Trupanion Pet Insurance Review
If you've ever dealt with an insurance company, you know how complex their policies can be, with confusing terms, deductibles and premiums. Trupanion, however, stands out in some ways within the pet insurance industry. Unlike many other pet insurance providers, Trupanion offers a deductible of $0 and direct payment to vets.
But how much does Trupanion cost, what does Trupanion cover, and, ultimately, is Trupanion worth it? In this Trupanion pet insurance review you'll discover all of this and more.
Best for unlimited payouts
What is Trupanion? It’s one of the few pet insurance companies that pays vets directly for your bill. Trupanion stands out as one of the best pet insurance companies because it offers unlimited payouts and up to 90% reimbursement. Additionally, Trupanion’s direct payment software, Trupanion Express, means you don’t have to pay upfront with a participating Trupanion vet. Instead, your vet can file the claim and receive payment directly from Trupanion.
Trupanion Pet Insurance Pros and Cons
- Offers a direct pay option
- Doesn't increase premiums as your pet gets older
- No annual payout limits
- Reimbursement level is 90%
- Doesn't offer wellness coverage
- More expensive than other pet insurance companies
- Exam fees are not covered
Pros explained
Trupanion insurance has four key benefits: direct pay to vets, level premiums, no annual payout limits and healthy reimbursement levels. Here’s what that means for you and your pet in detail.
Offers a direct pay option
Trupanion offers a convenient feature called Vet Direct Pay, which uses specialized software to instantly pay the vet directly during checkout. With this system, you only need to pay your part of the claim to the vet, while Trupanion takes care of the rest. This eliminates the hassle of the traditional reimbursement process. The software provides clear visibility into what expenses are covered and excluded, so you know how much you're responsible for paying.
For you to benefit from this feature, your vet's office must have Trupanion's Vet Direct Pay software installed. In cases where the software is not available, Trupanion claims typically take up to two days to process. Learning how to make a pet insurance claim can be a bit of a hassle, so Trupanion’s ease of use is a highlight.
Doesn't increase premiums as your pet gets older
Like other pet insurance providers, Trupanion determines its premium rates by considering factors such as your pet's species, breed, age and your location. Generally, smaller and younger pets with fewer hereditary or congenital health risks have lower monthly premiums. What sets Trupanion apart is the claim that it only adjusts monthly premiums to align with inflation in the veterinary industry. In contrast, other companies increase premiums annually based on your pet's age. It's worth noting that if you enrolled your pet today, Trupanion would calculate the premium based on their current age.
No annual payout limits
Unlike many of its competitors, Trupanion insurance for pets doesn’t have annual payout limits. This is a helpful feature for pets at risk of inherited conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia, lymphoma, hypothyroidism and others. With limited payouts offered by other companies, if your pet has a condition or accident that costs more than your insurance company’s payout limit, you’ll be on the hook for the rest.
Reimbursement level is 90%
While many pet insurance companies let you choose your reimbursement level, Trupanion’s is 90%. However, Trupanion pet insurance coverage for veterans with service dogs is 100%. If you’re looking for peace of mind with pet insurance, Trupanion is a solid option because the company will cover almost all of your bills.
On the other hand, the high reimbursement level is likely one of the reasons that the Trupanion pet insurance cost is relatively high. You’ll want to look elsewhere for the best cheap pet insurance companies and smart ways to save money on your pets if cost is a top concern.
Cons explained
If you read through various Trupanion pet insurance reviews, common complaints that Trupanion coverage doesn’t include wellness visits or pet exam fees tend to pop up. The company is also more expensive than others in the industry.
Doesn't offer wellness coverage
Some insurance companies provide wellness plans that offer partial coverage for preventive care, like vaccinations. However, Trupanion solely focuses on accident and illness plans and does not offer wellness options.
