As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped over 750,000 UK families find the right cover, WeCovr provides this expert review of Aviva's private medical insurance. Navigating the UK's PMI market can feel complex, but understanding your options is the first step towards securing peace of mind for your health.
WeCovr breaks down Aviva's PMI options and how they compare with other leading UK insurers
Aviva stands as one of the titans of the UK insurance industry. With a history stretching back over 300 years, it's a household name trusted by millions. But does its reputation translate into the best private health cover for you and your family in 2025?
In this comprehensive guide, we'll dissect Aviva's flagship "Healthier Solutions" policy, explore its customisation options, weigh its value-added benefits, and stack it up against other market leaders like Bupa and AXA. Our goal is to give you the clarity you need to make an informed decision.
Understanding the UK Healthcare Landscape in 2025
The National Health Service (NHS) is a national treasure, providing incredible care to millions, free at the point of use. However, it's no secret that the system is under unprecedented strain.
In 2025, waiting lists for routine procedures remain a significant concern for many. According to the latest available NHS England data, the referral to treatment (RTT) waiting list has consistently hovered above 7.5 million. While urgent and emergency care remains world-class, the wait for elective surgery—such as hip replacements, cataract removal, or hernia repairs—can stretch into many months, and sometimes longer.
This is where private medical insurance (PMI) finds its role. It's not a replacement for the NHS, but a partner to it. PMI is designed to cover the cost of private treatment for acute conditions that arise after your policy begins.
The Crucial Distinction: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
Understanding this difference is the single most important part of choosing health insurance.
- Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Think of things like a broken bone, appendicitis, joint pain requiring a replacement, or cataracts. PMI is built to cover these.
- Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs ongoing or long-term monitoring, has no known cure, is likely to recur, or requires palliative care. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
Standard UK private medical insurance, including Aviva's policies, does not cover the routine management of chronic or pre-existing conditions. It is designed to get you diagnosed and treated swiftly for new health issues, helping you bypass NHS waiting lists and get back on your feet.
Who is Aviva? A Closer Look at the UK Insurance Giant
Aviva is more than just a well-known brand; it's the UK's largest general insurer. This scale provides a level of financial stability and reassurance that many customers find appealing. When you take out a policy, you want to know the company has the resources to pay claims for years to come, and Aviva's long-standing presence in the market provides that confidence.
Key facts about Aviva:
- Heritage: Traces its roots back to 1696.
- Scale: Serves over 18 million customers across the UK, Ireland, and Canada.
- Reputation: A FTSE 100 company known for its comprehensive range of insurance and savings products.
- Focus on Health: Aviva has invested heavily in its health insurance proposition, integrating digital tools and wellness benefits to create a modern, holistic service.
For a potential PMI customer, this means you're dealing with an established, financially robust company with a deep understanding of the UK insurance landscape.
Aviva Healthier Solutions: A Detailed Breakdown of Their Core Policy
Aviva's main private medical insurance product for individuals and families is called Healthier Solutions. It's a modular policy, which means it starts with a core foundation of cover, and you can then add optional extras to tailor it to your specific needs and budget.
What's Included in Aviva's Core Cover?
Every Healthier Solutions policy begins with this essential protection:
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In-patient and Day-patient Treatment: This covers costs if you're admitted to a hospital for treatment, either overnight (in-patient) or just for the day (day-patient). This includes:
- Hospital accommodation and nursing care.
- Surgeons', anaesthetists', and physicians' fees.
- Specialist consultations and diagnostic tests (like MRI scans or CT scans) while you are in hospital.
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Comprehensive Cancer Cover: This is a major strength of the Aviva policy. The core cover includes extensive support for cancer diagnosis and treatment, covering surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. It also includes cover for the latest licensed cancer drugs and therapies, even if they aren't available on the NHS.
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Some Mental Health Cover: The core policy provides a baseline of mental health support, typically covering specialist consultations and up to 28 days of in-patient treatment.
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NHS Cash Benefit: If you choose to have eligible in-patient treatment on the NHS instead of using your private cover, Aviva will pay you a cash amount for each night you spend in an NHS hospital (typically around £100 per night).
This is where you can truly shape your cover. The main choices revolve around outpatient treatment and additional therapies.
Outpatient Options
Outpatient treatment is any care you receive without being admitted to hospital. This includes initial consultations with a specialist, diagnostic tests to figure out what's wrong, and follow-up appointments. Aviva typically offers three levels:
Outpatient Option | What It Covers | Who It's For |
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No Outpatient Cover | Diagnostics and treatment are only covered if you are admitted to hospital as an in-patient or day-patient. | Those on a tight budget who primarily want cover for major surgery. You would rely on the NHS for initial diagnosis. |
Standard Outpatient | Covers specialist consultations and diagnostic tests up to a set annual limit (e.g., £1,000). | A good middle ground, providing cover for the diagnostic journey and initial specialist meetings. |
Full Outpatient Cover | No annual limit on the cost of eligible specialist consultations or diagnostic tests. | Those who want complete peace of mind, knowing the entire private journey from diagnosis to treatment is covered. |
Other Key Optional Add-ons
- Therapies Cover: This adds cover for treatments like physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic care, usually up to a set number of sessions per year. This is highly recommended for anyone with an active lifestyle or concerns about musculoskeletal issues.
