Boost for gym fans

Fit people could pay up to a fifth less for health cover in a policy from a leading insurer.

Prudential UK said yesterday that it will charge lower premiums to customers who spend more time in the gym and are healthier.

Bosses are working on the assumption that these clients will make fewer claims by taking better care of themselves.

Regular checks will test their health and fitness to ensure they are putting in the effort to stay in trim.

Committed gym-goers will also earn points to count towards prizes such as cheap cinema tickets and flights.

Catherine McGrath, chief executive of the PruHealth venture, said: 'The current system revolves around paying for sickness, not promoting health and wellbeing. We are going to change that.'

From January, policyholders will be able to cut their costs by giving up smoking, taking more exercise or coping

with health problems better.

For example, asthma sufferers who do everything medically possible for their condition will be rewarded.

The saving on premiums could be up to 20 per cent for the most health-conscious.

This would cut the annual cost for an average male

customer from around £1,200 to about £960.

Customers can also expect to save more than 50 per cent on their gym membership at the insurer's partners, Holmes Place and Cannons.

Around 6.7million Britons have private medical cover in a market worth £2.9billion. The venture comes amid growing concern at the rising number of obese Britons.

The problem brings related illnesses such as hear t disease, high blood pressure, increased risk of some cancers and diabetes.