PruHealth Vitality Experience - wrap up thread - chance for non participants to win £50 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

It's now the end of the 8 week PruHealth Vitality Experience for our 10 lucky participants (here's a snap of them all "wrapped up" in their robes at Champney's last week).

See what one participant thought about the scheme from PruHealth in this video:

See their feedback from month 1 here and there feedback from month 2 here

And you can find out more about your health by discovering your Vitality Age here. The Vitality Age calculator provides you with your Vitality Age, essentially an indicator on how your lifestyle choices are affecting your overall health.

PruHealth say "We believe the more you look after yourself, the healthier you feel. That's why we offer our customers the Vitality programme when they buy our health insurance. Vitality is the world's largest incentive-based wellness programme and can make getting and staying healthy both easier and cheaper, but also reward you for all of your hard work!

"It's been great working with our amazing 'Vitality 10' over the last 2 months – we’ve received some fantastic feedback from the ladies and they've really embraced the PruHealth with Vitality ideals. We appreciate their enthusiasm, positivity and effort as well as their great tips and ideas on how to get kids and families active together. Thank you all for being so generous with your time, we hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have."

We'd like participants as a final round up to let us know their responses to the following questions:

~ How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? [Champney's is one of PruHealth's Vitality partners where members can get up to 75% off a stay!] What treatment did you have?

~ How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months?
What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience?

~ What do you think about the Vitality programme?

~ Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why?

Non participants - for a chance to win a £50 pre-loaded Nectar card, please share on this thread your thoughts on the below questions! Prize draw: Monday 31 March 10am

Would you find the treat of an occasional spa day a good motivational incentive to make healthy choices? From what you've seen or read about, do you think the Vitality programme would work for you? Does the Vitality programme add value to PruHealth’s health insurance?


Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

[loopsngeorge]

~ How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? What treatment did you have?
I had a great time and thought it was a beautiful place - I just wish I could have stayed longer. The lunch was really nice and not too "healthy" if you know what I mean - still laughing about the bossy plates though!
I had a facial and it was very relaxing. All in all a special experience and one I don't suppose I'll be having again any time soon!

~ How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months?
What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience?
Like the others have said it's been a very interesting and fun experience and life without weekly treats is hard to get used to. I think it has made me more aware of my fitness levels, particularly things like how much I need to walk per day. It's also made me more open to trying new foods, particularly things that I might have dismissed before as being too off the wall, like quinoa!

~ Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why?
Yes absolutely, there's nothing not to recommend about it, except I have no idea how the premiums compare with other providers.

[RubySparks]

Non participant - so wish I could have done this! I think it is a great idea, I would love a spa day but other options are a good idea provided they are also relaxing/healthy.

[kentishgirl]

non tester
Would you find the treat of an occasional spa day a good motivational incentive to make healthy choices? Yes, because it reinforces that you should value yourself.

From what you've seen or read about, do you think the Vitality programme would work for you? Yes, I think it would help motivate me.

Does the Vitality programme add value to PruHealth’s health insurance? Yes, I think it's a great idea.

[flamingtoaster]

Non tester:

Would you find the treat of an occasional spa day a good motivational incentive to make healthy choices? I'd prefer a choice - in my case vouchrs for ice-skaing which I adore!

From what you've seen or read about, do you think the Vitality programme would work for you? Not sure time would be a factor

Does the Vitality programme add value to PruHealth’s health insurance? It depends on how much more you have to pay (relative to other providers).

[Audreyblue]

How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? [Champney's is one of PruHealth's Vitality partners where members can get up to 75% off a stay!] What treatment did you have?

It was a beautiful spa venue with gorgeous surroundings and it was definitely a relaxing and peaceful experience. It was so nice to get a treat here and a world away from rushing around being a busy working mum. I had a full body massage and it was heavenly! It was the quickest hour ever! 75% off is a massive discount and if I were a member, I'd definitely take advantage of this.

How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months? What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience?

Extremely eye-opening and immensely positive. I really tried my best to incorporate exercise and healthy eating into our lives. The gym was the biggest benefit for me. I shall really miss it! But with me working part-time, I wouldn't be able to afford it.

What do you think about the Vitality programme?
I love the fact that, unlike other healthcare providers, the programme focuses on prevention rather than cure. I also think the idea of getting rewards for keeping yourself fit is brilliant. I love the whole concept. All in all it is a wonderful programme that is designed extremely well.

Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why
Absolutely. It is a fabulous programme designed to incorporate health and fitness into your life.

[MakkaPakkasSponge]

Non tester. I like the idea of having an incentive. Spa day is good, or some other sort of day out of my choice (so it could be a family activity).

