Pruhealth scrapping its free/discounted gym loophole in November. Discussion

QQuaver

dottigirl wrote: »

Thank you for all the tips picked up above.

Does anyone know if it's worth joining now at all? Or would it be a waste of time/money? I'd be a very frequent user from now on.

I gave them a call but it looks like it'd be cheaper to join my local (luxurious) gym at £58pm than Pru!

(I live near Cannon's Richmond.)

(I tried to join back in February but they sent me an additional medical questionnaire which I didn't chase up. Have been trying to do stuff independently but it always fizzles out whereas I know gyms work for me for the long term.)

Perhaps the cheapest way would be to join Pru now without the gym, and join the gym after you reach Platinum. You need to do your sums. If you are going to join a gym anyway, then in the long run, it might be worth joining the Pru Gym. It takes 6 month to get to Platinum;)

Cannons Richmond, isn't that within M25? It's not free after Nov 1st.

dottigirl

QQuaver wrote: »

Perhaps the cheapest way would be to join Pru now without the gym, and join the gym after you reach Platinum. You need to do your sums. If you are going to join a gym anyway, then in the long run, it might be worth joining the Pru Gym. It takes 6 month to get to Platinum;)

Cannons Richmond, isn't that within M25? It's not free after Nov 1st.

I've got several health concerns so I'll probably never be able to claim anyway, besides I have Benenden through work. Not that I can ever claim through that either.:(

I think it's £8 for Platinum & £22-50 for the rest. WOuld be an expensive couple of months.

Thanks.

Bargain_Rzl

Hurrah, I hit Platinum today! Well, in fact I did so a week ago, but it took them a while to process it and allocate the points.

I can now vouch for the fact that Fitness Assessments are included in the 1,500-point Exercise category limit, as the day I had my Fitness Assessment the actual act of swiping in to the gym turnstile took me up to 1,500 points in the category so I didn't gain any points at all for the Fitness Assessment itself. Gained points for improving blood pressure, though (I wasn't expecting that - I thought I'd just maintained the same level for 50 points rather than improved for 100) so tipped into Platinum without needing to make any more effort in other areas.

Because I have hit the limit, my gym visits are now clocking up 0 points each, too - I'm going to be so glad when the new rules come in and I no longer have to clock up 26 visits a quarter, because July/August is my busiest time of the year and I wish I could opt to go more sporadically!

A word of advice, reiterating a point which somebody has already mentioned earlier in this thread: when you have a Fitness Assessment, always request a photocopy of the completed form. PruHealth claimed not to have received the fax copy the gym sent them, but when I put a covering note on the photocopy and faxed it through myself, it was processed within 24 hours.

harbinger13

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Hurrah, I hit Platinum today! Well, in fact I did so a week ago, but it took them a while to process it and allocate the points.

I can now vouch for the fact that Fitness Assessments are included in the 1,500-point Exercise category limit, as the day I had my Fitness Assessment the actual act of swiping in to the gym turnstile took me up to 1,500 points in the category so I didn't gain any points at all for the Fitness Assessment itself. Gained points for improving blood pressure, though (I wasn't expecting that - I thought I'd just maintained the same level for 50 points rather than improved for 100) so tipped into Platinum without needing to make any more effort in other areas.

Because I have hit the limit, my gym visits are now clocking up 0 points each, too - I'm going to be so glad when the new rules come in and I no longer have to clock up 26 visits a quarter, because July/August is my busiest time of the year and I wish I could opt to go more sporadically!

A word of advice, reiterating a point which somebody has already mentioned earlier in this thread: when you have a Fitness Assessment, always request a photocopy of the completed form. PruHealth claimed not to have received the fax copy the gym sent them, but when I put a covering note on the photocopy and faxed it through myself, it was processed within 24 hours.

Good job on hitting Plats :T

aliharris

Hey people,

I came home from university in May, and after looking around for a cheap student deal at a gym, I came across this scheme. I got my health insurance quote (£20.13/month) and was told that as long as I went to the gym more than twice each week, my membership would be free. This sounded great, Cannons is at the end of my road, and as I row for a few clubs, I would be going to the gym 5-6 times each week. I got off to a slow start due to a couple of holidays abroad, but apart from that I have attended the gym at least 4 times a week. On days I don’t go to the gym/pool, I run 8-10 kilometers to keep fit, with one day rest a week.

