Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

We decoded Trupanion’s sample policy and compared it to the competition. It’s great for puppies and kittens.
Best for puppies and kittens
trupanion pet insurance
Trupanion
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    Prices don’t increase with pet’s age
  • pro
    Direct-to-vet payment or owner reimbursement
  • pro
    No vet exam required

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Cathy Habas
Apr 28, 2023
Icon Time To Read3 min read

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and 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.

pro
Pros
pro Coverage for newborn puppies and kittens
pro 90% coverage for everyone
pro Unlimited payout for everyone
pro Deductibles between $0 and $1,000
pro Per-condition deductibles
pro Optional alternative therapy coverage
pro Optional owner assistance package
pro Optional breeding-related coverage
con
Cons
con Pets age 14 and older ineligible for enrollment
con No rider for preventative care
con Limited prescription diet coverage
con No multi-pet discount

Trupanion cost

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. 

Deductible range$0–$1,000
Deductible termsPer condition
Coverage range90%
Maximum payoutUnlimited
Policy increases with pet’s age?
Icon No  LightNo
Multi-pet discount
Icon No  LightNo
Enrollment or admin fees
Icon Yes  LightYes ($35 enrollment fee)

Compare Trupanion quotes

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

Pet description
% Coverage
Deductible range
Payout range
Monthly premium range
Recovery & complementary care (optional)
Pet owner assistance (optional)
Learn More
8-week-old male French Bulldog90%$0–$1,000Unlimited$90.51–$394.77/mo.$30.30/mo.$4.95/mo.
2-year-old female Domestic Shorthair90%$0–$1,000Unlimited$29.80–$112.95/mo.$8.28/mo.$4.95/mo.
5-year-old female Labrador Retriever90%$0–$1,000Unlimited$114.76–$507.34/mo.$39.10/mo.$4.95/mo.
8-year-old male German Shepherd90%$0–$1,000Unlimited$162.58–$729.33/mo.$56.45/mo.$4.95/mo.

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

How Trupanion compares

Plan
Best for
Price Icon Tooltip  Dark
Deductible
(term) Icon Tooltip  Dark
Payment method
Unlimited payout available Icon Tooltip  Dark
Learn more
Best overall $100–$750
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightOn top tier
Best for dogs $0–$1,000
(per condition,
lifetime)
Owner reimbursement, direct to vet
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best for budgets $100–$500
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightUp to $100,000/yr.
Best for same-day accident coverage $50–$500
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon No  LightNo—up to $10,000/yr. only
Best for preventative care$100–$1,000
(annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightOn top tier
Best for exotic pets $250
(per condition,
annual)
Owner reimbursement
Icon Yes  LightOn top tier
Best for cats$100–$1,000
(annual)
Owner reimbursement, direct to vet
Icon Yes  LightYes

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Trupanion coverage

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

What’s covered

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.

What costs extra

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%.

What’s never covered

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.

Trupanion policies and procedures

  • 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

Is Trupanion right for you?

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.

How we reviewed Trupanion

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.

Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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