- Mental Health Upgrade: You can choose to enhance the standard mental health cover to include psychiatric treatment, psychologist consultations, and psychotherapy on an outpatient basis. Given the growing focus on mental wellbeing, this is an increasingly popular option.
- Dental and Optical Cover: This can be added to help with the costs of routine dental check-ups, treatment, and optical expenses. It operates more like a cashback plan for a portion of your costs.
How to Tailor Your Aviva Policy and Manage Costs
One of the biggest concerns for anyone looking at private medical insurance in the UK is the cost. The good news is that Aviva provides several powerful levers you can pull to make your policy more affordable without gutting the essential cover.
A specialist PMI broker like WeCovr can walk you through these options to find the perfect balance for your budget.
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Choose Your Excess:
- What it is: An excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim in each policy year. For example, if you have a £250 excess and your first claim for treatment costs £3,000, you would pay the first £250, and Aviva would pay the remaining £2,750.
- How it saves money: The higher your excess, the lower your monthly premium. Aviva offers a range of excess options, typically from £100 up to £1,000 or more. Choosing a higher excess is a direct way to reduce your fixed costs.
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The "6-Week Option":
- What it is: This is one of the most effective cost-saving features available. If you add the 6-week option, you agree to use the NHS for any in-patient or day-patient procedure if the NHS waiting list for that treatment is less than six weeks.
- How it works: If your specialist recommends surgery and the NHS can do it within six weeks, you'll have it on the NHS. If the wait is longer than six weeks, your Aviva policy kicks in immediately, and you can have the treatment privately.
- How it saves money: Because this option means you might use the NHS for some treatments, it significantly reduces the risk for the insurer, and they pass those savings on to you in the form of a much lower premium. It’s a pragmatic compromise for many.
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Select Your Hospital List:
- Aviva, like most insurers, has a network of partner hospitals. You can choose which level of hospital access you want, which directly impacts your premium.
- Key Hospital List: A curated list of quality private hospitals across the UK. This is the most affordable option.
- Signature Hospital List: A more extensive list, which may include more options in central London.
- Extended Hospital List: Adds premium private hospitals, often concentrated in Central London (e.g., The Lister, The London Clinic). This is the most expensive option.
- For most people outside of central London, the Key list provides excellent coverage.
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Protected No Claims Discount (NCD):
- Aviva policies feature an NCD scale. For every year you don't claim, you move up the scale and your premium reduces at renewal (up to a maximum discount). If you claim, you typically move down two steps. You can choose to pay a little extra to protect your NCD, so that your first claim in a year doesn't affect your discount level.
Beyond the Core Cover: Aviva's Value-Added Benefits
In 2025, the best PMI providers offer more than just paying for treatment when you're ill. They provide tools to help you stay healthy. Aviva's Aviva DigiCare+ app is a standout feature included with their policies.
This suite of digital services provides incredible value at no extra cost:
- 24/7 Digital GP: Get a video consultation with a GP anytime, from anywhere. This is perfect for getting quick advice, prescriptions, or referrals without waiting for an appointment at your local surgery.
- Mental Health Support: Access to qualified therapists for consultations on stress, anxiety, and other concerns. It's a proactive way to manage your mental wellbeing.
- Second Medical Opinion: If you're diagnosed with a serious condition, you can get a second opinion from a world-leading expert to ensure your diagnosis and treatment plan are correct. This offers invaluable peace of mind.
- Annual Health Check: A yearly preventative check-up via a simple home blood test kit. It checks key health markers like your cholesterol levels and diabetes risk, helping you catch potential issues early.
These benefits encourage a healthier lifestyle. An annual health check can motivate you to improve your diet, while easy access to a GP can mean you address health niggles before they become major problems. A balanced diet, regular physical activity (aiming for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week), and sufficient sleep (7-9 hours for most adults) are the cornerstones of good health, and tools like Aviva DigiCare+ support that journey.
Aviva vs The Competition: A 2025 UK Market Comparison
No insurer exists in a vacuum. To truly assess Aviva, we must see how it stacks up against the other major players in the UK private medical insurance market.
Here is a high-level comparison of Aviva, Bupa, AXA Health, and Vitality.