More expensive than other pet insurance companies
If you get a Trupanion pet insurance quote, you’ll quickly find it’s more expensive than many other pet insurance companies. While many insurers offer various plans for accidents, illness and wellness, as well as different reimbursement levels, Trupanion only has a single plan focused on accidents and illness.
However, the comprehensive coverage offered by Trupanion contributes to the higher premiums associated with the plan. Before following through with any pet insurance, especially a higher-priced Trupanion quote, you’ll want to carefully consider: is pet insurance worth it? If your pet has a fairly typical medical life, you won't get much financial return on the premiums you pay. If your pet has an expensive medical problem, however, your policy could save you quite a bit of money.
Exam fees are not covered
If your pet has a complex medical condition that requires numerous exams, those fees can rack up quickly. That’s why you’ll find the lack of exam coverage as a complaint in Trupanion reviews from customers. One customer mentioned that their dog’s last emergency vet visit required two exams: one when the dog was admitted and one with a specialist. Since Trupanion doesn’t cover exam fees, that customer paid $475 for those two exams.
Trupanion pet insurance plans
Trupanion has one pet insurance plan that covers 90% of eligible expenses, including diagnostic tests, surgeries, medications and hospital stays. Here are the specifics.
Accident and illness coverage
Trupanion’s plan covers unexpected accidents and illnesses, including cancer and inherited conditions specific to your pet’s breed. Additionally, the company covers conditions your pet developed before birth, such as heart disease, liver disease, cataracts and nervous system issues. Trupanion also covers treatments related to unexpected illnesses and accidents, including:
- Veterinary supplements
- Herbal therapy
- Medications
- Orthotics
- Prosthetic devices and carts
Remember, Trupanion doesn’t cover routine care such as neutering.
Add-on coverages
Additionally, you can buy extra coverage for recovery and alternative therapies like:
- Behavior modification
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Homeopathy
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic
- Naturopathy
- Hydrotherapy
Another additional coverage option is for unexpected situations that could arise, such as:
- Boarding fees for your pet if you’re in the hospital
- Liability insurance coverage for third-party property damage
- Advertising and reward fees if your pet goes missing
- Cremation or burial for deaths due to accident
- Cancellation costs if you have to cancel a vacation because your pet gets ill or injured
Trupanion pet insurance pricing
We’ve found Trupanion’s prices to be high compared to its competitors. To give you an idea of what premiums you can expect to pay with Trupanion, we got quotes for a dog and a cat breed at different ages. The following quotes are for a pet owner in Denver, Colorado, zip code 80204.
Sample pricing for dog
| $0 Deductible | $200 Deductible | $700 Deductible | |
| One-Year-Old Pomeranian (Female) | $138.32 per month | $81.90 per month | $46.87 per month |
| Five-Year-Old Pomeranian | $267.36 per month | $155.50 per month | $86.06 per month |
| Nine-Year-Old Pomeranian | $416.16 per month | $240.38 per month | $131.25 per month |
Sample pricing for cat
| $0 Deductible | $200 Deductible | $700 Deductible | |
| One-Year-Old Maine Coon | $70.50 per month | $43.21 per month | $26.27 per month |
| Five-Year-Old Maine Coon | $141.95 per month | $83.97 per month | $47.97 per month |
| Nine-Year-Old Maine Coon | $261.10 per month | $151.93 per month | $84.16 per month |
Like other pet insurance companies, Trupanion premiums can vary widely based on a number of factors. The company calculates premiums based on your pet's individual characteristics, such as breed and age, as well as where you live and which deductible you choose. You can get a quote on their website.
It’s worth noting that Trupanion differs from most pet insurance companies in its deductible structure. Trupanion’s deductible is per condition, meaning you must meet your deductible once per medical condition before Trupanion reimburses you. Other companies’ deductible is per year, meaning you must meet your deductible every year before Trupanion reimburses you.
