Insurance.

[liam4mail]

Which company should I go with? I am in England... and by the way are most of you?

[Bunsey]

if you don't have any other pets besides hamsters then there's no point in insurance as it will cost you more than you'll ever pay in vets fees. Some hamsters never go to the vets and even one that gets a serious illness will not cost as much as an insurance policy.

[liam4mail]

So are vet fees not expensive for hamsters?

[souffle]

Well you are not so far from us and the most we have ever paid for an op and meds is £57! This is well below the excess for most hamster policies which have yearly premiums of upwards of £100!! Most people like to put away a set sum weekly in a special account which is used for any emergency vet care for their hamsters. Some vets chrage more but not as much as a premium for insurance.

[suga]

Putting a bit by for emergency healthcare money is a good way of doing it. I've paid out over a period of time maybe £50 which isn't a huge amount. Some vets charge a set amount for the first visit and then a little less for subsequent re-visits for check ups if for the same "illness" or "problem". You can check with your local vets what there payment requirements are so you can decide in advance where to take a little one if need be. That way your not trying to decide when you have too, if you get what i mean.

[liam4mail]

Thank you for that. Is it a shame insurance companies are such a scam then, eh?

[liam4mail]

Oh... should hamsters be taken in for check-ups?

[I_am_plankton]

Nope, they don't need checkup's, you just take them when they are ill

[liam4mail]

Thank you I_am_plankton and I pray mine never becomes ill!

[internet_nobody]

Sticking a pound a week into a jar is probably the best insurance!

Checkups and medicine for something simple like an abscess, hurt leg, respiratory infection etc is normally under £20, so insurance is a major waste of money as the excess on the policy is going to be more than your average appointment!