Hamster Health Insurance??

[Louby]

As our 'hamstery' seems to be growing rapidly...i've been thinking about what we would do if they got poorly.

Does anyone have their Hamsters 'insured'? Would you say it was worth it, or would I be better putting the money in a pot in my cupboard?

[souffle]

I am not sure if any of the pet insurers would insure a hamster. :? I have never seen anything available except for dogs, cat and horses really. You could always contact them. It may be better to open a high interest account and try and put certain amount in every month till you have a reasonable fund you feel would cover any major vet fees. You just have to watch you don't use it to buy more hamsters though :wink:

[Louby]

They do it here;

http://www.phapet.com/

But I have a feeling that it may be more cost effective saving money as you suggested.

Just wondered how everyone else does it. If you have got lots of hammies, and a few get ill, it would be VERY pricey in one go!

[souffle]

OMG our four would cost £319 a year to insure with the quote on that site. I think I will stick with the savings plan. :wink:

[Louby]

OMG our four would cost £319 a year to insure with the quote on that site. I think I will stick with the savings plan. :wink:

That was my reaction too! :D

[Spacemonkey]

My quote was over £700 a year last time I checked one out, er, no! :shock:

[agatecrystal]

Mine would cost £319 too not worth it lol.

[Jane]

I don't think you will find any which are worth it.

On a piggy forum I visit this topic comes up a lot but the only companies people find have VERY high quotes - I think it will be similar with any hamster insurance companies you find. Isn't it silly that a tiny animal like a hamster can cost more to insure than a dog or a cat? :?

I think it's better to put away some money every week/month/whenever you have it etc. then when you need it it will be saved up..and if you don't, then well atleast you havn't wasted so much money on insurance. £300+ is a lot to loose when they are unlikely to get ill anyway!

[babyboos]

We used to pay £7.99 per hamster per year but got fed up as most of the illnesses we experienced or reasons to go to a vet weren't covered mainly gynaecological so we started a savings account instead

[sarahh]

Hi ya I think its better to just put money away just incase they have to go to the vet. Alot of ours never needed to see a vet until the end of their days came.

Its different for cats and dogs because they go out etc and need insurance ours are all insured but when it comes to small animals we just pay for them. Alot won't insure anything smaller than a rabbit.

[Holly]

I'm sure, from the pet insurance companies' point of view, insuring hamsters is definitely not worth it - hence the exhorbitant fees so no one in their right mind would do it!

Think about it - hamsters only live around 2 years so they'll only get a few payments before tha hamster gets ill/dies - plus how do you identify a hamster if you are a lay-person? Even vets don't seem to know much about the different breeds let alone different colours and coat types - so, if you were a devious person, you could have 30 hamsters and insure just one of them - if it was woth doing, that is! :twisted:

[Basia]

I stopped insuring the dogs a few years ago because I seemed to be paying the insurance and vet fees because everytime I needed vet treatment it either wasn't covered by the insurance or came to less than the excess.
I have spent over £500 on my poodle this year but balanced out over the last few years and against the fact that the other two haven't needed any serious treatment (thank goodness) I don't think it has cost any more than insuring them would have.
In theory, we are saving the money we used to pay to the insurance company each month towards vet bills, I am not sure that is really happening though!
With the hamsters I am fortunate enough to be able to pay as I go along if vet care is necessary if I wasn't in this position I would do as souffle suggests and have a hamster savings account for rainy days.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

I reckon that over the last 10 years or so the total vet fees for our hamsters have been about £1000. But when you think about it that is only about £1 per hamster. OK, we are experienced enough ourselves to deal with minor ailments such as teeth clipping etc. Most hamsters will never need to see a vet. Unfortunately the one time we had a really serious problem (Tyzzers disease) the only vet with the experience to deal with it was the exotics specialist from Marwell Zoo - and he doesn't come cheap!!