Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

Trupanion isn’t your typical pet insurance. With extensive coverage and some unique policies—like per-condition deductibles and premiums that don’t increase based on age—Trupanion is a great choice for young animals.

We’ve decoded Trupanion’s sample policy, compared it to the competition, and gathered some sample quotes to help you decide if Trupanion’s the right choice for you.

As with all pet insurance companies, Trupanion bases its premium quotes on your pet’s species, breed, and age, as well as your location. Smaller, younger pets with few hereditary or congenital health risks have the lowest monthly premiums.

Trupanion is unique in a few ways, though. First, the company claims its monthly premiums only increase to match inflation in the veterinary industry, whereas other companies raise premiums per year based on your pet’s age.

Second, Trupanion is just one of three pet insurance companies with a direct-to-vet payment option. This means you don’t need to have thousands of dollars on hand to pay the vet out of pocket and then wait for reimbursement. All you need to budget for are the monthly premiums, your deductible, and 10% of eligible vet bills.

Finally, Trupanion’s deductible applies to each diagnosed condition, whereas annual deductibles are more common among other pet insurance companies. This is a beneficial perk for younger pets at risk of chronic conditions like diabetes. 

We used California zip code 90011 to obtain the quotes below. When asked whether the pet was spayed or neutered, we chose no.

You’ll want to consult a Trupanion sample policy for full coverage terms and conditions, but here’s an overview of what to expect.

Trupanion’s comprehensive illness and injury coverage pays for these expenses once your per-condition deductible is reached:

• Hospitalization
• Diagnostic testing
• Surgery
• Prescription medication
• Supplements and herbs
• Congenital and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia
• Chronic conditions like diabetes
• Cancer treatment
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Euthanasia

This is a pretty typical list compared to other providers, but Trupanion does stand out for its coverage of supplements, herbs, prosthetics, and orthotics. Its sample policy also makes no mention of a special waiting period for ligament injuries or hip dysplasia.

Trupanion offers three optional riders for enhanced coverage.

The Recovery and Complementary Care rider covers the following:

• Behavior modification
• Rehabilitative therapy
• Physical therapy
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Homeopathy
• Hydrotherapy
• Naturopathy

The Pet Owner Assistance rider costs a fixed rate of $4.95/month and covers these expenses:

• Cremation or burial for deaths due to accident
• Liability coverage for third-party property damage
• Boarding fees in the event you’re hospitalized
• Missing pet advertising and reward fees
• Holiday vacation cancellation costs due to pet’s illness or injury

Trupanion’s optional coverage for Breeding-related illness and injury is a rare option among pet insurance companies. If you get a quote for an unspayed female, you’ll unlock this option. According to our sample quotes, this rider increases the cost of the monthly premium and the Recovery and Complementary Care package anywhere from 56% to 72%.

Trupanion never covers preventative care:

• Wellness exams
• Annual vaccinations
• Spaying and neutering (unless deemed medically necessary)
• Microchipping
• Routine dental cleaning
• Deworming
• Grooming

In addition, Trupanion offers minimal coverage for prescription diets, paying just 50% of the cost for up to two months, and only when the food is recommended to treat an illness or injury covered by the policy—meaning special diets for pre-existing conditions won’t be covered. Trupanion only covers 90 days’ worth of prescription food during your pet’s lifetime.

Finally, Trupanion won’t cover pre-existing conditions, injuries that happen within five days of signing up for insurance, and illnesses that happen within 30 days of signing up. Waiting periods may vary by state.

Read through the sample policy for other coverage exemptions, such as injuries or illnesses related to commercial use, intentional harm, or even acts of war.

• Payment options: Direct-to-vet or owner reimbursement
• Vet restrictions: Any licensed vet in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and Canada
• Species covered: Dogs and cats
• Age limits: 0 to 14 years at enrollment
• Prerequisites for coverage: None
• Waiting periods: 5 days for injuries, 30 days for illnesses
• Claims processing time: 60% of claims processed within 24 hours

While premium costs will always be a deciding factor, we think Trupanion offers excellent value. While we wish Trupanion offered a preventative care rider and paid for prescription diets long-term, we’re still impressed by its policies and consider it a top contender in the pet insurance industry.

To prepare for our Trupanion review, we read the sample policy for Kentucky, obtained quotes for cats and dogs of different breeds and ages, and compared Trupanion to over 20 competitors across more than 45 criteria. Learn more about how we rank and review by visiting our methodology page.

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