Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

burnoutbabe

Pound wrote: »

I just went on Pruhealth to get a quote to see how much my premium is likely to be when I renew and I was quite disapointed to see that they no longer allow you to pick the core premium and choose a £1,000 excess at the same time (as Martin's tip suggests we do). This obviously means it's not going to be such a good deal when I renew.

it didn't do that when i applied back in Sept

so i phoned up, got a quote and reference, then went back through quidco and did a new quote then it gave me the option to retrieve a quote. so got the 1000 excess in then.

Assume we just get a letter about renewal price at same options as this year, and can discuss over phone as we can't go through quidco for a renewal

The fitness assessments - how long to show up? or should i just fax it?

and you can have 2 FA a year - but really you'd need 3 to do 2 lots of show improvements over the year wouldn;t you?

Hackneyboy

I joined PruHealth online on 20 December. Because of the Christmas hols, the gym staff couldn't sign me up to the terms and conditions until 2 January.

I received notification of my direct debit from Pru Health over the Christmas break but no welcome pack. Fortunately I knew that I needed a Pru Health number to join the gym so phoned them and got the ID number which I took to Virgin Active yesterday. As soon as I got a membership number from Virgin, I phoned Pru to set up the gym scheme.

Now I've got to wait to receive a welcome pack from Virgin before I can start using the gym, which could take up to seven working days.

To be honest I'm quite worried about the time wasted since Dec 20 and fear it will reflect badly on my gym payments.

I've also been told that everyone who signs up to Virgin through Pru Health has to undergo a fitness assessment. Does anyone know what this entails?

Tingtong_2

Hackneyboy wrote: »

I've also been told that everyone who signs up to Virgin through Pru Health has to undergo a fitness assessment. Does anyone know what this entails?

I'm not sure what it entails but you don't HAVE to undergo a fitness assessment. You can do up to 2 per year (at least 6 months apart). They're free and you get vitality points for them. Seems rude not to!!!

Did Virgin refuse to let you use the gym until your membership card arrived? I signed up at the gym two days ago and when I phone Pru back they said I could probably use the gym without the card but even if I couldn't they'd credit me with 2 visits for the first week to make up for not being able to go! I'm going for my first visit tomorrow to see what happens!

lisyloo

I've also been told that everyone who signs up to Virgin through Pru Health has to undergo a fitness assessment.

I've not been to this particular gym but it certainly makes sense to take advantage of the free services to make best use of the gym.
At my gym I get an assesement and then they put together a routine for me. I don't always follow it but it does make sense to take advantage as it's meant to suit your ability and goals.

On my fitness assement my measurements were taken for

height, weight, bust, waist, hips, thigh, calf.
I also did a lung capacity test by blowing into a small machine (best of 3).
Then a flexibility test i.e. sit down and touch your toes (see how far you can push the cardboard marker).
They also measured my body fat by using calipers in 3 places. This is slightly painful when they squeeze your flesh but gives a body fat %.
I also did a test on a bike wearing a heart rate monitor. It told me to cycle to different levels (sometimes hard sometimes easy) and measured my heart rate.
At each stage I got told whether I was "average" or "good" etc.

It's nothing scary, it's just an assesement of where you are so that they can build a routine for your level and monitor your improvement.
They will also take notice of your goals and any problems you have (like back problems) as people may have different goals e.g. weight loss, flexibility, fitness, health, specific problems etc.

If you have any concerns then let them know as they can try to incorporate it.
I said I was worried about getting bored so I have a very varied program.
I also mentioned a back problem and I was given specific exercises and things to do outside the gym (I have a fitball to sit on at work which helps a great deal).

Well worth taking advantage of IMO.
I think you are more liekly to get more out of it and use it more effectively if you use the advice available from the experts.

Hackneyboy

Tingtong wrote: »

Did Virgin refuse to let you use the gym until your membership card arrived? I signed up at the gym two days ago and when I phone Pru back they said I could probably use the gym without the card but even if I couldn't they'd credit me with 2 visits for the first week to make up for not being able to go! I'm going for my first visit tomorrow to see what happens!

Yes, apparently I've got to wait until I receive the Virgin membership pack. It can take up to five working days but 'should' be sooner.

No sign of the Prudential pack either.

Thanks to both Tingtong and Lisyloo for letting me know about the fitness test. Sounds good to me!

burnoutbabe

the pru health fitness test was just

get weighed (which calculates BMI and fat %)
get blood pressure taken
do a 3 min step test

that was it, and thats how they judge you 6 months later.

lolly5648

I've been with BUPA for 20 years and dont want to leave because of old injuries.

Can I take out the basic Pru cover and never claim on it? Will BUPA find out I have additional insurance and tell me to use it? Is it legal for me not to tell BUPA?

funkyparott

One of the questions pruhealth asks is, "are you covered by existing medical insurance?"

I don't know the exact law on these situations, but I understand if you are covered for the same risk by two different firms the payout is shared equally between them. IE you must declare that you have identical or similar cover and once you do that the insurer you are claiming from will want the other to pay their share.

This is unfortunate if you have set your pruhealth excess to £1000 or perhaps have been 'enthusiastic' in answering the lifesyle questions to get your premium down at pruhealth. If an insurer finds out you have misled them on a material fact, they can refuse payouts. I know people wouldn't be taking out the pruhealth cover with the intention of using it (if they had Bupa already), but can you see the issues people could run into if it is true both insurers have to split the cost of the claim??


Say you have employer provided Bupa insurance. If you claim on that and have pruhealth, you could get forced into paying pruhealth the £1000 excess in order for them to cough up their share of the payout.

Id be greatful if someone could clarify the position on having cover for the same risk from two insurers.

FP

MoscowFlyer

Yes, this is correct, in the event of any claim contribution would apply so whoever you claimed through would seek an equal contribution from the other insurers, depending on how many policies you have, and you would need to pay the excess on each one.

tla_2

Hi,

I have been a member of my local private gym for about 8 years. I noticed that the latest owner (LA fitness) had screwed up my monthly direct debit yet again and only taken half of my joint membership. A phone call got this corrected and a promise that the missing 1/2 membership would be free for the month! :beer: Isn't this dictated by the direct debit guarantee anyway?!

A further request ("Why am I paying more than other people?" / "I'm a long-term member.." etc) also got the monthly fee down from £86 per month (joint membership, access anytime, single location) to £69 per month! That's a wopping saving of £43 + (£86 - £69) = £60 for January and £17 for each following month or £247 for the year! Not bad for 5 minutes on the phone!

I was looking at the Prudential Health Insurance option before this but I'm not sure it's worth it now as the Pru quote is £37 per month. I realise the quote may be less for others depending on age / health etc and that this can be reduced by visiting the gym twice or more a week but the reduction doesn't seem to kick in until the second year at renewal time. Is this correct?

It annoys me that gyms try to keep membership prices as high as possible by not publishing rates or claiming that rates are "special deals" only or for new members only etc. The best way to combat this is to talk to your friends at the gym and let each other know how much you are paying. It's a great way to keep prices down and provide ammunition for others to lower their fees. Does anyone else have joint membership at LA fitness for anytime access at a single gym location? How much are you paying? If I am still paying over the odds, let me know!

(BTW, I don't think LA fitness really have the concept of "joint membership" but it is a good bargaining tool as threatening with two members fees is more effective than one! Joint membership in my case means two fees paid from the same direct debit.)