
Trupanion Pet Insurance
Vault Verified
Expert Take
Trupanion’s pet insurance provides “nose-to-tail” coverage for cats and dogs up to age 14. Through VetDirect Pay™, Trupanion can pay your vet directly so you pay less upfront. However, Trupanion’spet insurance policy doesn’t provide any coverage for exams, routine care or preventative care. And unlike some of its competitors, there is no optional wellness plan available.
Pros
- No annual or lifetime maximum coverage limit
- Offers VetDirect Pay™
- Has 24/7 customer service
Cons
- No discounts available
- Doesn’t offer an optional wellness plan
- Extra cost for alternative and holistic therapy coverage
Vault’s Viewpoint on Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion is an excellent pet insurance company for dog and cat owners who want to limit their out-of-pocket payments at the vet. With VetDirect Pay™, Trupanion pays its portion of the bill upfront before you leave the vet’s office (at participating vets). To compare, most other pet insurance companies require pet owners to pay the entire bill upfront and wait to get reimbursed.
Another benefit of Trupanion pet insurance is that there are no maximum annual or lifetime coverage limits. That can be beneficial for pets who may be predisposed to medical conditions. Dogs and cats are eligible for Trupanion pet insurance up to age 14, but it pays to get coverage when your dog or cat is young—Trupanion doesn’t raise premiums as pets get older.
While Trupanion has unique benefits, it’s not the best pet insurance company for everyone. Most notably, Trupanion doesn’t provide any coverage for routine care or preventative care—like exam fees, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and flea and tick medications. Many of the best pet insurance companies sell an optional plan that covers preventative vet services.
About Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion offers an accident and illness pet insurance plan that covers dogs and cats. The plan provides 90% reimbursement for covered veterinary services, and the deductible options range from $0 to $1,000. Trupanion’s pet insurance policy has no annual or lifetime maximum coverage limits, and you can use VetDirect Pay™ at participating vet clinics and animal hospitals.
Pet insurance from Trupanion pays for a wide variety of pet medical conditions and vet services, but not everything is covered. For example, you can’t get coverage for routine exams or preventative care. The standard plan doesn’t cover holistic or alternative therapies, but you can add a recovery and complementary care rider to get coverage for things like acupuncture, chiropractic care and rehabilitative therapy.
Like many pet insurance companies, Trupanion’s plan has waiting periods for accidents and illnesses. There is a five-day waiting period for accidents and injuries, and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses. The waiting period begins on the day your coverage takes effect. Claims for accidents and illnesses are only covered after the waiting period ends. If your dog or cat needs medical attention for an accident or injury during the waiting period, the claim will not be covered.
Annual Max Coverage | None |
Reimbursement Rates | 90% |
Deductibles | $0 – $1,000 |
Policy Highlights | Accident and illness coverage, direct payments to veterinarians, no maximum coverage limits |
Who Is Trupanion Pet Insurance Best For?
Based on our Trupanion pet insurance review, we found that it’s best for dog and cat owners who want to take advantage of automatic direct vet payments. Unlike most other pet insurance providers, when you take your pet to the vet or animal hospital, you don’t have to pay the entire bill upfront, submit a claim and wait to get reimbursed. Trupanion pays its portion of the bill first, and you pay the rest out-of-pocket. Keep in mind, however, that you can only use VetDirect Pay™ with participating veterinarians. If your vet doesn’t accept VetDirect Pay™, you must pay the entire bill and go through the claims process.
We also recommend Trupanion pet insurance for people who want a pet insurance plan with no maximum coverage limits. Trupanion’s accident and illness pet insurance plan has no annual or lifetime maximum coverage limits for insured pets. Unlike other pet insurance companies that cap the maximum coverage limit or charge extra for unlimited coverage, Trupanion pet insurance comes with no maximum coverage caps—regardless of whether your pet has minimal healthcare needs or requires expensive treatment for multiple conditions.
Is Trupanion Trustworthy?
Trupanion is a trustworthy pet insurance company, receiving a “Great” rating from Trustpilot and averaging 4.1 out of 5 stars based on more than 7,000 Trupanion reviews. According to its website, Trupanion has more than 1 million customers, and 8 out of 10 customers have said that their Trupanion policy helped save their dog or cat’s life. Since the company’s founding in 1998, it has paid $2 billion in claims.
However, Trupanion’s rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) isn’t as impressive. While the company has an A+ rating from the BBB, it has an average customer review of 1.12 out of 5 stars based on about 140 reviews. There have been 178 complaints closed in the last three years and 94 complaints closed in the last year alone.
In the U.S., Trupanion’s pet insurance policies are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company and ZPIC Insurance Company. American Pet Insurance Company receives fewer complaints than expected for its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). ZPIC Insurance Company does not have a complaint index from the NAIC.
How Does Trupanion Pet Insurance Stack Up to Its Competitors?
