Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

Leonie

I haven't read the entire thread yet, so don't know if this has been aired already, but my Pru quote with a £1000 excess came in at £63.66 a month - am I the only oldie who still wants to work out? It would cost me a fortune through the Pru. Cheaper for me to just join the gym! Has anyone else found this?

I rang my local Virgin Active (used to be Holmes Place when I was last with them years ago), and they are offering a £47 monthly contract or an annual contract for £34.95 a month.

They also offer the ability to 'freeze' the contract if you're going on holiday for a few weeks, or going into hospital etc. You pay £7 for the month, and the rest of your contract is continued after the freeze.

I'm off for a visit and a chat next Wednesday - hope it's still the same as it was when I was last there (9 years ago :eek:), it has the most fabulous view over open countryside to look at while you work out.

lolly5648

Leonie wrote: »

I haven't read the entire thread yet, so don't know if this has been aired already, but my Pru quote with a £1000 excess came in at £63.66 a month - am I the only oldie who still wants to work out? It would cost me a fortune through the Pru. Cheaper for me to just join the gym! Has anyone else found this?

I rang my local Virgin Active (used to be Holmes Place when I was last with them years ago), and they are offering a £47 monthly contract or an annual contract for £34.95 a month. They also offer the ability to 'freeze' the contract if you're going on holiday for a few weeks, or going into hospital etc. You pay £7 for the month, and the rest of your contract is continued after the freeze.

I also found it to be very expensive when I got a quote - you need to be under 25 for it to be really cheap. My quote came in at £90 something a month.

I can't believe the prices at your Virgin club - I go to a London suburbs one - they don't offer an annual contract, the monthly rate for over 55s is £64 and it is £10 for a freeze. The view is over a car park!

harbinger13

PHRep: Hi, you're chatting with PHRep a PruHealth Sales Consultant, what brings you to our site today?

MP: Hi. If I were to take a PruHealth insurance how does the coverage for the Gym work?

MP: Should I pay the gym and then you will reimburse?

PHRep: Hi MP. No all the payments come to us so we can subsidise to the cost to the gym...

PHRep: The amount depends on the gym you want to use, then subsequently how often you go. The idea with this is, the more you go, the more you can save.

MP: Ok - so what would be the initial payment I make to you? From when do I get to become the member of the gym?

PHRep: Have you quoted yourself for the health insurance side of things yet?

MP: Yes - it amounts to 26.99

PHRep: Great.. So there would be the £26.99 monthly premium for the insurance throughout the policy year, and the cost of the gym would be separate. What club is it you intend to use?

MP: I was intending to use LA Fitness

PHRep: No problem. Can you bear with me a moment while I look that club up for you?

MP: Ok

PHRep: Was it the South Kensington branch?

MP: No the West India Quay branch

PHRep: So its the West India Quay branch in London... that's fine. For that club..

PHRep: First, there is a one off activation fee of £25. Then for the first 3 months for this club you would pay £25 per month. At the end of the 3 months we would review it to see how often you have gone. If you were a regular user, going on average 2 or more times per week over the quarter then the cost would drop down to £0 per month. If you were going on average between 1 & 2 times a week over the quarter then the cost would stay at £25 per month, and if you went on average less than once per week then the cost would go up to £38 per month. So as you can see it is quite a pro-active approach in that sense.

PHRep: This is reviewed every 3 months to ensure the level of attendance is being maintained.

MP: Now after the first 3 months, if my attendance has been for More than 3 days a week, will the total of £75 be returned?

MP: by return I mean if it would be readjusted with my premium in the future

PHRep: No. The 3 months costs are a standard charge. We start everyone off as an 'occasional user' and let you build up the evidence of your attendance from there.

MP: Ok. Is there an agreement/lock-in period of 1 year with PruHealth?

PHRep: The PruHealth plan does come up for renewal every 12 months, but you can cancel this at any time by writing in and giving 30 days notice. You can also call us on 0800 092 7333 to give notice as well. This will also cancel the gym membership (ie; to cancel the gym membership you have to cancel the health cover).

PHRep: How does that sound to you?

MP: So, if I agree to join PruHealth and for now start to go to the gym but at a later date if I stop going to the gym, and ask to opt out of that option, but retain the PruHealth insurance - will I still be charged for the membership of 25~ for the gym every month?

