Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

Trupanion offers comprehensive coverage with unlimited payouts, up to 100% reimbursement, and the ability to pay your veterinarian directly. But its higher premiums may not be worth it to some pet parents.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours analyzing Trupanion pet insurance reviews, coverage, and quotes and comparing them to competitors. Keep reading to learn more about the company’s history, plans, and pricing and see why it’s one of our top pet insurance providers.

Some highlights include:

• Best for pet owners who prioritize customer service and unlimited payouts
• Can pay the vet for qualifying claims directly at checkout
• Deductibles can be customized from $0 to $1,000

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of pet insurance by Trupanion:

✔ Pays vets directly at checkout

✔ Provides a discount for assistance animals or therapy pets

✔ Offers unlimited payouts and up to 100% reimbursement

✘ Doesn’t accept new applications for pets over 14 years old

✘ Requires a one-time fee of $35 for new members in some states

Trupanion was founded in Canada in 2000 by Darryl Rawlings. The company expanded to the United States in 2005 and has been a top contender in the pet insurance industry ever since.

During its early days, Trupanion made strides to provide comprehensive coverage for pets’ illnesses and accidents by accepting more claims, which was rare in the pet insurance industry at that time. By doing this, Trupanion helped set the standard for other top pet insurance companies.

Trupanion has since covered more than 800,000 cats and dogs and paid out nearly $2 billion in claims.

Trupanion offers one plan for accidents and illnesses, including the following issues:

• Accidents: Vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, broken bones, infections, tooth trauma
• Illnesses: Elbow and hip dysplasia, diabetes, upper respiratory infections, thyroid disease, heart disease, nervous system issues, cataracts, liver disease, allergies

Here are some examples of procedures and treatments that are covered under a Trupanion plan:

• Procedures: Diagnostic tests, surgery, dental procedures
• Treatments: Hospitalization, prescribed medication, veterinary supplements, herbal therapy, prosthetic devices, 50% of the cost of prescription diet foods

Trupanion also offers two add-ons for additional coverage.*

• Recovery and Complementary Care Rider: This rider covers rehabilitative therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic care, behavioral modification and therapy, homeopathy, and naturopathy.
• Pet Owner Assistance Package: This package covers third-party property damage caused by your pet, advertising and reward money for lost pets, boarding fees, vacation cancellation fees, cremation or burial fees, and prescription diet foods.

*Add-on availability varies by state.

Coverage Exclusions

Trupanion policies don’t cover preexisting conditions, which is defined in a sample policy as an illness or injury your pet showed symptoms of within 18 months prior to enrolling. This includes any condition that occurs during the waiting period.*

Trupanion also excludes exam fees, transportation expenses, elective or cosmetic procedures, preventative care, wellness exams, vaccinations, breeding or pregnancy, processing fees for a medical history transmission, anal gland expression, training injuries, parasitic infections, and spay or neuter procedures from their policies.

*Waiting periods vary by state.

Trupanion’s pricing can vary depending on your location, selected deductible and reimbursement rate, and your pet’s breed, size, and age. You can customize your monthly premium by choosing a deductible between $0 and $1,000.

Our research found that the monthly pricing for the Recovery and Complementary Care Rider varies depending on your pet’s details, but the Pet Owner Assistance Package costs a flat rate of $4.95 per month.

Here are some sample premiums based on quotes we received for a variety of four-year-old dog and cat breeds in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the customized deductible set at $500.

Note that premiums vary by zip code, as well as your pet’s age, breed, species, and gender.

Discounts

Trupanion has a 5% discount for qualifying assistance animals or therapy pets. This unique discount doesn’t cover emotional support animals and isn’t available in Washington. Unlike many competitors, this insurer doesn’t offer a multi-pet discount for adding multiple animals to your policy.

Trupanion is available in all 50 states as well as Washington D.C., Canada, Australia, and Puerto Rico. However, policy details and pricing will vary depending on your location.

For example, the process of purchasing a policy for Florida residents is different than other states. Florida pet owners are required to submit a recent veterinary report from the last 12 months before they can check out or start the enrollment process. Florida residents do not have to pay a deductible for coverage, either.

Because pet insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all product, we recommend getting multiple quotes before choosing a pet insurance provider.

Although Trupanion has an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the company’s profile shows a handful of negative reviews regarding long claims processes and denied payouts, which are common complaints lodged at insurers across the industry.

However, some satisfied customers praised the company’s accountable customer service team.

Here are some examples of Trupanion customer reviews from the BBB:

Renee D. says:

“Excellent customer service. The folks at Trupanion that [I] have had to speak with have been kind and caring. This helps take the financial worry out of a major pet illness [and] leaves me to focus on the more important aspect, getting my pet better. I have never had an issue with any claim and, to me, the prices have been reasonable. It’s insurance. It’s always a crapshoot. But this time it has paid off big time. Thank you, Trupanion!”

William R. says:

“Purchased Trupanion pet insurance for my puppy at [two] months old. Two months later he had a minor injury that required a trip to the vet and an X-ray. They advertise that they pay directly to the vet (any certified veterinarian). That’s why I chose them. Later, I [found] out that they only do this with vets that have their software, which mine did not. So claims take [two] months to decide if they can find a reason to not reimburse you.”

BBB information accurate as of May 2022.

Quickly compare the features of top rated pet insurance providers:

*Based on sample quotes for a mixed four-year-old dog in Raleigh, North Carolina

In our thorough evaluation of Trupanion, we were impressed with its customer service, flexible deductibles, and unique payout structure. However, its lack of a wellness plan and rates may not be an ideal fit for all providers.

If you’re looking for other top alternatives, we recommend checking out some of our other top pet insurance providers, such as Lemonade, Embrace, and Spot as you compare quotes and coverage.

Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews team is dedicated to a thorough, in-depth review of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:

• Coverage (25)
• Plan options (20)
• Monthly cost (20)
• Company reputation (15)
• Customer service (10)
• Species eligibility (10)

Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly pet insurance cost.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.