Having said that, I think time could be an issue for me following the plan, and I probably wouldn't consider it until DC are older - my baby takes up too much time.

I like the idea of it though, and it sounds to me like the vitality program does add value and would provide a good incentive for living more healthily.

[Fillybuster]

Non-tester here (and still devastated!)

I like the idea of spa days as an incentive but I suspect I would feel that was a bit patronising/un-creative as a stand-alone offer...

I think it would be more compelling and engaging (also from a long term perspective) if combined with some of the other 'nice stuff' that's formed part of this test experience. For example, it might be nice to choose a spa day or a fitband or some new sports kit and so on. Or qualify for a spa day after x amount of time on the programme, and then for something else when you've accumulated y volume of points. And so on.

Overall, I think the Vitality programme looks great and would be a real value-add to the insurance package. I don't think it would be enough to make me select it on that basis, but it would certainly add to the sticky/churn reduction factor.

[Fillybuster]

Ahem. Demographic.

Although "middle aged demongraphic" has a certain MN ring to it

[CheeryCherry]

Non tester here...I love the idea of an occasional spa day...I have never had one but the thought of a full day of relaxation sounds heavenly. The Vitality programme seems accessible to most people and would remind us to focus on general family well being. I like the idea of it being linked to a health insurance as an incentive.

[CrewElla]

Non Participant

Would you find the treat of an occasional spa day a good motivational incentive to make healthy choices?
Yes, if it were at a spa close to home. It's to hard to plan a day of travel surrounding a spa treatment or two. It also detracts from the treat if I spend half the day travelling!

From what you've seen or read about, do you think the Vitality programme would work for you?
I'd like to find out

Does the Vitality programme add value to PruHealth’s health insurance
Yes, as long as nothing else suffers as a result, e.g. less coverage because of the rewards.

[themitch21]

Non tester - If I was planning on purchasing health insurance, something like this would definitely grab my attention. I'm not sure how well it would realistically work for me though. I agree with some of the other threads in terms of the rewards. It would be nice to have some alternatives as not everyone is going to be close enough to a participating spa to make it worth while.

[daisybrown]

An occasional spa day, or half day, for couples would be a nice incentive to share.

[addictedtosugar]

I'd rather have year round cheaper health insurance than a reward - a spa day is very very unlikely to be available around here, and childcare would be a nightmare, so unlikely to be taken up.

I think the all round view of health the system is trying to encourage is great.

[nerysw]

Non tester - I don't think the idea of a spa day would be much of an incentive for me - a meal or day out with the family would be a lot more fun.

[GwenStacy]

~ How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? [Champney's is one of PruHealth's Vitality partners where members can get up to 75% off a stay!] What treatment did you have?

Oh, it was lovely! I had a full body massage, and although my back and shoulders weren't noticeably painful, I felt so much better after! It was a lovely day and we really lucked out with the weather - drinks on the terrace was a particular highlight for me, and I only wish I could have stayed longer. I was really surprised how good the food was as well - I was expecting veg and maybe a chicken breast if we were lucky, but the buffet was lovely (less said about the judgy plates the better though!)

~ How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months?
What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience?

I have really, really enjoyed it, and feel so lucky to have been chosen. Having the push to go to the gym did me good I think and I'm definitely more active then even before the baby was born. I applied thinking I would never be chosen, and was pretty amazed when I was. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone at times, and given me a real push to try things I may not have done before - for example, I never thought a PT session is something I would benefit from at all, but I learnt loads and she was fantastic at showing me things I could do at home! I am making much more of an effort to move more - and whilst I didn't like the Fitbug pedometer, I use my Fitbit band religiously to check I am moving!

~ What do you think about the Vitality programme?
~ Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why?

I think it's brilliant, and as a family we've considered signing up once I am back at work! So many of the rewards are just about changing your lifestyle slightly (or a lot - as much as you want to!) to gain rewards - ie, making an effort to move more, making sure you shop healthily, get necessary check ups etc. The rewards are adaptable to your family and whilst we did say it'd be nice to have some more family friendly rewards, things like the cinema tickets are great! The gamification of the system in encouraging you to rack up more points in order to increase your rewards adds incentive to move more and get healthier.

I've always thought health insurance was pretty samey - you pay in and only get a reward if you get ill or injured, but the whole philosophy of this seems to be around prevention - which is good for you and good for them!

[Kewcumber]

We'd like participants as a final round up to let us know their responses to the following questions:

~ How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? [Champney's is one of PruHealth's Vitality partners where members can get up to 75% off a stay!] What treatment did you have? I had a facial - the first one in about 10 years and it was lovely. I seem to remember crying and refusing to let go of the bed when it was finished. Champneys was lovely and relaxing, helped by the weather and the company!

