Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

Bargain_Rzl

Try phoning PruHealth customer services

ultracheapskate

Hey. I have been a member with Pru for almost a year now (with Nuffield/Cannons gym membership), and am coming up for renewal next month. However I had a few questions regarding my renewal quote and the number of points carried over!

I have just reached platinum status, so am I right in thinking that upon renewal I will carry over my platinum status for the following year (and hence get charged the corresponding amount for platinum users when using the gym)? Also how many points do I carry over? I was thinking of getting a full health screen from the Diagnostic clinic (£25 on platinum and 400 points), but according to the website you can only get a screening every 6 months. Am I right in thinking that upon renewal, this resets and you can have another scan immediately? Does the same apply to fitness assessment (300 points), because I just had one a couple of weeks ago? Also I have already maxed out my exercise points (1500), so if I have the scan before renewal, is it true that I won't get rewarded (in terms of points)? And even if I do, is it really worth it since I have already attained platinum status?

Lastly I am also receiving a free Vi1 Health assessment (BP, blood glucose, cholesterol) from Nuffield as a result of referring a friend to the gym. Do Pru give any points for this? (I can only find info on Vi3/4/5/6 scans on the site).

Just re-read my post and there are lots of questions (and it is quite confusing!), but I would appreciate any answers. Cheers.

PMISpecialist_2

Hello Ultracheapskate,

1. Yes once you reach platinum you stay platinum for the rest of the year AND the next policy year as well so your gym rate stays at platinum level too :j However your points are reset to zero again at the start of year two so you need to score 2000 points (or 3000 per couple/family) to be platinum for the begining of year 3. All the different ways of scoring your points are reset again though so scoring 2000 points in 12 months is realtively simple especially if your going to the gym (or scoring via fitbug or polar) at least twice per week.

2. You carry over the following vitality points from year to year:

Year 1 - 10%
Year 2 - 15%
Year 3 - 20%
Year 4+ - 25%

3. Re: Health screenings: these normally cost £400+ retail with Nuffield, Bupa (now called Spire) etc and you are correct just £25 for Pruhealth platinum members AND yes you score 400 vitality points too. I would think that this resets at renewal if you've had one in the last few months but i'm not 100% sure so please check with Pruhealth. I normally have one every two years, having two within a 6 month period would seem a little excessive but maybe you have your reasons. (not critisising you here). If your platinum already i'd reccomend you have the health screening in your new policy year.

4. Fitness Assesments via the gyms are re-set at the start of every policy year (so at can have them at both sides of your renewal date) are totally free and you can have one at a gym even if you are not a member. A good way to check out gyms in your area in my opinion. A fantastic way (if not the best) to score alot of points for doing relatively little. They are totally free and take around 10 minutes and you score 300 vitality points then six months+ later have another one for another 300 vitality points. If you have maintained your fitness level you score 200 points on top or if you have improved your fitness level its another 300 points. On top of that if you have maintained your BMI (Body mass index) its an extra 50 or 100 if improved. On top of that if you've maintained your Blood pressure its 50 or 100 if improved. Handy tip is to set your fitness assesment as one of your 'Lifestyle personal goals' and if you do this before you have your fitness assesment you score another 50 points. So if you maintain your fitness BMI etc between fitness assesments you've scored 950 points, if you improve everything you've scored 1150.

Some may find this vitality points table very handy to refer to https://www.pruhealth.co.uk/medical/pruVitality/pdfs/vitality_points_summary.pdf (or to decifer this post)

5. Scan/health screening isn't exercise so you'll score points but if your platinum already unless there is something your particularly worried about i'd wait till after your renewal date personally.

6. Not sure about the Vi1 health assesment give Pru a call.

Hope i've been of help.

ultracheapskate

PMI - thanks a lot for the help. Wasn't expecting such a comprehensive reply but I am happy that you did, since I have answers for all of the questions! Wasn't worried about anything in particular regarding the scan, and seeing how you only carry 10% of your points, I might as well wait after renewal before I do the scan.