My problem is this: I am currently on 790 points having, to the best of my knowledge, completed every aspect of the vitality scheme to get as many points as possible. Unless I am on platinum status by November, I will have no choice but to cancel my policy. I have created a healthy meal plan, confirmed that I’ve never smoked, been working out, done my first fitness assessment, read self help articles (many of which apply to children, women (menopause), the obese, or are generally common sense based, so seem to be somewhat pointless) done a personal health review, and activated online. I have also invested in a fitbug, which arrived a couple of days ago. Just looked on one of the many pru sites (confusion!) and found this:

Can I earn points for the gym and Fitbug at the same time?

“No. As both Fitbug and gym membership form part of the exercise category, you can only earn up to the maximum category limits – which is up to 10 Vitality points a day, 150 a month and 1500 a year.”

So buying a fitbug has been a waste of money. :mad: Is it possible for me to reach platinum status by Nov 1st? Does anyone know of any plan in place to ensure that recently joined members are not penalised for joining more recently than members who have had months to build up points? I can appreciate that these changes have to take place, but even though I am probably in a far better state of health and fitness than the majority on this plan, I am being penalised for joining only a couple of months ago, and although the gym will still be cheap on platinum status, I feel I have little chance of getting there, and being a student (on placement for a year, hence the membership) money is too tight to be throwing it away because pru have moved he goalposts.
Sorry this is rather long-winded, but the website simply does not answer every question.

Cheers, Ali

brownbabygirl

aliharris wrote: »

Hey people,

I came home from university in May, and after looking around for a cheap student deal at a gym, I came across this scheme. I got my health insurance quote (£20.13/month) and was told that as long as I went to the gym more than twice each week, my membership would be free. This sounded great, Cannons is at the end of my road, and as I row for a few clubs, I would be going to the gym 5-6 times each week. I got off to a slow start due to a couple of holidays abroad, but apart from that I have attended the gym at least 4 times a week. On days I don’t go to the gym/pool, I run 8-10 kilometers to keep fit, with one day rest a week.

My problem is this: I am currently on 790 points having, to the best of my knowledge, completed every aspect of the vitality scheme to get as many points as possible. Unless I am on platinum status by November, I will have no choice but to cancel my policy. I have created a healthy meal plan, confirmed that I’ve never smoked, been working out, done my first fitness assessment, read self help articles (many of which apply to children, women (menopause), the obese, or are generally common sense based, so seem to be somewhat pointless) done a personal health review, and activated online. I have also invested in a fitbug, which arrived a couple of days ago. Just looked on one of the many pru sites (confusion!) and found this:

Can I earn points for the gym and Fitbug at the same time?

“No. As both Fitbug and gym membership form part of the exercise category, you can only earn up to the maximum category limits – which is up to 10 Vitality points a day, 150 a month and 1500 a year.”

So buying a fitbug has been a waste of money. :mad: Is it possible for me to reach platinum status by Nov 1st? Does anyone know of any plan in place to ensure that recently joined members are not penalised for joining more recently than members who have had months to build up points? I can appreciate that these changes have to take place, but even though I am probably in a far better state of health and fitness than the majority on this plan, I am being penalised for joining only a couple of months ago, and although the gym will still be cheap on platinum status, I feel I have little chance of getting there, and being a student (on placement for a year, hence the membership) money is too tight to be throwing it away because pru have moved he goalposts.
Sorry this is rather long-winded, but the website simply does not answer every question.

Cheers, Ali

I have calculated that you will probably only be able to hit platinum in December or January (I am assuming your second fitness test is due end of the year). I would cancel the gym membership for now (you can since they changed the terms and conditions) and use the fitbug to build up points since you are active outside the gym anyway. THEN join the gym once you hit platinum and you can go for free (given that your gym is not within M25).

aliharris

Hey, thanks for the reply!

I don't really want to cancel, as I need the rowing machines and weights, so I need some kind of gym facility. Also, if I was to cancel, I wouldn't want to carry on with the health insurance, as I am covered by bupa through my dads work, my pru plan's sole purpose was to get the gym for free.

I can't re-join in Jan/Feb, as I'm back at uni next September, so If I get into a 12 month contract, I have to do it now and no later, so that I can transfer it to Plymouth (where i'm at uni) or cancel it once the contract is up.

I'm gutted this isn't going to work out for me, it's frustrating that it's literally just the fact that I joined so close to the contract change that has meant it can't work, argh!

