Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

Charliezoo

I'm getting really fraustrated :mad: with Pru Health at the moment in regards to the Polar Watch, I would appreciate any ideas of how on get around this problem.

I've had my watch for a few years and bought it to help me keep track of my workouts and fitness. I have found since starting with Pru Health that I'm not reaching the 70% max heart rate target. It turns out that the resistance part of my workouts which are at a lower heart rate are bringing down my average heart rate of my overall workout which would include a good chunk of CV workout at a high intensity.

I don't want to switch my watch off for the resistance workout as this would defeat the object of having the watch in the first place, so I thought the best way to get around this would be to split my workout into two, one low intensity and one high.

I presumed that Pru would automatically take the higher rated workout of the day into account but after a phonecall I found out this is not the case. They always take the results of the FIRST workout of the day. This means that if I do half an hour weights followed by half hour swimming/running, I probably won't get any points even though I've done a really good workout.:mad:

I'm so annoyed about this and can't find a way to get around it, I don't think that there's any way of selecting which workout results are submitted to Pru. I'm pretty much resigned to having to make sure my watch is off until my heart rate reaches the required limit so I don't risk losing points but I'm losing the function of my watch by doing this.

How's everyone else getting around this problem???

jamfool

Charliezoo wrote: »

I'm getting really fraustrated :mad: with Pru Health at the moment in regards to the Polar Watch, I would appreciate any ideas of how on get around this problem.

How's everyone else getting around this problem???

Hmm
could you ause the workout until you reached the desired HR. Or stop it it before it reached 30 mins in the 1st workout.

I just got my polar watch and didnt realise this was an issue (havent done 2 workouts in a day yet)

So if I do a 30 min at 60% and then later a 30 min at 70 % only the 60% will have counted. your right.. annoying!

shizonamy

Hi PMISpecialist,

Can anyone tell me what I should expect to receive for my vitality bonus, I have just reached my platinum status and renewal is in October. Just wondered approximately how much cash I will get !!

Charliezoo

jamfool wrote: »

Hmm
could you ause the workout until you reached the desired HR. Or stop it it before it reached 30 mins in the 1st workout.

I just got my polar watch and didnt realise this was an issue (havent done 2 workouts in a day yet)

So if I do a 30 min at 60% and then later a 30 min at 70 % only the 60% will have counted. your right.. annoying!

Yeah this is what I'm doing at the moment, unfortunately it means that I can no longer accurately track my workouts and use my Polar watch for its intended purpose.

PMISpecialist_2

shizonamy wrote: »

Hi PMISpecialist,

Can anyone tell me what I should expect to receive for my vitality bonus, I have just reached my platinum status and renewal is in October. Just wondered approximately how much cash I will get !!

This is regarding company Pruhealth schemes only.

I think you are reffering to the cashback with company schemes? Currently its £350 if individual or £700 couple/family cashback if your platinum and haven't claimed, payable in around 6 weeks after your renewal date (as long as your company renews with Pruhealth of course). This is changing though it will soon be £100 individual and £300 family from 1st July 09 you may be affected by this i can double check tomorrow for you? It may be worth giving them a call and getting it straight from the horses mouth.

Also providing your company has selected cashback instead of putting it in your health fund with 50% booster instead.

PMISpecialist_2

shizonamy wrote: »

Hi PMISpecialist,

Can anyone tell me what I should expect to receive for my vitality bonus, I have just reached my platinum status and renewal is in October. Just wondered approximately how much cash I will get !!

The situation may be better than i thought for you. Companies from renewal are getting the choice of whether to reduce their premiums by 3% or keep the current cashback levels i.e. £350 for individual, £700 for couple/family.

Early indicators are that most companies have decided to keep the cashback. So you may not know till nearer renewal or at least when the group adminstrator (the pruhealth decision maker in your company) decides which way to go.

PMISpecialist_2

A massive thank you to nick88 who has just suggested a site where i can post pdf doc's and then provide links on here. So easy even i could use it!

Here are the July 2009 changes: Please note this has company sme changes as well as individual pruhealth schemes on it):

http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/13025602/2duvvw0ohsmvgpq73otr

Charliezoo

I see the Diagnostic Clinic screenings are shooting up in price. Am I right in saying that this price rise will not affect existing members until they renew their policy so there will still be time to fit one in at the old price?

PMISpecialist_2

Charliezoo wrote: »

I see the Diagnostic Clinic screenings are shooting up in price. Am I right in saying that this price rise will not affect existing members until they renew their policy so there will still be time to fit one in at the old price?

Hi Charliezoo,

Yes thats the way i understand it to be.

nickmack

PMISpecialist wrote: »

Here are the July 2009 changes: Please note this has company sme changes as well as individual pruhealth schemes on it)

Browsing this, it seems PruHealth have realised it's too easy to get Gold/Platinum and have cut some of the heavier discounts/rewards for those who attain this status.