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

Bargain_Rzl

Yes, you keep your status.

Example - me: will be Platinum by next month and expect to have about 2,300 points when my policy renews at the end of September. As I'm going into my second policy year, I will start the year with 10% of my points carried over (230 points, so if I was a new customer with that many points I'd be Bronze) but because I have reached Platinum as at the policy anniversary, I will (a) get 100% of this year's premium off next year's premium, and (b) remain Platinum status until September 2009.

If you're on Gold when your policy renews, you'll get 75% of this year's premiums off next year's premiums, and will qualify for a year's worth of Gold-level discounts/gym rates. If you reach Platinum in your next policy year, your discounts will - as I understand it - increase to Platinum level from that point onwards, and obviously be carried forward to the year after that.

SmileY_4

hey everyone.

could someone list what changes they are making?

Myself and my partner have PruHealth insurance but as of yet not registered with a gym (it will be a cannons in Surbiton and therefore outside london?) - I was in fact thinking of doing this in the next week or so!

What difference would it make if I were to go ahead and join the gym to postponing it until the new amendments come into place?

smileyfatchops

Hi,
I had planned to cancel my current Gym (David Lloyd) subscription, ( £63 PM) and sign on for the Pru health deal earlier in the year. Unfortunatly I broke my Kneecap in April and have had my current membership on suspension and therefore couldn't give notice (3months) and start the Pru deal. My question is this. Is it still worth me signing up with the Pru Deal in the light of current info. now or waiting for October? I still can't currently drive but hoping that will change in next 4-6 weeks. If I give in my current gym 3 months notice I will be free by end of November, If I wish to rejoin I will face a £200 rejoining fee i think.
Any suggestions or info welcome,


Many thanks,
SFC

ndmelgin75

Hi everyone

I've recently signed up to the forums in light of the changes PRU Health are making. I recently joined, iterally just before they announced they would be altering the policy in November.

Having spoken to two or three different people it seems that unfortunately there is little chance of my reaching gold status by November. In fact i'll be breaking my back to get to Silver. Given that my health policy is £50, and that im in central London (using a Virgin Activ) I was told my gym membership on silver would be £45, and then reduced to £30 on Gold. The actual gym membership is £80.

I can see how it will be beneficial for existing policy holders (coming towards the end of their first year) but what im finding slightly disturbing is the way that on the Pru Health website they are updating the website, which will in effect wipe off your diet plans/stress tests etc etc.

Its almost as if they've rushed this through, not really planned it well, nor actually thought about it. Which leads me to wonder whether the current deal was just too much of a good thing and they lost money.

What further irritated me was that a week ago i was in an accident that required my going to see a chiropracter (referred by my GP) - my policy had been live for 3 weeks so i was gutted. however when trying to make a claim or enquire about making the claim i was fed a diatribe of "if you claim now you will lose your premiums etc etc" as well as being made to jump through hoops which by the end of i just went to see the chiropracter and paid up front. All in all im cancelling the policy as i dont feel i stand to get as much out of it than if i went ahead and joined the gym.

camaj

As mentioned earlier, it's possible to get to platinum before november if you join today but it's a lot of effort. Gold should be a little easier. The only difference is if you wait until november to join you won't reach platinum for a while, and you probably won't feel like going hell for leather. I guess it depends on how important it is to you to get up to speed.

m277 wrote: »

https://insurance.pruhealth.co.uk/uk/prudential/download/acrobat/Vitality_table.pdf

Have a scan down the "Max Activity Frequency" column

I'm really sorry, I saw that last night (I was looking for something else) and also noticed that there was no limit on fitbug. So I edited my post to reflect those two things and what do you know, it's not there now!

One thing that I looked into before, and partially dismissed, is the "events", you can get 50 or 100 per sporting event you partake in via activeeurope.com. Your limited to 10 per year so you could earn 500-1000 just from 10 days of sport.

They tell you what events are eligable, basically endurance events (half marathons, cross-country bike rides) are worth 100 points and anything less is 50. I can't see any long distance runs but there are quite a few long-distance bike rides, sadly I don't have a bike. It costs £10 to register to active europe, and each event has its own cost. I saw 3km runs for £3, bike rides for £30 (including transport home)

wickedgp26

Actually you can read 3 articles per month and earn 10 points each, the maximum per month is 3 and for the year is 200 if you an individual or 400 for a family policy.

Doing the Stress management course and completing the first assessment as well as the feedback list of triggers gives you 50 points.

Doing the online Nutrition programme which is completing steps 1-5 and creating a meal plan earns you 50 points

If you a none smoker- do the nons smokers declaration online and earn 150 points

Complete a Personal Health review and earn 100 points.

If you female and had a pap smear in your current policy year submit the details through under screening points or call them to inform them and get 150 points

Bargain_Rzl

One more thing: even for new customers, who have no chance of making Platinum in time, it should still be a worthwhile deal if are certain you're still going to be going to the gym in years to come.

PruHealth has always been more expensive to begin with, what with the £25 admin fee for setting up the gym membership, and higher gym fees during the initial 3-month "usage assessment period" (which presumably will expire when the new terms come in). Under the current (old) terms, you're paying through the nose for the first three months, then you start to benefit from the maximum discount on the gym membership (assuming you're going twice a week), then the real bonus comes a year into the policy if you've reached Platinum because your premiums go down.

So under the new terms it's just a case of the initial setup costs being a bit higher and lasting a bit longer (however long it takes you to get to Platinum, rather than a flat 3 months). As soon as you reach Platinum your costs will drop and all you have to do is maintain that status. If the initial costs work out really high for you, i.e. higher than just joining the gym direct, it should STILL be worth your while in the long run once you've hit Platinum and your ongoing costs drop. Of course it's your judgement call as to whether you're going to lose interest in the gym after only a few months, before the investment has become worthwhile.

Of course as a new customer you may now feel that you can't trust PruHealth not to move the goalposts again, but do try costing it up according to the model I've described above. If you're a long-term gym-goer and you can afford the extra hit for a few months until you hit Platinum, I am almost sure it'll be worth your while eventually.

The only direct, inescapably negative change is the rise from £0 to £8 for the lowest possible monthly fee at some gyms.

cheeky

I have started the stress and nutritional plans.... but stupid question, i cant see the "self help" articles anywhere!!?? Need to crack on if we are to make platinum!!!

Gambit

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

The only direct, inescapably negative change is the rise from £0 to £8 for the lowest possible monthly fee at some gyms.

That's the most annoying thing I find about the new changes. Even if I do get to Platinum status I will still be paying the extra £8 for living in London!

Gambit

cheeky wrote: »

I have started the stress and nutritional plans.... but stupid question, i cant see the "self help" articles anywhere!!?? Need to crack on if we are to make platinum!!!

Yeah, I had trouble finding that yesterday too!
Go to the 'Nutrition Centre' and then click on the 'Facts of Food' on the right hand side. That will take you to the various articles... hope that helps!