Any more ideas? Thanks in advance

I think I may end up cancelling and joining cannons without anything to do with pru if it's cheaper, however the pru way may end up cheaper in the long run.. argh! confusion!

Ali

alitarbegshe

aliharris wrote: »

Hey, thanks for the reply!

I don't really want to cancel, as I need the rowing machines and weights, so I need some kind of gym facility. Also, if I was to cancel, I wouldn't want to carry on with the health insurance, as I am covered by bupa through my dads work, my pru plan's sole purpose was to get the gym for free.

I can't re-join in Jan/Feb, as I'm back at uni next September, so If I get into a 12 month contract, I have to do it now and no later, so that I can transfer it to Plymouth (where i'm at uni) or cancel it once the contract is up.

I'm gutted this isn't going to work out for me, it's frustrating that it's literally just the fact that I joined so close to the contract change that has meant it can't work, argh!

Any more ideas? Thanks in advance

I think I may end up cancelling and joining cannons without anything to do with pru if it's cheaper, however the pru way may end up cheaper in the long run.. argh! confusion!

Ali

You look in exactly the same situation to me. I joined at end of may, and need to be in gym for trainig, going 4 times a week.

As mentioned before, the best status you can get for November is Gold with the earliest you would go on platinum would be for jan.

So for the period of Nov and dec, you'd be paying approx £34 per month for gym and insurance. I reckon that would still be cheaper then joining Canon upfront.

From Jan onwards your payments would be £20 pounds per month in total.

But the best is from may next year accounting for inflation and no claimsdiscount, it'll be roughly £2 per month from may 2009 to may 2010 without you having to do anything else!

So the actual added cost to you personally will be £28 more than if you went platinum in Nov, but if you look at it over 2 years still a good deal and still way better then joining upfront.

Shame you spent the money on fitbug. Try shifting it on ebay and I reckon you'll get that money back.

Hope this helps.

edit: Figures changed due to me realising your moving to plymouth in Nov, but that works out even better!!

brownbabygirl

alitarbegshe wrote: »

You look in exactly the same situation to me. I joined at end of may, and need to be in gym for trainig, going 4 times a week.

As mentioned before, the best status you can get for November is Gold with the earliest you would go on platinum would be for jan.

So for the period of Nov and dec, you'd be paying approx £44 per month for gym and insurance. I reckon that would still be cheaper then joining Canon upfront.

From Jan onwards your payments would be 28 pounds per month in total.

But the best is from may next year accounting for inflation and no claimsdiscount, it'll be roughly £10 from jan 2009 to may 2010 without you having to do anything else!

So the actual added cost to you personally will be £28 more than if you went platinum in Nov, but if you look at it over 2 years still a good deal and still way better then joining upfront.

Shame you spent the money on fitbug. Try shifting it on ebay and I reckon you'll get that money back.

Hope this helps.

Excellent post. And of you applied via Quidco the cashback makes up for the extra cost. My £80 just got validated.:j

aliharris

Hey, thanks for your reply _party_

How do you suggest I get to gold by Nov? This is where I am so far..

Activity Total points to date.
[SIZE=+0]Created a healthy meal plan 50[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Confirmed that I’ve never smoked 150[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Worked out 110 (40 owed)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]First fitness assessment 300[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Self help articles 30 [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Personal health review 100[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Activated online. 50[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0] TOTAL: 790 (830)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0][/SIZE]
I think I can only max the gym and read a few more self helps before the new system comes in, therefore making me short of the points for gold.

Money that's left my bank account so far has been:

Date Healthcare / Gym
12/6 £20.13 & £25.00
1/7 £20.13 & £25.00
1/8 £20.13 & £25.00

Thats about £135 in total, £9/gym sesh.. pretty steep - another reason I don't really want to cancel, It will work out cheaper in the long-run. Will I have any more lots of £25 to come out? It was for the first 3 months only wasn't it? Or does the gym now cost £25/month until Nov, regardless of how often you go? If I do stick with it (which may be the sensible solution in the long run) I'd want to move clubs for 9 months, does anyone know if this is possible/has done it before? Alternatively, could I suspend membership and just join the uni gym (£60/year, haha) for the time i'm away?

Sorry to be a pain and keep asking questions, tell me to shut up when you've all had enough and i'll stop!

Cheers,

Alistair

[SIZE=+0][/SIZE]