PHRep: To cancel the gym membership, you need to cancel the insurance. If you tried to cancel the gym on its own then the club would hold you to their minimum term, generally 12 months.

MP: Ok to cancel the insurance with PruHealth, are there any cancellation fees? Other than the 30 days notice - is there anything else?

PHRep: No you will only pay for the period your policy is active.

MP: Now as you said, if I cancel my PruHealth, it will cancel my gym membership as well - but is there a cancellation fee I will pay to the gym (either directly or through you)?

PHRep: No, when you cancel the insurance that will cancel your gym as well. Again you only pay for the period it is active

MP: Ok thanks. If I happen to change my residence during the year - can I change the gym as well? Can I switch between different Gyms (LA to Virgin)? Or Can I switch to a gym within the group (LA one to LA two)?#

PHRep: Concessions are made for change of circumstance such as moving home so you would be able to switch to a more convenient branch. But this cannot be to a different gym network. (ie: LA to Virgin is not possible, but LA to LA is.)

PHRep: Do you understand that ok MP?

MP: So at the end of the year - if I were to renew my contract with PruHealth could I then change LA - Virgin. Also since the switch is restricted, if I were not to feel comfortable with a particular gym - is there a grace period (cooling off) period. Thanks for you patience, I just want to be clear of all the terms and conditions before I jump in.

PHRep: The contact period with the gyms would be no more that the 12 months anyway. So if you reach the end of your policy and gym year and wanted to switch then there should no problems in switching you across....

PHRep: ...In terms of a grace period...

PHRep: You don't have to join the gym immediately. We suggest that you pop along to the club and check it out first. If you like what you see, then if it is LA Fitness you went with, you can just go to their website (https://www.lafitness.co.uk/pruvitality ) and follow the on-line instructions to activate your membership.

MP: That sounds good. You also mentioned that the average gym usage fee (less than 2 times a week) is 25. Is this going to remain constant? Also how do you calculate the 2 times a week average? Over the course of a month - 3 months?

PHRep: Less than once a week on average would make you an Infrequent user. Between 1 & 2 times a week on average then you would be an Occasional user. And 2 or more times a week on average then you would be classed as a Regular user. The average is over the quarter(every 3 months). All they would do is look at how many days were in the 3 months and how often you went, and work out the average.

MP: That is good. Thanks.

PHRep: The idea with the 3 months is so that if you were away for a period(holiday..etc) then you would have a chance to maintain your level of attendance.

PHRep: Do you follow what I mean MP?

MP: Ah great. It makes sense. And about the £25, will it remain the same as in the agreement, say if I become an average user (2 times a week)? Or can the amount change over the course of the membership

PHRep: In terms of the gym costs for the LA Fitness we spoke of earlier....

MP: yes

PHRep: ... If you go on average over the quarter, 2 or more times per week then the cost of the gym drops down from the £25 per month to £0 per month. As I say, the attendance is reviewed every quarter to ensure you are maintaining your level of attendance.

MP: yes I understood that - what I meant to ask was, if I start off and continue to remain as an average user - will the rate of £25 now promised change? can it become say £35 for an average user later, say 6 months down the line

PHRep: How does that sound to you MP?

PHRep: Ah right, I see what you mean..

PHRep: .. the rates are subject to change. They could be renegotiated between the PruHealth and the gym. If that were to ever happen, you would be notified in writing and afforded the opportunity to cancel.

MP: Great. Now the last question I had, are there any restrictions on the Gym usage

MP: meaning can only use in Non-peak hours

MP: or can not go to a subsidiary gym?

MP: meaning a branch other than where I am registered at

PHRep: It is a standard membership meaning you can use it whenever you wanted. The costs I explained earlier were for the one club. If you wanted to use multiple clubs then the rates would be a bit higher.

MP: Could you let me know about that - for an average user and also for an above average user

PHRep: Sure. There are two different sets of rates. The fist would not include the South Kensington Branch, and the second would. That club is their flagship club, so to include it, the rate would again be higher.

PHRep: What one would you like me to go over for you?

MP: Without South Kensigton would be fine. Also if you can let me know what I would have to pay for Virgin Active at Canary Wharf

PHRep: Sure, fist I'll go over the LA Fitness for a multi club membership...

