Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

mikeyp_2

Thanks again PMIspecialist. seems like a good way to go.

Charliezoo

Hi everyone,

I've been reading through the thread for the past few days and have learnt lots of really good new info - thank you

I have a question and I'm sorry if its already been asked and I've managed to miss it.

I'm a healthy n/s female aged late 20s joining alone and wondered if it would be possible to reach platinum status within a reasonable time period without earning points from being a gym member? I have a Polar watch and a Fitbug I can use.

I'd be grateful for any advice.

Thank you

PMISpecialist_2

Charliezoo wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been reading through the thread for the past few days and have learnt lots of really good new info - thank you

I have a question and I'm sorry if its already been asked and I've managed to miss it.

I'm a healthy n/s female aged late 20s joining alone and wondered if it would be possible to reach platinum status within a reasonable time period without earning points from being a gym member? I have a Polar watch and a Fitbug I can use.

I'd be grateful for any advice.

Thank you

Suggested quick route how to get to Platinum for Individual female under 40 with no chronic conditions (i.e. athsma, diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol) in five months.

Register on line..............50
Pap smear...................150
Being a Non smoker....150
Lifestyle Goal................50
Fitness Assesment.......300 ( you do not have to be a member of the gym to have this)
Healthy Meal plan.........50
Fitbug/Polar................750
Vitality review..............100
Reading lifestyle article 150
Stress Assesment..........50
Basic Health screen.....200
Ebay purchase...............40

TOTAL.....................2040


Please compare this table with the vitality points list link below. This should answer most questions you have. I find it very handy to refer back to.

https://www.pruhealth.co.uk/medical/pruVitality/pdfs/vitality_points_summary.pdf


If you have a chronic condition (i.e. athsma, diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol) and/or are over 40 and/or join as a couple you can get to platinum in 3 months or less.

Obviously the above route is one of many ways to get to platinum, you may wish to remove one way of scoring points and add another from the table linked above to suit you better. If you found this route a bit intensive then stretch out your time span from say 5 months to 7 months as you do have 12 months each year in order to score the 2000 points to get you to platinum.

Dynamite_Diva

I'm confused why does being 40+ make a difference to the way and speed at which you can get to Platinum?

lisyloo

In the pdf there are some test e.g. glaucoma, that only apply to more mature people.

daniel19

PMISpecialist wrote: »

Yes whatever your premium currently is in your first year, 10% of that premium is a good rough rule of thumb estimate of what it will be when you renew (providing you have stayed claim free and reached platinum of course).

If you added your partner to your scheme, then your renewal date will stay the same as it is now. i.e. your current renewal date will be yours and hers and will not change.

If you add your partner now then she pays the going rate at that time to start with just like you did. This is the case if you add her now or at renewal.

If i were you i'd quite fancy my chances of scoring the 3000 points before October (since your on 2000+ already) and therefore add her asap and only have 4 months paying full premiums for her. If you were to add her from renewal then you would have 12 months of paying full premiums for her + the premiums will be higher in October than they are now too. If you add her now and score the points then come October your both platinum and both only paying around 10% of your premiums. It is better to take the small hit now rather than the big hit later, as you'll end up paying more in the long run if you leave it till renewal.

In theory you could for example score all the 3000 points yourself only add her in September the last month, therefore she only pays one month full premium then renew in October and you both pay around 10% of last years premium. However a risky strategy and you would have to score the vast majority of the points yourself. Plus they tend to calculate your renewal premium offer 32-34 days before your renewal date, so you would have to ask for a recalculation. I personally probably woulden't leave it any later than around 2 months before your renwal date and of course you would have to be very sure you can both score the remaining points needed in the remaining time.

I am also in a similar position to Mikeyp - my cover is up for renewal in August and I am trying to work out when is the best time to add my wife. I am just trying to clarify if I am at gold status by my renewal date and I add my wife at this date will she also get the discount for me being at gold status?

Thanks for any advice

sacherlover

I logged on to PruHealth to read my Articles for this month and there is a message about more changes to policies:

Fitbug – Our offering and pricing is changing from the 1st July 09.
Screening – From the 1st July we are limiting the number of screenings we’ll subsidise for each of our members each year. You will be eligible for two subsidised screens per policy year – one of which can be a full screen. Prices will be increasing.
Cineworld – From the 10th July we’re enhancing our existing offer; new and renewing members who don't have a Cineworld Unlimited card will be able to take advantage of two tickets for the price of one!
Champneys – From the 1st July members may take one guest at a special guest rate and visits to Champneys will be limited to three per policy year.

PMI Specialist, do you have any more information about this?

With the Champneys changes is that three visits per year (of any length) or three nights per year?

Also, is anyone aware of what is likely to happen with the Gym deal in October. I recall reading that PruHealth signed the gyms up to a five year deal that expires in October 2009.

Sacherlover

PMISpecialist_2

daniel19 wrote: »

I am also in a similar position to Mikeyp - my cover is up for renewal in August and I am trying to work out when is the best time to add my wife. I am just trying to clarify if I am at gold status by my renewal date and I add my wife at this date will she also get the discount for me being at gold status?

Thanks for any advice

Hi Daniel,

No. Although she will inherit your status whatever that may if she join s at renewal be she will pay full pruhealth insurance premiums for 12 months if joining at renewal. However she gets all the other perks of being Gold/platinum i.e. free/cheap gym, 40% off Mark Warner etc etc.

A way to save yourselves money would be to add her now:

Providing you are confident you can score enough points to get to platinum (3000 points)/gold (2250 points) with her between now and your renewal date. I would advise you add her at some point before August, i.e. now then you would only pay 2 months with her at full premium i.e. June & July. If you add her at renewal then you recieve the discount but she will not so you will ends up paying full price for her for 12 months!

Remember once you have added her your memberhip has gone from an individual membership to a couple/family membership so the number of points needed changes.

Status...........Points (single)..............Points (couple/family)
Bronze...............0............................ ..0
Silver.................1000....................... .1500
Gold..................1500........................ 2250
Platinum.............2000........................3 000

daniel19

PMISpecialist wrote: »

Hi Daniel,

No. Although she will inherit your status whatever that may if she join s at renewal be she will pay full pruhealth insurance premiums for 12 months if joining at renewal. However she gets all the other perks of being Gold/platinum i.e. free/cheap gym, 40% off Mark Warner etc etc.

A way to save yourselves money would be to add her now:

Providing you are confident you can score enough points to get to platinum (3000 points)/gold (2250 points) with her between now and your renewal date. I would advise you add her at some point before August, i.e. now then you would only pay 2 months with her at full premium i.e. June & July. If you add her at renewal then you recieve the discount but she will not so you will ends up paying full price for her for 12 months!

Remember once you have added her your memberhip has gone from an individual membership to a couple/family membership so the number of points needed changes.

Status...........Points (single)..............Points (couple/family)
Bronze...............0............................ ..0
Silver.................1000....................... .1500
Gold..................1500........................ 2250
Platinum.............2000........................3 000

Thanks PMISpecialist. I will probably add her to my policy now.

jamesmhunt

sacherlover wrote: »

Also, is anyone aware of what is likely to happen with the Gym deal in October. I recall reading that PruHealth signed the gyms up to a five year deal that expires in October 2009.

I'd be very interested in this too. I've just signed up to my local Nuffield Gym once I'd reached Gold status (I'll get Platinum in August), and I'd be miffed to say the least if they suddenly changed the terms/cost significantly...