Learn about health insurance

Looking to get Aviva Health Insurance?

You can either switch or start a new policy.

If you have health insurance with another provider, you can switch to us.

Just have your policy information to hand, then get a quote online.

You might be thinking, why switch to Aviva? Well, there are many reasons.

To begin with, you can transfer your medical history from your current provider.

So, as long as you meet our criteria for switching, you may be able to claim for symptoms or conditions you or your family had in the past.

When switching, you can review what you and your family need, then add or remove cover.

Want cover for routine dental appointments? You can add it on. Already have it and don't need it? Take it off. You get the gist.

If switching isn't for you, you could start a new policy.

This might be the right option if you or your family don't have any pre-existing conditions or symptoms that you may need cover for later.

Or perhaps you had a condition or symptom in the past that you don't need cover for anymore.

It's important to remember that, if you choose to start a new policy you won't transfer your medical history. This means you can only claim for symptoms and conditions that develop after the policy starts.

So, if you had knee surgery a few months ago and need more medical attention, it won't be covered in your new policy.

Not sure whether to switch or start a new policy? You can always give us a call on 0800 404 8338 to talk through your options.

When you take out your private medical cover, you have a choice to make about how you want us to deal with pre-existing conditions. You can choose between ‘moratorium underwriting’ and ‘full medical underwriting’. It’s important you understand the difference so that you can make the right choice.  

Pre-existing condition

To understand the difference between both types of underwriting, we first need to explain what we mean by a ‘pre-existing condition’. This means if you have experienced symptoms, or received medication, advice, treatment or diagnostic tests for any disease, illness or injury before you join the policy, even if you were not diagnosed at the time, this is classed as a pre-existing condition.  

Full medical underwriting

If you choose full medical underwriting, you will have to fill out a health questionnaire and tell us about any pre-existing conditions when you apply for the policy. We may also need your permission to get further information from your GP. We don’t usually cover pre-existing conditions, however once we have assessed your questionnaire and any information from your doctor, we will let you know in your policy documents which symptoms or conditions we can’t cover under your policy.

It is important you answer our questions accurately and fully. Having a complete picture of your health at the beginning means we can be clear about what you are and aren’t covered for at the start. It can also speed up the claims process, as we are already aware of your medical history.

Moratorium underwriting

If you choose moratorium underwriting, we will not need information about your medical history when you apply for the policy. However, each time you make a claim, we will need to ask you questions about your medical history and may need information from your GP. This is to understand if your claim relates to a new or pre-existing condition or symptom. This can sometimes mean it takes us longer to deal with your claim. 

Under moratorium underwriting, you may be covered for pre-existing conditions, depending on when you last experienced symptoms or received medication, diagnostic tests, treatment or advice for it. If this was within the five years before you joined, then you will not be covered for it until you have been free from any medication, treatment, diagnostic tests or advice for two continuous years.

Let’s think about that in real terms. 

If you had pain in your left knee three years before you joined the policy, treatment for that condition will not be covered when you join. You may still experience symptoms, but will need to wait until two continuous years have passed after joining the policy without any treatment, diagnostic tests, medication or advice for that knee condition. You will then be covered for that condition after that two-year period has ended.  

If you receive any treatment, diagnostic tests, medication or advice about the knee condition within two years after you join, you will have to wait until two continuous years have passed from when it all stopped.  

Our full terms are available in our policy booklet, and if you still have any questions, you can always call us. 

There are four simple steps to making a claim.

One. Ask a GP for a referral.

You can talk to your own GP or go through our Aviva Digital GP app.

They’ll refer you for any investigations or treatment you need.

Make sure you tell them you have a private health scheme with us.

For more flexibility around your treatment, ask for an open referral, which names the kind of treatment you need but doesn’t name a specific specialist or hospital.

We can help you with finding a specialist.

If you have BacktoBetter or our Mental Health Pathway, you don’t need a GP referral.

Make sure you contact us before you have any tests or treatment.

That way you’ll know you have the benefit included in your scheme and you won’t end up with any

unexpected costs.

Two. Start your claim.

Simply log into MyAviva, find your policy and click the option to start your claim.

Alternatively, you can call us.

We’ll ask about your symptoms and explain the best next steps.

We aim to make a decision on your claim straight away, explain the tests and treatment we can approve, and give you contact details, so you can book your appointment.

Three. Referrals for more treatment.

If you’re referred for more treatment we haven’t already approved, let us know through MyAviva, so we can check your scheme.

Four. Paying the bills.

We’ll pay the bills we’ve authorised directly with your healthcare provider, so there’s nothing for you to worry about.

If any bills we’ve authorised come your way, just send us a copy and we’ll do the rest.

We’ll let you know if you need to pay any part of a bill.

And that’s it! Four easy steps to make your claim.

It takes Aviva.