Feature | Aviva | Bupa | AXA Health | Vitality |
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Key Selling Point | Strong, trusted brand. Comprehensive cancer cover and great digital tools. | Huge global network. Often a direct-to-consumer focus. | Excellent mental health pathways and customer service reputation. | Unique wellness programme that rewards healthy living. |
Core Cancer Cover | Comprehensive. Covers latest licensed drugs and therapies. | Comprehensive. Options for NHS Cancer Cover Plus to reduce cost. | Full cancer cover as standard, with strong support services. | Full cover, with options for advanced cancer screening. |
Unique Feature | Aviva DigiCare+: Free digital GP, health checks, and second opinions. | Direct Access: For some conditions (e.g., cancer, mental health), you can call Bupa directly without a GP referral. | Strong as one: Combines mental and physical health support seamlessly. | Vitality Programme: Earn points and get rewards (e.g., free coffee, cinema tickets, Apple Watch) for being active. |
Best For... | Those seeking a reliable, all-round policy from a household name with excellent digital support. | Individuals who value a huge global brand and want the option of direct access services. | Customers prioritising strong mental health support and excellent service. | Active individuals and families who will engage with the wellness programme to lower costs and earn rewards. |
A Quick Word on the Competitors
- Bupa: A giant in healthcare provision as well as insurance. Bupa's key strength is its brand recognition and its direct access pathways, which can speed up the claims process.
- AXA Health: Often praised for its customer service and its forward-thinking approach to mental health, integrating it closely with physical health cover.
- Vitality: The disruptor in the market. Its model is fundamentally different, actively incentivising you to be healthy. If you are a marathon runner or a regular gym-goer, the rewards can be substantial, effectively reducing the net cost of your insurance.
Choosing between them depends entirely on your priorities. Do you want the solid, dependable all-rounder (Aviva), the integrated healthcare provider (Bupa), the mental health specialist (AXA), or the interactive wellness partner (Vitality)?
This is where an independent PMI broker is invaluable. At WeCovr, we provide impartial advice across the whole market, helping you compare these nuanced differences to find the policy that is genuinely the best fit for you.
Why Use a Specialist Broker like WeCovr?
You can go directly to an insurer like Aviva, but you will only hear about their products. Using a specialist, FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr offers several key advantages, at no extra cost to you.
- Whole-of-Market View: We compare policies and prices from Aviva, Bupa, AXA, Vitality, and other leading UK insurers. This ensures you see the full picture and don't miss out on a better or more affordable option.
- Expert Guidance: We live and breathe private medical insurance. We understand the jargon, the policy loopholes, and the cost-saving options. We can explain the difference between moratorium and full medical underwriting in plain English.
- It's Free: Our service is completely free for you to use. We are paid a commission by the insurer you choose, which is already built into the price of the policy, so you don't pay a penny more for our expert advice.
- High Customer Satisfaction: Our clients consistently rate our service highly because we focus on finding the right solution for them, not just selling a policy.
- Exclusive WeCovr Benefits: When you arrange your PMI through us, you get more. All our clients receive complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. Furthermore, if you take out a PMI or Life Insurance policy with us, you'll be eligible for exclusive discounts on other insurance products you might need, like home or travel cover.
Does Aviva private medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No, like all standard UK private medical insurance policies, Aviva's Healthier Solutions is designed to cover new, acute medical conditions that arise *after* your policy starts. It does not cover pre-existing conditions (any illness or injury you had before joining) or the long-term management of chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma. When you apply, you will choose an underwriting method, typically 'moratorium' (where conditions from the last 5 years are excluded for an initial 2-year period) or 'full medical underwriting' (where you declare your medical history upfront).
What is the Aviva 6-week option and is it a good idea?
The 6-week option is a popular cost-saving feature. If you include it on your Aviva policy, you agree to use the NHS for in-patient or day-patient treatment if the NHS can provide it within six weeks of you being placed on a waiting list. If the wait is longer than six weeks, your Aviva cover kicks in for private treatment. It is a very effective way to significantly reduce your monthly premiums while still ensuring you have prompt access to private care when NHS waiting times are long. For many, it's an excellent, pragmatic compromise.
How much does Aviva private health insurance cost in 2025?
The cost of an Aviva policy is highly personal and varies widely based on several factors: your age, your location (premiums are often higher in London and major cities), the level of cover you choose (especially outpatient limits), your chosen excess, and which hospital list you select. A basic policy for a young, healthy individual might start from around £40 per month, while comprehensive cover for an older person or a family could be £150 per month or more. The only way to get an accurate figure is to get a personalised quote, which a broker like WeCovr can provide from Aviva and other top insurers for free.
Is mental health well covered by Aviva?
Yes, mental health is a strong point for Aviva. Their core Healthier Solutions policy includes a good level of cover for in-patient mental health treatment. Crucially, you can also choose to add an optional upgrade for more extensive outpatient mental health cover, including access to psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists. Furthermore, the included Aviva DigiCare+ app provides proactive mental health support services, making it a comprehensive offering for those who value mental as well as physical wellbeing.
Ready to explore your private medical insurance options?
The expert team at WeCovr is here to help. We provide free, no-obligation quotes from Aviva and other leading UK insurers, ensuring you find the perfect cover for your needs and budget. Our advice is impartial, our service is free, and our goal is your peace of mind.
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