~ How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months? Its been a great experience for me. I focused so much more on trying to be healthier in small ways and surprised myself that I really enjoyed going to the gym which I never have before

What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience? I'm much more focused on eating more healthily and being more actvie generally*
encouraging people to be more healthy to the benefot of the individual and the insurer*
~ What do you think about the Vitality programme? *I think its an interesting philosophy -

~ Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why? Yes absolutely for anyone looking for private health insurance I'd suggest they give it a try. It made me much more focused on trying to live a healthy lifestyle... though I'm not sure how much of that was having the eyes of Mumsnet on me...

Thanks you Pru Health and Mumsnet - it's been brilliant

[smallinthesmoke]

I had a wonderful day at Champneys, thank you so much. I had a facial, which was superb- heated beds and everything. I think it would be very rude to complain about a day off from childcare, spent sat in an outdoor hot tub gossiping about Great Mumsnet Threads of the ages, and then moving to sun loungers by the lawn and discussing why such and such poster was not around any more, and who was trolling ("no! I never knew!" ). And all won in a competition! I felt so lucky.

I have really enjoyed the last two months. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as life changing. First, the every weekly pleasure of some new gift, such as near free trainers, an outing to a previously Too Expensive Place (telling my DD1 we were going on the London Eye and she could choose day or evening, her face was a picture!), wandering round Sainsburys trying new products we would never have chanced...

Second, and most important of all, the two month pass to my local Virgin Active. I have been three or four times a week- once seven times (but that was when my boiler was broken so I was after showers primarily!!), usually swimming, but also Aqua, Body Balance, Zumba Step, Power Plating... A few times I have found myself sat in the sauna thinking, my god, I can't believe I won this competition and I'm here for free. I have lost 3/4 of a stone and am nearly at my wedding weight, all through exercise which I enjoyed doing anyway, and with no starvation diets. Even my MIL noticed! It is not about being thin, just feeling so much better and generally speedier and perkier and happier. I can totally understand why GPs prescribe regular swimming for mental health. So the one positive change that I'm taking away is that we've got the family budget spreadsheets out and with a few economies in other areas, I'm going to join the gym!

I think that the PruHealth Vitality offer makes perfect sense. Healthier members will call on their health insurance less= win for everyone. The gym membership and health screenings are the best benefits- though not everyone will be near a Virgin or an LA Fitness and undoubtably location really matters. (My Virgin gym is very close). The cinema tickets are a great perk but not especially in keeping with the healthy message. Does that matter? I'm not sure.

If my friends were in the market for health insurance, I would definitely recommend that they take a look at PruHealth, their price and their coverage.

Thank you Mumsnet and PruHealth Vitality. It's been great.

[CaptainSinker]

I'm most likely to be motivated to improve my health for its own sake, i.e. because I want to feel well and look after my family. Anything that would help keep me motivated, including aspects of vitality programme, would be most welcome!

[vic1981]

Non tester- like the idea of a reward such as a spa day, however agree with other posters who have suggested a range of other days out/ items would be good as well.

[WalkingThePlank]

~ How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? What treatment did you have?

I thought Champneys was nice and I had a massage. It seems like more of a spa with a hotel attached as opposed to most that are hotels with spas attached. With that in mind, I was surprised that the treatment room was missing some finishing touches (perhaps they never look at the ceilings themselves) and the masseuse seemed quite inexperienced. However, the massage itself was lovely and I could have stayed on the bed for a while longer. I thought the restaurant staff were great too. I was great to meet the Vitality 10 + AnnMumsnet + the lovely Corrine.

~ How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months?
What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience?

My difficulties with the experience are well documented so I'll avoid that question! For me the most positive change has been me going the Health Club. I am usually a road-runner but injured my foot 3 weeks in to this experience and have found the pool and God-send. I am going to look into joining the local LA Fitness who you can also get a discount with via Vitality as that club in much closer but I have perhaps been spoiled at the Virgin club.

~ What do you think about the Vitality programme?
What's not to like. It rewards you without having to do anything e.g the cinema tickets, and helps you focus on relatively small changes that help your over all health.

~ Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why?
I've had quite a few conversations about it already. I met quite a few school mums at the Club who are there because they are Vitality members. If someone was saying they were thinking of getting health-cover I would recommend it because there is considerable value-added which you don't usually get if you don't make a claim.

Thank you to everyone who facilitated this experience and sometimes worked weekends on our behalf. It's really been fun.