Trupanion pet insurance financial stability
Trupanion’s policies are underwritten by the American Pet Insurance Company, which has been rated by Demotech. The insurer received an "A’ (A Prime)" Financial Stability Rating, meaning the company is very financially stable. [https://www.demotech.com/company/12190/]
Trupanion pet insurance accessibility
It is relatively easy to buy insurance with Trupanion. The company provides information, a quote generator and downloadable policy examples on its website, similar to other pet insurers. But it stands apart with its 24/7 customer support.
Availability
Trupanion customer service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Trupanion’s policies are open to residents of all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Contact information
Below is Trupanion’s contact information.
- Phone: 888.733.2685
- Email: info@Trupanion.com
- Chat: Chat link
User experience
After you choose Trupanion for your pet, you create a Trupanion login on the company's website. There you can pay your bill and access the Trupanion claim form. To cancel Trupanion insurance coverage, the company requires you to give written notice.
Trupanion pet insurance customer satisfaction
On online review sites, Trupanion’s review score ranges from 2/5 to 4.3/5. The Better Business Bureau has accredited Trupanion and given the company an “A” rating.
The company typically covers hospitalization, including surgery. They should also cover diagnostic testing, cancer treatment, congenital and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia and chronic conditions like diabetes.
As for medications, you can expect coverage for prescription medications along with supplements and herbs. Prosthetics and orthotics are also within scope, as a rule. Finally, Trupanion is among the insurers that cover the cost of euthanasia for a pet.
Finally, like almost all insurers, Trupanion imposes waiting periods after you enroll for a policy before which you can have treatment covered. The cost to treat injuries that occur within five days of enrolling will not be covered. For illness, that waiting period is a full 30 days after enrollment.
Furthermore, Trupanion provides limited coverage for prescription diets, reimbursing only 50% of the cost of prescribed food for a maximum of two months. This coverage applies only if the food is specifically recommended to treat an illness or injury covered by the policy, meaning Trupanion doesn't cover special diets for pre-existing conditions. Trupanion also has a very short lifetime limit of 90 days' worth of coverage for prescription food.
Trupanion is also well-suited for breeders and those who adopt very young pets because it doesn't impose a minimum age requirement. You can enroll your pets from birth, minimizing the risk of preexisting conditions affecting coverage later. If your pet does have pre-existing conditions, though, you'll want to search specifically for pet insurance for pre-existing conditions instead.
Additionally, it's important to note that Trupanion's plans can be pricey, and they don't offer the flexibility to adjust reimbursement percentages or annual benefit maximums to lower premiums. Additionally, the Trupanion waiting period is longer than some of its competitors. Trupanion has a 30-day waiting period, while some competitors offer 14 days.
How we evaluated Trupanion Pet Insurance
To evaluate the company in our Trupanion pet insurance review, we looked at the following factors:
- Reimbursement level: We considered Trupanion's reimbursement level and its overall value
- Annual and lifetime caps: We evaluated Trupanion's premium caps versus competitors.
- Policy exclusions and restrictions: We looked at the fine print in Trupanion's policies to see what is and isn't covered
- Add-on options: We considered coverage in Trupanion's basic policy as well as add-on options for extra cost
- Wellness coverage: Trupanion's lack of wellness coverage stood out
- Third-party financial ratings: We considered whether customer claims are likely to be paid
- Customer support and satisfaction: We accessed trusted third-party review sites and customer service options
Summary of Money's Trupanion pet Insurance Review
Unlike other pet insurance companies with payout limits per condition, year or lifetime, Trupanion has no payout limit. Additionally, Trupanion can pay your vet directly, so you don't have to wait for reimbursement. Although Trupanion only offers one plan option with a high reimbursement level, resulting in higher premiums compared to others, it can still be a great choice, particularly if your pet's breed is susceptible to hereditary diseases.
To ensure you find the right coverage that suits your budget, compare rates from other companies before finalizing your policy with Trupanion. It's best to research vet visit costs in your area to determine whether pet insurance is likely to save you money.