If you’re in the market for pet insurance, you might be wondering if Trupanion offers a quality pet insurance policy. While Trupanion stands out as one of the top pet insurance companies, there are many other pet insurance providers that may be a better fit for your pet’s needs.
Before choosing a pet insurance company, it’s important to research and compare several providers to find the best one. See how Trupanion pet insurance compares to some of its biggest competitors.
Trupanion Pet Insurance vs. Pets Best
Pets Best offers two different pet insurance plans—an accident-only plan and an accident and illness plan. There are also two optional pet wellness plans, which cover things like vet exams, teeth cleaning, spaying/neutering, vaccines, diagnostic testing and microchipping.
When you purchase pet insurance from Pets Best, you can choose from a $5,000 annual coverage limit or unlimited annual coverage—there are no options in between. The deductible options range from $50 to $1,000 and the reimbursement options are 70%, 80% or 90%.
One of the benefits of Pets Best vs. Trupanion is that Pets Best has shorter waiting periods. In most states, there is a three-day waiting period for accidents, a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and a six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions. If you purchase a wellness plan, there is typically no waiting period to use those benefits.
If you want to insure an older pet, Pets Best is also a better option than Trupanion. Pets Best has no upper age limit for insuring dogs or cats. Trupanion, on the other hand, only provides pet insurance for cats and dogs up to 14 years old, regardless of their medical history. With Pets Best, you can insure puppies and kittens starting at seven weeks old.
Trupanion Pet Insurance vs. Embrace
Embrace offers comprehensive pet insurance plans that cover a variety of conditions, like dental illnesses, cancer, chronic conditions, diabetes and orthopedic conditions. It also includes coverage for emergency care, hospitalization, prescriptions, diagnostic exams and testing, rehabilitation and more.
Like most pet insurance companies, Embrace’s pet insurance plan has waiting periods. There is a 14-day waiting period for illnesses before your plan will start paying for covered services. However, injuries are covered on the day your policy becomes effective. This is shorter than both Trupanion’s waiting time for accidents (five days) and for illnesses (30 days).
In addition to its accident and illness plan, Embrace also sells an optional Wellness Rewards plan. You can choose an annual coverage limit of $250, $450 or $650 and put the funds towards eligible preventative services. You also get an additional $25 to spend on preventative care services, including ones that aren’t normally covered.
Embrace can also be an excellent pet insurance provider if you have multiple pets. When you insure more than one dog or cat, you can earn a 10% multi-pet discount. Trupanion doesn’t offer any discounts, regardless of the number of pets you insure.
Trupanion Pet Insurance vs. Figo
Figo sells accident and illness pet insurance for dogs and cats. The plan provides coverage for things like injuries, common illnesses, chronic conditions, congenital and hereditary disorders, dental injuries, holistic treatments, surgeries and some curable preexisting conditions. There are also two “powerups,” or optional coverages—a wellness plan and a plan that covers exam fees for accident and illness visits.
Figo’s pet insurance plan reimburses 70%, 80% or 90% of your pet’s vet bills, and you can choose annual coverage limits of $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited. The deductible options range from $100 to $750, so there are fewer deductible choices compared to what Trupanion offers. Keep in mind that choosing a higher deductible will result in a lower annual premium.
Unlike Trupanion, Figo doesn’t offer direct vet payments. When you take your pet to the vet, you must pay the entire bill upfront and submit a claim to get reimbursed. However, Figo makes it easy to file claims online or in the Pet Cloud mobile app. Most claims are paid in less than three business days.
Another benefit of Figo vs. Trupanion is that Figo offers pet insurance discounts. You can earn an automatic 5% discount when you insure more than one pet with Figo. The company also offers a discount to eligible military personnel in most states
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Trupanion Cover Dental Claims?
Yes, Trupanion covers dental claims for new and unexpected dental issues. The plan will cover the cost of your pet’s dental care related to dental injuries, dental illnesses, extractions, dental crowns, tooth repairs, root canals and more. However, Trupanion doesn’t cover preventative dental care, like teeth cleanings.
Does Trupanion Cover Emergency Visits?
A Trupanion pet insurance policy does cover emergency visits. If your dog or cat needs emergency veterinary care due to an accident or illness, your normal coverage applies to all eligible medical conditions and treatments. Keep in mind that Trupanion doesn’t cover exam fees, including emergency exam fees, so you will have to pay for some of your pet’s emergency care out-of-pocket.
Is Trupanion Expensive?
The cost of pet insurance from Trupanion depends on many factors, including your location, your pet’s age and breed, your coverage limits and your deductible. However, Trupanion doesn’t raise premiums for insured pets as they get older, which can keep your insurance costs low. You can get a personalized rate quote from Trupanion online, over the phone or through the online chat feature. Comparing quotes from Trupanion and several other insurers will help you find the cheapest pet insurance.