aviva Digital GP app†, to help you see a doctor when you need to.
Extensive cancer care at every step 
We partner with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide support at every stage of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Mental health, taken care of 
We cover up to £2,000 a year for treatments such as talking therapy, for conditions like anxiety and OCD.
† Non-contractual benefit which can be changed or withdrawn at any time.
Our core cover
When you take out health insurance with us, our core cover comes as standard. It includes lots of great benefits and we cover a whole host of conditions. To give you an idea of what’s included, we’ve broken some of these down below.
We don’t cover chronic conditions or pre-existing health conditions, which is anything you’ve had symptoms of or received advice, treatment or medication for. We talk about this in more detail in our pre-existing conditions article.
What you get with core cover
While this isn’t a full list of our benefits, core cover includes things like:
Conditions we cover
These are just some of the conditions covered in our health insurance.
- Short-term illnesses or injuries
Conditions that are likely to respond quickly to treatment, such as cataracts, hernias, gallstones and similar short-term conditions that can be treated and resolved. - Extensive cancer care
Full cancer cover, including diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. - Outpatient mental health support
Cover for up to £2,000 towards therapy or counselling for mental health conditions. - Musculoskeletal conditions
Physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment if referred by a specialist.
If you're not sure what some of these terms mean, you can find them in our health insurance glossary.
Personalise your cover
Core cover comes as standard, but you can adapt our health insurance to make it work for you. These features are there to enhance or reduce your cover – which means they’ll either increase or decrease your premium.
These are just some of the ways you can personalise your cover. You’ll find a full list on our optional extras page.
Routine and emergency dental and optical care 
GP-referred physio, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment 
28-day inpatient mental health cover
Select from reduced hospital lists 
Six Week Option – only claim if the NHS can’t treat you in six weeks‡ 
Reduce your outpatient cover or increase your excess amount 
Important documents
Before you apply for health insurance with us, please make sure you’ve read the product information document and our terms and conditions.
For more detailed information you can read our Healthier Solutions brochure or about our health services.
You can also read about the different hospital lists we have on offer, including Hospital Options and Expert Select.
How much does health insurance cost?
Our health insurance could cost less than £48 a month Footnote [1]. The price and cover type varies from customer to customer – based on things like your age, where you live, your claims history and the amount of excess you choose. If you enhance or reduce your cover, this will also affect how much you pay.
Plus, you could save up to 15% on your first year premium with My Healthy Discount - if you meet our health-related eligibility criteria. The discount will reduce over future renewals. Please view the My Healthy Discount terms and conditions for full details.
Can I save on my health insurance?
Wellbeing benefits of health insurance
We’ve got a range of added extras available to help you take care of your wellbeing, one step at a time.
Aviva Digital GP†
Aviva Digital GP† With 24/7 appointments available for you and your family, you can see a doctor without leaving your home.
Menopause support from Aviva Digital GP†
Menopause support from Aviva Digital GP† You’ll have access to menopause-trained GPs and nurses, as well as prescriptions for HRT or testosterone when medically necessary.
MyHealthCounts
MyHealthCounts Keep track of your healthy habits and you could save money on your health insurance renewal price.
Get Active†
Get Active† Get offers and discounts at health and fitness clubs across the UK – including David Lloyd, The Gym Group and Pure Gym.
Counselling support
Counselling support Our Stress Counselling helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year. You can speak to trained counsellors if you need some support.
† Non-contractual benefit which can be changed or withdrawn at any time.
Types of cover to suit everyone
We offer different types of cover depending on what you’re looking for.
Joint cover
Diagnostic tests and treatment for you and your partner.
Family cover
Diagnostic tests and treatment for the whole family.
Individual cover
Diagnostic tests and treatment for you.
Get a free health check on us
Stay in control of your health with a finger-prick blood test
Convenient and easy to do at home, you can proactively manage your health with our free health check. Get checked for 20 different health markers and receive a personalised health report of your results.
Offer details
§ Purchase and start your cover between 1st September 2026 and 30th November 2026 and you'll be eligible to claim a free finger-prick health check as a thank you.
- Available to all new members named on the policy over the age of 16.
- You'll need to register to the Aviva Digital GP app† to redeem your health check.
- Details on how to access the app will be sent in your welcome pack after you purchase.
- This health check is a limited time offer and we reserve the right to withdraw at any time.
† Non-contractual benefit which can be changed or withdrawn at any time. T&Cs apply.
What are the benefits?
Our free health check could help to detect any early risk warnings and help with early intervention and treatment.
Check for 20 health markers, including:
- Diabetes risk
- Cholesterol status
- Liver Health
- Kidney health
- Bone health
- Gout risk
How does it work?
Redeem your free health check in a few easy steps.
Register for Aviva Digital GP†
You'll receive your access code to register for Aviva Digital GP within 30 days of starting your cover.