MP: ok

PHRep: First, there is a one off activation fee of £25. Then for the first 3 months for this club you would pay £45 per month. At the end of the 3 months we would review it to see how often you have gone. If you were a regular user, going on average 2 or more times per week over the quarter then the cost would drop down to £20 per month. If you were going on average between 1 & 2 times a week over the quarter then the cost would stay at £45 per month, and if you went on average less than once per week then the cost would go up to £58 per month. So as you can see it is quite a pro-active approach in that sense. Again this is reviewed every 3 months to ensure the level of attendance is being maintained.

MP: Ok this sounds good. About the Virgin membership ....

PHRep: The Canary Wharf club is one of Virgins Classic clubs so the costs will be higher again...

PHRep: ...First, there is a one off activation fee of £25. Then for the first 3 months for this club you would pay £75 per month. At the end of the 3 months we would review it to see how often you have gone. If you were a regular user, going on average 2 or more times per week over the quarter then the cost would drop down to £50 per month. If you were going on average between 1 & 2 times a week over the quarter then the cost would stay at £75 per month, and if you went on average less than once per week then the cost would go up to £88 per month. So as you can see it is quite a pro-active approach in that sense.

PHRep: This is reviewed every 3 months to ensure the level of attendance is being maintained.

PHRep: What's you feelings on that?

MP: Ok this sounds good. Thanks for all this info. I will decide upon this today and proceed further with joining PruHealth

MP: Thanks again for you patience.

Woodyrocks

Harbinger is there something crucial I have missed in your above post??

reehsetin

harbinger13 wrote: »

First, there is a one off activation fee of £25. Then for the first 3 months for this club you would pay £25 per month. At the end of the 3 months we would review it to see how often you have gone. If you were a regular user, going on average 2 or more times per week over the quarter then the cost would drop down to £0 per month. If you were going on average between 1 & 2 times a week over the quarter then the cost would stay at £25 per month, and if you went on average less than once per week then the cost would go up to £38 per month. So as you can see it is quite a pro-active approach in that sense.

after the 1st 3month review do they refund the £75 if it turns out you have been a regular user

gsmmad

no ............

wheezyb

Just been on the nectar site and they're offering an additional 10,000 nectar points on the pruhealth deal until Feb 8th.

http://www.nectar.com/dynamic/estores/retailer/pruhealth

sly_dog_jonah

I've just come to the end of my first quarter on the PruHealth deal with Cannons Membership. I signed up via quidco and should get £115 cashback which has been validated but not yet paid (takes 4months apparently).

My monthly premium for the first year is £27.11: 28year old male N/S, no previous except recent knee surgery to fix ski injury [exempted from Pru cover] with the minimum excess allowed through online application, not using London Private hospitals. My Gym membership was £25/month for the first 3 months, now dropping to £0, plus a £25 joining fee.

Assuming I am able to maintain my attendance at the gym, my net cost for the year will be £310.32 or on average £25.86/month. Even this is a bargain in my opinion, most London gyms charge (well) in excess of £40/month.

The real bonus comes next year when my vitality status will be platinum (thanks to regular gym visits, plus bi-annual fitness assessments) meaning I will get a 100% no claims discount (assuming I make no claims) on the Pru insurance next year. With the gym remaining at £0 per month if i keep attendance up, the overall year 2 cost will be £0.

Evaluating it over two years then the cost plummets to £12.93 a month or 43p a day : an absolute bargain by any standards. I cannot recommend this highly enough if your insurance premium is anything like as cheap as mine, you are a keen gym goer and you live or work near a participating gym.

mumofjusttwo

How much do you need to do in your first year to be a 'platinum' member?
Does it really make it £0 to pay of is there some way that they get around it? Don't want to try and achieve the impossible.

Had a look at another fitness club today but for the amount of money tghey wanted the club was pants!!


Thank You

ffffffff_2

The real bonus comes next year when my vitality status will be platinum (thanks to regular gym visits, plus bi-annual fitness assessments) meaning I will get a 100% no claims discount (assuming I make no claims) on the Pru insurance next year. With the gym remaining at £0 per month if i keep attendance up, the overall year 2 cost will be £0.

Evaluating it over two years then the cost plummets to £12.93 a month or 43p a day : an absolute bargain by any standards. I cannot recommend this highly enough if your insurance premium is anything like as cheap as mine, you are a keen gym goer and [/quote]

Your second year's cost would not be NIL as pru will add annual increase to your second year's premium. Hopefully it would not to too excessive.