Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

west12_2

hi guys,

as an exisiting member of pruhealth i recently went to the Diagnostic Clinic in London for a health screen rather than going with Road to Health (as I think many members do). (A health screen is worth 200 vitality points, plus an extra 50 if you set a vitality point goal on the member zone).

I have to say the basic screen was EXCELLENT and i think brilliant value for money. Road to Health is a flat fee of £25 for all PruHealth members (it's £59.95 to the public) but what you pay for the Diagnostic Clinic depends on Vitality status (Bronze £50 Silver £30 Gold £15 I think) BUT the appointment is sold to the public for £150 so it's a MUCH better deal (eg. as I'm on Silver already the appointment cost me £30 - only £5 more than RoadtoHealth - for a service that I think from the website is significantly better).

The health check was extremely thorough and really interesting - a hearing test (I thought I'd knackered my hearing from loud music, but no!), a 'proper' fat % using a professional machine and electrodes, resting pulse, estimated lung capacity, urine test, as well as stuff the RoadtoHealth one does like weight, height and BMI. However you get an excellent booklet of all your results and recommendations (from a massive survey you fill in beforehand) posted to you after - it's all written by a doctor making it excellent value for money.

I would rate the Diagnostic Clinic REALLY highly and 'll definitely be going back for the 'full screen' (public - £400; platinum members - £25) in the future. I'd highly reccomend it to any PruHealth members in London as a really interesting thing to do, also a great way for 250 vitality points!

bachgammon

Sounds interesting, West12. Platinum is coming up soon so I shall be checking it out!

kylonian

I am just considering joining pru to get the cheap membership, it seems like a really good deal!. Only got two questions:

1. Do the points have an expiry date? I'm assuming they last a year, starting the moment you join, and the year after you have to collect them again. So could I go for lets say 4 months, get plat and then not bother again and still retain plat status that would give me premium reduction the year after? Is that correct?

2. Is the reduction in gym price automatic once u reach a certain level?

Thanks,

Kyle

Bargain_Rzl

Kylonian:

1. That is correct. The only thing you've missed is that although most of your points "expire" at the end of your policy year, you do carry over a percentage of your points to the following year. At the end of year 1 you carry forward 10% of your points, so if you have 2000 points at the end of year 1, you'll start year 2 with 200 points. This gets more generous each year - 15%, 20%, 25% - and I think 25% is as high as it goes.

2. Yes.

HTH

firbird

I've got a quick question about the renewal discount which we get at the end of the year based on vitality status... is it a no-claims discount? I.e., I'm platinum at the moment. If I get to platinum again by the end of the year, but I've made a claim, will I still get the discount of 100% on the premiums for the next year?

Bargain_Rzl

If you have made a claim you will get a discount of 100% (if platinum) of whatever remains after the value of your claim has been deducted. So yes, the full discount is dependent upon no claims.

QQuaver

I did my third fitness test at my gym (Nuffield, ex Cannons), and my fitness rating dropped from excellent to good:o
So, they didn't give me extra 200 points. Is that right? I thought one could get 200 points if one maintains the fitness level above average?

PeteB_London

Hi all

Anyone know if you can join more than one gym via PruHealth. I have had real problems before with PH cust services - so I wanted to ask you knowledgable folk whether this is possible or if anyone has tried it.

Because of the London effect on gym pricing - it is more convenient for me to use 2 different chains/clubs rather than pay for one membership.

Any thoughts please if this is allowed...

Also, has anyone had an experience of cancelling a Virgin Active membership obtained via PruHealth - I think there is a 12 month minimum?

thanks

shazam

Just recieved my renewal quote for next year....a grand total of £33 for the year!!! For £9 a month I get health insurance + gym membership (La fitness inside M25). A bargain! Thanks to MS for introducing me to this offer.

QQuaver

PeteB_London wrote: »

Hi all

Anyone know if you can join more than one gym via PruHealth.

You can get multi club membership, but it has to be the same chain.
More expensive obviously.

Also, has anyone had an experience of cancelling a Virgin Active membership obtained via PruHealth - I think there is a 12 month minimum?

thanks

There is a 12 month minimum, but I think you can cancel because they changed the pricing structure in Nov. Don't know if it still is OK, being Dec and all.