Redeem your free health check
Request a health check through the Aviva Digital GP app. This will then be sent to your home address with full instructions and pre-paid return. T&Cs apply.
Get your results
You'll find out in the Aviva Digital GP app when your results are ready.
Book a follow up
If you want to understand your results further, you can book a consultation through the Aviva Digital GP app.
† Non-contractual benefit which can be changed or withdrawn at any time.
Why choose our health insurance?
Over 1.2 million customers choose us for their health insurance as of May 2026. But don’t just take our word for it - hear Karin’s cancer story.
Save up to 10% on health insurance if you’re an existing Aviva customer.Footnote 2
We’re proud to be 5 Star Rated by trusted industry experts Defaqto and Moneyfacts. That’s health insurance you can trust.
There’s no limit to how much we’ll pay towards cancer diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. T&Cs apply.
Real stories from real Aviva Health customers
We’re trusted by 1.2 million customers, so we found some time to sit down with a few of them to hear their stories and experiences with Aviva Health.
“I tried not to say the word ‘Cancer’. I thought, maybe if I don’t say it, it’s not happening.”
Karin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023. We sat down with her to learn more about her story.
“Aviva stood by us when it mattered most, and that’s something I’ll never forget.”
When Maggie's late husband was diagnosed with late-stage Pancreatic cancer, they relied on Aviva for his treatment.
“Sailing was becoming extremely difficult… it was not good fun. It really became unbearable to live with.”
After experiencing pain in his knee, John wasn't sure if he could sail again. That's where Aviva stepped in.
How do I get a health insurance quote on the phone?
We only need a few details from you to get started with your health insurance quote, such as your personal information, when you want your cover to start and your medical history.
^ Lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Closed on weekends and bank holidays. We may record or monitor telephone calls.
Health insurance FAQs
Can I switch my health insurance provider in the middle of my policy?
Yes, you don’t need to wait until the end of the policy year before switching. However, it’s a good idea to check with your current provider to see if there are any early exit or cancellation fees that would need to be paid.
How long does it take to switch health insurance?
The first step to switching is to get a quote - you can do this online or over the phone. How long it will take will depend on the individual – you might have questions to ask or want to mull things over. You don’t have to accept your quote straight away, but once you have we’ll send you the relevant policy documents. The only things left to do will be to cancel your current policy and email or post us your current provider’s certificate of insurance within 21 days to complete the switch.
What affects the cost of my health insurance cover?
There are a few different factors that can affect your premium, such as age and location, claim history, cover, and policy excess.
Find out more about what shapes the price of your policy in our article on how much health insurance costs.
Does Aviva health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Whether we can or can't cover a pre-existing condition, and how we deal with it, depends on the type of underwriting you choose.
A 'pre-existing' condition is when you've had symptoms, medication, advice, treatment, or diagnostic tests for a disease, illness, or injury before taking out health cover.
Your health insurance might not cover a pre-existing condition, because it's meant for new, unexpected, or short-term conditions that happen after you take out the policy.
Find out more about health insurance and pre-existing conditions.
Is your health insurance business included in Aviva’s Net Zero target?
At Aviva, we’re proud of our ambition to become a Net Zero company by 2040. We believe in taking action to help tackle climate change and are committed to reducing our environmental impact across our business.
We are currently working to align our Health Insurance business with Aviva’s Net Zero transition plan. At this time, Health claims suppliers are not included in our Group’s ambition for 70% of suppliers to have validated Science Based Targets. This is due to a number of factors, including the diverse nature of our supply chain and the lack of an industry-agreed way to measure the carbon impact of health insurance claims at this time.
We are actively working to change that and remain committed to evolving our strategy as industry guidance and standards develop. This includes developing a better understanding of the carbon emissions linked to the services and suppliers we use to fulfil claims.
Our goal is to align our health insurance business with our transition plan as soon as we can - providing customers with treatment options that are clinically effective while also aiming to minimise carbon emissions wherever possible. To learn more about our Net Zero ambition and our progress, read our full Transition Plan (PDF 10.5 MB).
Learn about health insurance
From the bumps and scrapes you may see coming to those that aren’t expected, health insurance helps you access the medical treatment you need, when you need it.
Cover explained
How does private health insurance work
Explore the benefits, coverage, and limitations of private health insurance in our comprehensive guide.
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Cover explained
Are pre-existing conditions covered by health insurance?
Here's why your health insurance might not cover a pre-existing condition.
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Cover explained
Ways to enhance or reduce your health insurance
Discover the difference between our health insurance cover types, and what your options are.
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Conditions
Health insurance: the different types and how affordable they are
Before you buy health insurance, consider your needs and your budget.
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PHIN
You can find independent information about private consultants and hospitals, including costs and quality of care, from the Private Healthcare Information Network: www.phin.org.uk.