Bupa vs Aviva: side by side (July 2026)
| Bupa | Aviva | |
|---|---|---|
| Published example price | £44.89/mo avg, non-smoker 30–50 (May 2026) | Under £48/mo avg, customers 35–50 (Jan–Mar 2026) |
| Moratorium | 5-yr / 2-yr | 5-yr / 2-yr |
| Excess options | £100–£2,000 | £100–£5,000 |
| Mental health | Outpatient within allowance; inpatient 28 days standard | £2,000 outpatient standard; inpatient 28 days via upgrade |
| Cancer | Full cancer cover (standard option) | Full cancer cover standard — chronic exclusion doesn't apply to cancer |
| No-claims discount | Exists; scale not published | Published: 15 levels, max 75%; ≤£250 claims don't count |
| Hospital options | 3 lists (Essential Access → Central London) | Expert Select guided (25-mile choice) or Key list (~800 hospitals) / Extended / Trust |
| Family offer | Family+: pay for 1 child, rest free + 10% off | Add 2+ children ≤19, pay only for the oldest |
| Digital GP | Blua (6am–10pm weekdays) | 24/7 Digital GP app + free repeat NHS prescription delivery |
Verified against both providers' own published documents, July 2026.
Which should you choose?
Choose Aviva for the strongest standard cover (cancer + mental health without add-ons), transparent NCD, and bigger excess options to cut premiums. Choose Bupa for Direct Access, dental included, physical Bupa health centres, and no upper age limit. Families should price both offers — the child deals differ in shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aviva includes £2,000 of outpatient mental health treatment as standard. Bupa covers outpatient mental health within your chosen outpatient allowance but includes inpatient treatment (28 days/yr) as standard, and its Direct Access line needs no GP referral. Heavy outpatient users: Aviva; inpatient certainty: Bupa (verified July 2026).
Their published examples sit close: Bupa £44.89/month (non-smoker 30–50 average, May 2026) vs Aviva under £48/month (35–50 customer average, Jan–Mar 2026) — but Aviva's first-year discounts (up to 10% existing-customer + up to 15% My Healthy) can move it below Bupa for eligible buyers. Get both quotes.