Health Insurance from the PRU
The Pru is one of the best well known companies for providing insurance and their health insurance program is a joint venture known as pruhealth.
Pruhealth is a joint venture between the Pru and Discovery Holdings of South Africa and was launched in October 2004 and has since been voted best individual PMI provider by the health insurance awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The Pru health insurance scheme works like some others know in that the more you change your lifestyle to improve your health the more discounts you are likely to receive. Their scheme is called vitality points where you earn points depending upon what you undertake to improve yourself. With these points you can earn discounts at some of their affiliate partners such as polar heart monitors, Champneys spas and health clubs and cineworld.
The points also mean you get larger no claims discounts on your annual policy depending on what level you attain – they have levels marked as bronze, silver, gold and platinum which could see you receiving a 100% discount on your annual health insurance policy. Sounds great.
The plans
The pru offer 4 main plans which provide different levels of cover and have different excess values and are as follows:
The core plan covers all eligible hospital fees, including specialist fees but offers limited outpatient care related to inpatient hospital stays and includes the Vitality points program so you could save on your premiums at renewal.
The essential plan provides all the cover of the Core Plan outlined above with greater levels of outpatient care. There are some limits that may apply to outpatient care, but not necessarily related to inpatient hospital stays. It also includes the Vitality points system so you could save on your premiums at renewal.
The comprehensive plan offers all the cover of the Essential plan, plus greater levels of outpatient care and higher benefits and the Pru say it offers some of the most comprehensive health cover available and is designed to give you complete peace of mind. It also includes the vitality points system.
The select plan offers all the cover of the Essential plan with increased levels of outpatient cover up to £750 per treatment. Some limits may apply to outpatient care, but not necessarily related to inpatient hospital stays. A compulsory £250 excess each year to keep your premiums down and includes Vitality so you could save on your premiums at renewal. There are also limited gym discounts. If you choose any gym membership it will be charged at Bronze rate regardless of Vitality status.
All there plans include full Cancer cover, a choice of hospitals, NHS cash benefit, private ambulance service and parental accommodation if your child is a patient and 12 years old or under.
There are 3 types of hospital plan when you are looking for cover and your choices are:
- National – cover at all PruHealth private hospitals outside of London.
- London – cover at all PruHealth private national and London hospitals.
- Premier – cover at all PruHealth private national, London and premier hospitals.
Health cover example from PruHealth
Here’s an example of how much cover would cost a family with 2 children.
A family, father 38 years old, mother 34 years old and two children 4 and 2 years old, select London hospitals, and a £0 excess. The parents take regular exercise, do not smoke and have low cholesterol and blood pressure.
Core £152.25 pm
Essential £185.12 pm
Comprehensive £235.59 pm
So those are the minimum that you would likely pay with pruhealth because this couple exercise regularly and don’t smoke or drink. Get a quote today from their website.
