Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

healthcare_guru

Quentin wrote: »

Here's a selection from your posts not defending pru:

I'm amazed you have nothing better to do than trawl through my old posts. Oh hang on, with 10,000+ posts on here you probably have got nothing better to do.

I don't defend Pru 100% of the time, it's very easy to cut and edit extracts of someones posts to paint a specific picture. You only have to look at my post earlier today where I agreed with davecon1 that the Pru deal is now worse. So there's just one example of me not defending Pru.

Anyway, I'll leave you to it. No doubt you'll trawl through my every word from every post I've written and construct another meaningless example about me, I'm just glad you have the time.

Quentin

healthcare_guru wrote: »

Oh hang on, with 10,000+ posts on here you probably have got nothing better to do.

More unnecessary personal abuse from a professional!

Wutang_2

healthcare_guru wrote: »

I'm amazed you have nothing better to do than trawl through my old posts. Oh hang on, with 10,000+ posts on here you probably have got nothing better to do.

I don't defend Pru 100% of the time, it's very easy to cut and edit extracts of someones posts to paint a specific picture. You only have to look at my post earlier today where I agreed with davecon1 that the Pru deal is now worse. So there's just one example of me not defending Pru.

Anyway, I'll leave you to it. No doubt you'll trawl through my every word from every post I've written and construct another meaningless example about me, I'm just glad you have the time.

It doesn't take a genius to work out your angle here son!! Look at your previous posts - its Pru-time!!

Sweet

Wutang_2

...actually "Pru Guru" wouldn't sound right either I suppose!

Quentin

healthcare_guru wrote: »

You only have to look at my post earlier today where I agreed with davecon1 that the Pru deal is now worse. So there's just one example of me not defending Pru.

Yes, here is your opening line from that post not defending pru:

I can understand your frustration but PruHealth have not reneged on their original offer as they are rightly allowed to change the terms & conditions of their offer with the correct amount of notice and at your renewal etc.

And this is the bit where you didn't defend pru whilst agreeing with davecon1:

I agree the benefits have changed and maybe they are not as good as they were, but I would argue that they still offer the best value for money out of all the insurers

.

nplima

healthcare_guru wrote: »

I can understand your frustration but PruHealth have not reneged on their original offer as they are rightly allowed to change the terms & conditions of their offer with the correct amount of notice and at your renewal etc. [...]

I don't know about the other readers, but this quote to me sounds/reads exactly like the canned responses that we get from customer service everywhere these days.

It is very easy to come around and say that the service provided is insurance and "Vitality" is a bonus, but that was not what was sold. When the services were presented at my company, they actually showed the year on year benefits of Vitality program based on constant rules over the years. Because of this I have to argue that the "correct amount of notice" Guru refers to could never be 1 month, it had to be longer to allow the customer to get the full benefits of 1 year membership and its renewal. I say "renewal" in its proper sense, not what Pru Health did, which was to get the renewal bonus to depend on an agreement with significantly different terms.

This difference between what the company promises in month1 and what they deliver in month11 is what needs to be publicised so that the potential clients of 2011 do not fall for the same trick as those who signed up in 2008 and in 2009 (and goodness knows what happened before...)

My Pru Health policy is now cancelled and now my buying decision for this kind of services will be guided by the rule "anyone but Pru". I invite everyone to do the same and to spread the word.

Brize

healthcare_guru wrote: »

I believe PruHealth still offers the best cover in the market

With respect, that's too bold a statement.

First, the value of any private medical insurance policy can only be assessed in relation to the client's circumstances and requirements.

Second, an objective whole-of-market review would reveal that there are better-value policies available for clients whose circumstances are such that they have the pick of the market.

PruHealth continue to represent good value for some clients despite the gym debacle, but they're not for everyone.

davecon1

Brize wrote: »

PruHealth continue to represent good value for some clients despite the gym debacle, but they're not for everyone.

I do still agree with the above point considering I paid the same amount with AXA as my initial Pru quote and had zero benefits and a nightmare to claim (they agreed then reneged on some treatment).

My point is that i believed Pru Health to be different from all the rest and for a while it was. The idea of rewarding you for being healthy was ground breaking not to mention the vitality awards and in short everyone should have been a winner although i think Pru underestimated the amount of people that would go platinum and join gyms for free. That benefit resulted in a loss so it had to go.

I suspect next year my premium will rise dramatically and the vitality points will be even harder to achieve. If that's the case this next year is likely to be my last especially if there are any more helpful changes.

IronWolf

Does anyone on Pruhealth make claims?

Im thinking about going on it because I use the gym all the time and will no doubt be platinum after a year, and the savings in other places could really benefit me.

But I intend to claim on the insurance at least once a year I think, as I often get pains and injuries from the gym so would want some physio or chiropractor. Are my premiums likely to go very high as a result of this or will i just lose the NCB?

healthcare_guru

IronWolf wrote: »

Does anyone on Pruhealth make claims?

Im thinking about going on it because I use the gym all the time and will no doubt be platinum after a year, and the savings in other places could really benefit me.

But I intend to claim on the insurance at least once a year I think, as I often get pains and injuries from the gym so would want some physio or chiropractor. Are my premiums likely to go very high as a result of this or will i just lose the NCB?

You'll just lose the NCB. You'll still receive 3 month's back on your renewal premium if you're Platinum status, even if you claims through the roof. However, if you have a problem now and disclose it as a pre-existing condition when you apply, you'll have this excluded at least for the first 2 years if you're a new member. This is determined through underwriting you as a new member and is pretty standard in the PMI market.

Hope this helps