Aviva Medios Healthcare - are we being treated fairly?

coachman12

This whole too long thread just reinforces my view that I have been correct in being insured by a mutual, non-profit-making Friendly Society for many years. I am extremely happy with The EXETER, an excellent Friendly Society with 100,000 members, recognised by all major private consultants and hospitals and second to none for service, caring and paying out without fuss ------ and I have a policy which is fully comprehensive, full costs from ingrowing toenails to the worst imaginable.
My only bad experience with Friendly Society Healthcare Insurers has been with a terrible company called CSHEALTHCARE which is far from friendly, ruled by an elite who do not believe in mutuality and is therefore lurching from one crisis to another and always has falling membership------CSHealthcare is an insurer to avoid at all costs, as it is bound to go out of existence soon ( thank goodness).
Sorry for going off topic a bit------but my own experience might help others to avoid the sort of rotten behaviour of Aviva ; what they have done should never have been allowed. 

Just2019

I agree with your general analysis of the FOS but disappointed at the lack of consideration for subscribers who are trapped in the policy, and with Aviva, due to pre-existing conditions or age.  Not that anything turns on it, but the Medios contract (with all is amazing and unique features) was brought to the UK in 1991 by David Potter and marketed as OHRA.  At that point, whilst it retained its lifetime Loyalty Guarantee, it had to become annually renewable (not re-viewable) in line with UK products.  It remained  underwritten by Ziektekostenverzekeringen N.V, who subsequently designed two further products for the UK market.  I won't bore you with the chain of events leading to them releasing control to CGNU (who later changed their name to Aviva) in 2000 when it was underwritten by Norwich Union but retaining the same terms. The product was not then or ever, discontinued, in fact, for some time, NU retained the OHRA admin team to administer the products as no one at NU at the knowledge.  From the first anniversary NU began to slowly incorporate their own terms and underwriting into the three OHRA products - starting with the hospital list.  From there, it was all downhill.  AMII did try to intervene but the FSA (as it was at the time) and FOS refuse to intervene in commercial decisions.  I have corresponded with Aviva who tell me there are leavers but few complainers.  I was unable to find sufficient people willing to make a formal complaint.   I had no idea this forum existed or I would have approached with a proposition for litigation but I fear it is now too late as those able to switch will have done so and moved on.  My concern is, and continues to be for those, not in claim but paying exorbitant premiums from fixed incomes and sorry there is no one willing or able to assist.   I agree it would cost thousands to litigate but not millions - even if it went to appeal.  Have a lovely day and stay safe.