What is private health insurance?

Private health insurance is a policy that covers the cost of private medical treatment for acute conditions. It gives you faster access to specialists, diagnostic tests, and surgery without relying on NHS waiting lists.

How much does private health insurance cost in the UK?

Premiums typically range from £50 to £150 per month for an individual, depending on your age, medical history, level of cover, and chosen excess. Family policies cost more but often offer better value than insuring each person separately.

Does private health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Most standard policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Some providers offer moratorium-based underwriting where pre-existing conditions may become covered after a period without symptoms or treatment, typically two years.

Can I use private health insurance alongside the NHS?

Yes. Many policyholders use the NHS for routine care and their private cover for specialist referrals, elective surgery, or when NHS waiting times are long. Some policies include a six-week NHS wait option to reduce premiums.

What is the difference between an excess and a co-payment?

An excess is a fixed amount you pay towards each claim or policy year before your insurer pays. A co-payment means you pay a percentage of every claim. Both reduce your premium but increase your out-of-pocket costs when you claim.

How do I compare private health insurance plans effectively?

Compare policies based on the level of cover, the hospital and consultant network, exclusions, excess amounts, and annual claim limits. Getting quotes from multiple providers ensures you find the best value for your needs.

Aviva Health Insurance Review 2026 | Modular Cover & Pricing

Aviva at a Glance

Trustpilot Rating	4.0/5
Individual Plans From	£38/month
Hospital Network	Large
Cancer Cover	£1m+ annual limit
Mental Health	Included (stress counselling standard)
24/7 GP	Yes
Best For	Flexible, modular policies on a budget

About Aviva

Aviva is one of the UK's largest insurers, offering health insurance alongside life, home, motor, and pension products. Their health insurance stands out for its modular approach — rather than choosing from fixed tiers, you build your own policy by selecting individual components. This gives you precise control over both cover and cost.

The Modular Policy Builder

Aviva's key differentiator. You start with a core inpatient plan and add modules:

Core (inpatient) — the base. Covers hospital admissions, surgery, day-patient procedures.
+ Outpatient module — adds specialist consultations, diagnostic tests (MRI, CT, blood tests).
+ Therapies module — physiotherapy, osteopathy, counselling, acupuncture.
+ Dental & optical module — routine dental check-ups, optical tests, prescriptions.
+ Worldwide module — emergency medical cover while travelling.

Each module adds a specific amount to your monthly premium, so you can see exactly what each element costs. This transparency is unusual in the health insurance market and helps you make informed trade-offs.

Aviva Pricing

Aviva's modular approach makes them one of the most affordable entry points for private health insurance. Typical monthly costs for a 35-year-old with £100 excess:

Core (inpatient only): £38–£48/month
Core + outpatient: £58–£72/month
Core + outpatient + therapies: £70–£88/month
Full comprehensive: £95–£115/month

Aviva also offers the widest range of excess options in the market, from £0 up to £5,000. A £5,000 excess creates an ultra-low premium “catastrophe only” policy for those who only want cover for very expensive treatments.

Stress Counselling

An often-overlooked benefit: Aviva includes stress counselling as standard on most configurations. This covers a set number of counselling sessions per year without needing to add the full therapies module — a valuable inclusion for anyone dealing with work stress, anxiety, or life changes.

Who Should Choose Aviva?

Choose Aviva if:

You want precise control over your policy and premium
Budget matters — the modular approach lets you start cheap and add cover later
You want to see exactly what each cover element costs
A very high excess / catastrophe-only policy appeals to you

Look elsewhere if:

You want a simple, fixed-tier policy without decisions — Bupa or AXA are more straightforward
You want the highest customer service ratings — The Exeter and WPA score higher
Unlimited cancer cover is essential — Aviva caps at £1m+ (generous, but not unlimited like Bupa or Vitality)

Aviva Health Insurance Review