[Bagtrainlady]

Apologies for not filling the form in earlier, had a really hectic week ending with DD's birthday. Hope everyone has had a great Mother's Day. We went for our last swim at the gym today (as requested by DD as part of her birthday 'treats')

~ How did you find your visit to Champney's Tring? [Champney's is one of PruHealth's Vitality partners where members can get up to 75% off a stay!] What treatment did you have?
I am a complete spa novice - tbh the idea of going to one gave me the fear as I am quite self-conscious about my psorisas and the thought of wandering around in robe in front of everyone was quite worrying. However having said that I actually enjoyed the day (nobody was staring & pointing at me!) I had a massage with the amazing Pauline - she gave me lots of top tips about the shoulder injury I have including how to self-massage my back & shoulders to get rid of the pain using squash balls, a tennis ball or a golf ball. It is working as well as my shoulders feel almost normal. I wish I could see her on a regular basis!

I too thought the food was lovely and it amused me after our healthy eating talk that cauliflower cheese was deemed healthy because it had seeds cooked into the cheese crust! I would have liked to try the Thalassotherapy pool because it looked very inviting but I ended up just lounging in the outdoor jacuzzi in glorious March sunshine and having a wander round the grounds (with an obligatory MN gossip!)

~ How have you found the Vitality Experience over the past two months?
What's one positive change you've taken away from your Vitality Experience?
I have loved the Vitality Experience - it has been wonderful looking forward to my weekly treat. Colleagues at work have been intrigued and wanted to know what I was up to. I have come into contact with so many people who have excellent customer service skills and treated me so well. It has made me feel extremely fortunate. The lovely lady at Lloyds pharmacy in Southwell who gave me lots of free samples because I was overwhelmed with what to spend my £25 voucher on, the Sweatshop Nottingham staff who were incredibly helpful over the best sports bra to buy and the Virgin Active team at Nottingham who have made going to the gym an enjoyable experience that all my family have benefitted from.

My positive change is around exercise, as a certified couch potato I now feel withdrawal symptoms if I haven't done something energetic a couple of times a week. I am going to sign up for a subsidised gym membership that is available to me through my employer as a result of this past two months.

~ What do you think about the Vitality programme?
I think there are a great number of benefits that you can gain from this scheme, especially if you are prepared to put in the research on the product. The incentives are encouraging and I think if I had been a full member it would spur me on to see my little athlete get into the gold zone or to try and reduce my vitality age. I think the annual health MOT of checking blood pressure etc. is also a positive incentive to try and be more preventative in your health care.

~ Would you recommend PruHealth with Vitality to Mumsnetters and/or your friends and family? Why?
I would recommend this happily to anyone who was looking for health insurance as I think the incentives are a great bonus, though I would advise that you put the initial research in to make sure you got the most out of the benefits available to you. I am also interested to see how the team look at the Family-friendly options as this would definitely make the product more appealing to people in my situation.

Apologies for the essay - but so much happened through the eight weeks. Thanks again to Corrine & her team and Annmumsnet I have felt privileged to have been a member of the Vitality 10. I know I sound quite 'gushy' but I genuinely have had an excellent time.

[Spirael]

Non tester.

Would you find the treat of an occasional spa day a good motivational incentive to make healthy choices?
Potentially, but it would depend on implementation. I work full time and have a young family, so logistically it could be a nightmare if there are limited venues and times available.

From what you've seen or read about, do you think the Vitality programme would work for you?
Possibly, but again with caveat that the program would need to work around a busy family life. Offering a mid-week only activity/reward on the far side of the country, for example, wouldn't be helpful.

Does the Vitality programme add value to PruHealth’s health insurance?
Potentially. If I were in the market for health insurance, and all other things being equal, the Vitality programme might tip the balance in PruHealth's favour. However if the premium was correspondingly high to cover it, I'd go with the cheaper option.

[BooRooandTiggerToo]

Non tester - Personally I love the item of getting a reward for 'being good' so the scheme looks great to me

[CathyAnnis]

Non-participant
A spa dy isn't really my thing, I think it might make me feel uncomfortable although they look like they had a great time but, generally, any motivation to be a bit healthier is a good thing for me. I like how they promoted a long term change in lifestyle rather than some faddy diet, but for myself I think a family day out might be more of an incentive.

[Jinty64]

Non tester.

Would you find the treat of an occasional spa day a good motivational incentive to make healthy choices?
A spa day is not really my thing although I do like a massage. Perhaps vouchers for a range of things.

From what you've seen or read about, do you think the Vitality programme would work for you.
It probably would. I am a member at a local gym. I don't use the gym but use the pool 4/5 times a week. I do find I eat more "mindfully" on days that I have been swimming.

Does the Vitality programme add value to PruHealth’s health insurance?
I think it does and at least it is relevant to the product.