Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

The_silver_surfer

healthcare_guru wrote: »

ha ha.. whoever thinks I'm the same person as Intejector, very amusing Quentin, brownbabygirl, but it is possible for 2 different people to have the same opinion you know.



to this comment - as I think I mentioned in a previous post, I've claimed from Pru (as well as BUPA, AXA and Standard Life previously), and the experience with Pru was by far the best (hence I'm a fan - whoever questioned this too!). The claim was all authorised over the phone, I got the authorisation email in my inbox as I was on the phone to the nurse (Pru use nurses to authorise claims as well but the way, others just use some out-sourced call centre who don't know what they're doing). I also got a text message with the authorisation number. Tell me another insurer who does that?

Bupa have the highest percentage of claims handled over the telephone last time i checked.

Just last week a directors wife one of my company clients called Pru for a rather worrying claim. She was told they were busy and could she try claiming on line (something i am actually a big fan of), she agreed, however you (sorry they) needed more information and they promised to call her within 48 hours (unacceptable as way too long in my opinion) and the 48 hours came and went without her being contacted. She had booked herself an appointment with the NHS before she managed to authorise the pruhealth claim nearly a week later. She started trying to claim on a thursday and wasn't authorised till the wednesday. I took an ear bashing from the director who will probably move insurers as a result of her appalling claims experience. I had to phone someone quite high up in Pru to apply pressure on their claims department to call her. Pru do not work weekends i understand? Also the call center workers often read of scripts and will answer questions that were never asked (very frustrating) there is often a lack of understanding.

There are probably similar stories for most insurers in all fairness but some insurers seem to have much more than others.

I have many clients both company and individual and get a lot of feed back from them regarding claims. Many pru claims do go through very smoothly indeed especially once Pru members have completed their 2 year moratorium. If they need to claim before their two year moratorium is completed then Pruhealth often need claim forms signed by GP's etc and everything takes too long.

Now i am not saying Pru are all bad, they are a very mixed bag in my opinion. They come up with some very inventive new idea's and were a breath of fresh air when they came into the market 5+ years go really taking it by storm. Everything seemed to run so smoothly back then. I was impressed and i joined them myself. Despite the many knockers who said their free gym and 100% of this years premium off next years would never last ( and now have in time been proved right). Pru have improved some areas but in the main things have gone downhill since the early days in my opinion. Admin can be messy and claiming is a lottery.

It's strange that just when Pru were about to prove the knockers wrong and on target with their 5 year plan to record a profit they pull the plug on the free gym and 100% off. Was it a plan to get a market share and then pull the plug on all along? or did they just realise in the long run its not feasable?

I understand why they are doing it. For more profit. Which i understand is important to those in business.

On the corporate side of things i think you will lose some (not alot) of your book due to the 2010 changes. But you may actually win more long term due to more atractive premiums. If Admin and claims can improve and premiums can be kept low then you may do well. There are so many changes taking place at Pru so often their staff more than anyone need a bit of continuaty. As the big wigs chopping and changing an already complicated product so often is confusing everyone.

However on the individual side of things dear me. I am convinced that you will lose a very large proportion of your Gold and Platinum members. Most on this thread (it must be well over 100+ just on here over the years + their friends family they recommended = 100's more) joined for the free/cheap gym and oppourtunity to keep premiums low. Now that is gone many will either move to cheaper PMI providers or just lapse in renewal 2010 as they were never really interested in the PMI anyway.

Fido

brownbabygirl wrote: »

it is NOT a coincidence that BOTH of you jump to this site and immediately come on to this thread with your pro Pru nonsense. basically ALL of your posts to date are about how 'great' pru is. it is just tooo bad to be true. either you are the same person or you know each other somehow. at least be honest about it!

this thread is not really about those of you who took out the insurance for its sake anyway.

Correct bbb. Plus what I would say is that regarding admin, Pruhealth have made a mistake on every single piece of correspondence I've received from them. The only piece that wasn't a mistake was the bit about the ceiling of 25% discounts applicable after the next renewal. So I would never bother with them for insurance anyway.

healthcare_guru

Fido wrote: »

Correct bbb. Plus what I would say is that regarding admin, Pruhealth have made a mistake on every single piece of correspondence I've received from them. The only piece that wasn't a mistake was the bit about the ceiling of 25% discounts applicable after the next renewal. So I would never bother with them for insurance anyway.

Well I don't know what I can say to convince you that I'm not the Interjector - I guess if you don't believe me then fine, no skin off my nose, but I would think it's fairly pointless posting under 2 names rather just use the one.

Anyway, how have Pruhealth "made a misake on every single piece of correspondence... the only piece that wasn't a mistake was the bit about the ceiling".

Now there's a contradiction if ever I've seen one! I think some people are exaggerating a little

west12_2

OK OK Healthcare Guru and Interjector. I believe it when you say you don't work for PruHealth. Obviously, you work for PruHealth's PR company!