As for the Vi1 assessment, I will have to call Pru but they're closed until Tuesday now. I was just thinking that since they monitor your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, and you get points for that (under the pdf link you posted), that maybe I would get points for that. Anyways will call them on tuesday to confirm.

luckyfool

ultracheapskate wrote: »

PMI - thanks a lot for the help. Wasn't expecting such a comprehensive reply but I am happy that you did, since I have answers for all of the questions! Wasn't worried about anything in particular regarding the scan, and seeing how you only carry 10% of your points, I might as well wait after renewal before I do the scan.

As for the Vi1 assessment, I will have to call Pru but they're closed until Tuesday now. I was just thinking that since they monitor your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, and you get points for that (under the pdf link you posted), that maybe I would get points for that. Anyways will call them on tuesday to confirm.

You might get some points for those, but if you are getting a vi4 or 5 in a month or two then why bother claiming as you will get those points + the 400 for the full health screen anyway in your new policy year.

nick88

How does it work if you want to change your price plan in the future? I'm currently getting free gym from work anyway, so I got the "Select" plan, but if I decide to move to a different plan, how would the discounts work? I'll probably end up calling them, but just wondered if anyone knew?

[Deleted User]

ultracheapskate wrote: »

As for the Vi1 assessment, I will have to call Pru but they're closed until Tuesday now. I was just thinking that since they monitor your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, and you get points for that (under the pdf link you posted), that maybe I would get points for that. Anyways will call them on tuesday to confirm.

I have been in talks with pru about this issue. The vi1 is not classed as a basic health screen so you don't get any points for it. However it IS classed as a fitness assessment so if there are any reasons that you can't have the free one at your local gym ( i can't as i am pregnant and a friend of mine couldn't as her BP was too high) then you can have this one instead and they will give you 300 points for fitness assessement.

I got my 300 for fitness by doing a vi1 because it is a resting fitness assessment. They don't seem to care that they do other tests.

Hope this helps
X

Taggy

I love the pru health plan, I joined in April 2008 gradually built up my vitality status in the year to platinum (reached in November). I finished the year on 2750 points (individual) and thus carried over 275 points to this year and retained Platinum status, I couldn't belive my health insurance cost at renewal - £96 for the whole year!!!! = appx £8per month AND my Nuffield Gym is free!!

I notice that a lot of people only really view cost over 1 year, but I really think you have to look at the longer term, i.e in my first year my membership was £37 per month. With the current structure it may appear to cost more than just joining the gym, but how long do you intend to stay at the gym for?-if it is a year or less, then yes it probably is not worth it, but very few of us only plan to stay for 1 year-If I had joined Nuffield on its own the monthly cost would have been appx £45-£50 per month, so in year two+ my cost is massively less.

Overall I would recommend really reading the vitality rules so you know excatly how you can build up your points.

Hope this helps

QQuaver

J_E_B wrote: »

When you get a quote from PruHealth, is gym membership included in that price? Or do you have to join the gym separately and somehow link it up?

It's not included in the price. You need to join via Pru.

And do you have to pay extra for these Fit Bug things?

Yes, £15.

So I wonder if I could get a cheaper quote through an agent?

There are some cashback sites;)

Little_Miss_Mary

J_E_B wrote: »

Sorry, I know this has probably already been explained somewhere, but I've been looking back through this thread for a long time now and can't figure it out, so I hope someone will be kind enough to explain...

When you get a quote from PruHealth, is gym membership included in that price? Or do you have to join the gym separately and somehow link it up?

And do you have to pay extra for these Fit Bug things?

I'm a regular gym goer and long distance runner, with no health issues, aside from mild asthma, so it looks like I could get a good deal here. However, the quote page on the PruHealth website doesn't ask many questions about lifestyle. So I wonder if I could get a cheaper quote through an agent?

If there is post on here that comprehensively explains how the current system works I'd very much appreciate a link.



Thanks

Hi yes you have to join the gym separately via the Pruhealth members zone and then link it up.

£15 for a fitbug one off fee via Pruhealth. Usually retail around £80 plus £5ish per month.

Because you have athsma you can get to platinum in three months or less.

You won't be able to get it cheaper through an agent, however they can get you cashback which makes it cheaper. 'PMISpecialist' is the man to speak to here (send him a 'Private message'). He gets you 30% of your annual premium cashback within 6-7 weeks plus all the advice,info,tips. Quidco etc get you £35 cashback.