PruHealth Childbirth benefit

nickmack

PruHealth customer service can be confusing at the best of times. However, I think they've outdone themselves this time.

Two years ago I received the Childbirth cash benefit of £100, I also got the full vitality cashback at the end of the policy year for having made no claims.

Now, I'm enquiring about the Childbirth cash benefit and have been told conflicting information about whether this is as a claim.

I called in an attempt to clarify and was at first told it was not a claim and then after further discussion that it was.

I'd already looked through my policy documents and it makes no mention of this being counted as a claim.

They told me they could send a letter confirming it was counted as a claim, but I told them it was my policy terms I was interested in unless they were informing me of a change to terms.

They said they hadn't made a change and couldn't explain why it wasn't counted as a claim when I received the payment before.

If this is the case, it's completely pointless getting the childbirth benefit as you will lose at least that amount from the vitality cashback.

Has anyone else got the childbirth benefit and did this affect vitality cashback?

Can anyone see anything about this being counted as a claim on their PruHealth policy documents?

CloudNine

It certainly is counted as a claim and yes they will count it against your vitality award. Had a stern conversation with a Pruhealth 'Relationship manager' today about it...and still annoyed about it.

We claimed the £100 thinking it was a benefit (well you would as that what the documentation says it is) But have since found out that when we reach Platinum next month the reward we will get will be £400 instead of £700 due to the Child birth benefit been taken. This means It's cost us £200. They won't let us pay it back....can't change a claim and they won't take it from our Personal health fund. It has to go against a claim and therefore reduces our Vitality payment.

Personally I find disgusting that a company can promote a benefit like this and not display anywhere in it's literature that it will actually cost you £200. Even after making several calls to ask about it, no one, absolutley no one said it would affect our vitality.

Moving away from Pruhealth and taking all my employee's health schemes to another provider. Say it with your feet.