If I had signed up for PruHealth primarily for PMI, then perhaps I'd care that they are allegedly better than other companies at health insurance. Although, judging by how universally horrible their customer service is, I do doubt it a bit. However, no-one on this board signed up for anything other than the incentives to keep yourself healthy (those incentives that were **advertised by the company**, that's the blatant thing about it) and now they're gone, that's why everyone's going.

Whether or not they're good at PMI, very few people care. Perhaps if they hadn't scrapped their 100% discount for Platinum members (which is ASTONISHINGLY still advertised on their website, which I think is an extremely dubious practice) I might hang around. However, they've removed that too now.... no chance!!!

bargainseeker100

I am writing in response to your letter ref xxxx received a couple of weeks ago.

I am very annoyed that the terms and conditions for the gym membership have been changed so dramatically, no longer linked to Vitality status and just a flat rate 25% discount at best. Also, it seems the 100% No Claims Discount for the health policy is being removed and at best a 40-50% rate is achievable. This is introducing a massive hike in premiums, totally divorced from any incremental increase.

I roughly calculate my premiums will triple or quadruple next year upon renewal. It is highly unlikely that I will be able to afford this sudden dramatic hike. It seems many, including myself, will probably leave your scheme upon renewal, feeling disgruntled and will also be unlikely to buy any further Prudential products.

I wish to register my protest at the dramatic changes to the scheme and urge you to re-consider these ill-thought out changes to the scheme.

Yours sincerely
:mad::mad::mad:

Charliezoo

I sent a polite but stongly worded email 3 weeks ago basically saying the same thing.

Have I even received an acknowledgement....nope!

Makes me wonder if they even care about keeping policy holders when they can't be bothered to acknowledge a complaint letter.

healthcare_guru

west12 wrote: »

Perhaps if they hadn't scrapped their 100% discount for Platinum members (which is ASTONISHINGLY still advertised on their website, which I think is an extremely dubious practice) I might hang around.

I would imagine their current 100% discount is still on their website as the changes take effect as of 1st January and people can still go online and buy they current policy until 31st December

The_silver_surfer

healthcare_guru wrote: »

I would imagine their current 100% discount is still on their website as the changes take effect as of 1st January and people can still go online and buy they current policy until 31st December

Bargainseeker100 West12 and Sacherlover who i think originally mentioned it are clearly correct. As they (2009 joiners) will never get the 100% discount off their insurance premiums as currently advertised! If they join now and get to platinum and do not claim then when they come to their 1st renewal in 2010 they will get 25% off up and up to another 35% off/cashback = 55% !! Max

Now does this not strike you as just plain wrong and dodgy looking? Or will you try and defend this too telling us how wonderful they can be?

healthcare_guru

The_silver_surfer wrote: »

Bargainseeker100 and Sacherlover who i think originally mentioned it are clearly correct. As they will never get the 100% discount off their insurance premiums as currently advertised! If they join now and get to platinum and do not claim then when they come to their 1st renewal in 2010 they will get 25% off up and up to another 35% off/cashback = 55% !! Max

Now does this not strike you as just plain wrong and dodgy looking? Or will you try and defend this too telling us how wonderful they can be?

No silver surfer, I'm not trying to 'defend' Pru at all - just present the facts clearly. You call yourself an independent PMI specialising insurance broker, I would have thought you of all people should have read and understood the facts before posting on here. It's a good job you haven't given your real name...

If you buy a policy in 2009 (i.e., with the current 100% cashback), your renewal terms are presented to you in 2010 based on the product you bought in 2009. If you chose to take out that offer and renew into 2010, you do so on the new agreement with the new 35% NCD, upto 3 months free etc. When your renewal terms then get issued in 2011, it will be based upon what you bought in 2010.

The_silver_surfer

healthcare_guru wrote: »

No silver surfer, I'm not trying to 'defend' Pru at all - just present the facts clearly. You call yourself an independent PMI specialising insurance broker, I would have thought you of all people should have read and understood the facts before posting on here. It's a good job you haven't given your real name...

If you buy a policy in 2009 (i.e., with the current 100% cashback), your renewal terms are presented to you in 2010 based on the product you bought in 2009. If you chose to take out that offer and renew into 2010, you do so on the new agreement with the new 35% NCD, upto 3 months free etc. When your renewal terms then get issued in 2011, it will be based upon what you bought in 2010.

This board is for discussing subjects exactly like this. I'm sorry i do not accept what you are saying. It's clearly wrong.

When Pruhealth agreed the rules were changing (a few months ago at least) and that new joiners would not be getting 100% off. Thats when they should have stopped advertising 100% off to new members. Because they can't get 100% anymore!

Your defending the undefendable here.

If Pru advertise their product with a 100% discount for platinum members. Then members jump through all the hoops score the points and then do not not get their 100% discount i don't think your explanation of 2010 terms is going to satisfy them too much. They will feel they kept their half of the bargain and Pru didn't. You have and will have more rightly angry customers.

You must work for Pruhealth to some degree?

As i have previously stated i understand Pru wanting to make a bigger profit. After all most businesses do. But this (advertising 100% off, when they will not get it) has to be wrong surely?