Trupanion Pet Insurance Review 2025
This review examines Trupanion pet insurance, analyzing its coverage, costs, and how it stacks up against other providers. Forbes Advisor’s editorial team is committed to delivering unbiased ratings and information, and advertisers have no influence on those ratings. Data-driven methodologies are used to evaluate insurers.
What You Need to Know About Trupanion
Trupanion offers a single accident and illness pet insurance plan, with optional add-ons for additional coverage. Unlike some competitors, Trupanion does not offer a wellness plan that covers routine checkups and preventative care.
Trupanion’s plan covers a wide array of unexpected health issues.
Types of Coverage
Trupanion’s accident and illness plan includes coverage for:
- Accidents: Includes injuries like lacerations, being hit by a vehicle, broken teeth, and swallowing foreign objects.
- Illnesses: Covers conditions such as allergies, cancer, congenital and genetic conditions, diabetes, and skin infections.
- Hospitalizations: Covers emergency care, surgeries (including anesthesia), vet and technician time, and rehabilitation services.
- Specialist Care: Provides coverage for visits to veterinarians, oncologists, behaviorists, and internal medicine experts. It can also include alternative therapies and rehabilitation like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and chiropractic treatment.
- Prescription Medication: Includes medications prescribed for covered conditions like ear infections, and can include prescription food if the vet prescribes it for a covered problem, such as digestive issues.
- Diagnostics: Includes tests such as CAT scans, blood tests, MRIs, and X-rays.
Add-ons
Additional coverage options from Trupanion include:
- Pet Owner Assistance Package: This covers non-veterinary expenses, such as boarding fees if the owner is hospitalized, advertising and rewards for lost pets, liability coverage if the pet damages property, and vacation cancellation costs due to pet illness or injury. It may also cover burial or cremation expenses.
- Recovery and Complementary Care Rider: This add-on covers non-clinical procedures like acupuncture, chiropractic care, behavioral modification, physical and rehabilitation therapy, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and naturopathy.
What’s Not Covered
Trupanion, like other pet insurers, has exclusions, including:
- Pre-existing conditions contracted before coverage begins.
- Wellness care, such as vaccinations, routine check-ups, and flea and tick prevention.
- Accident and illness vet exam fees.
- Sales tax, where applicable.
Coverage Details
- Maximum Annual Limit: Trupanion offers unlimited annual coverage, a differentiator compared to some plans.
- Deductible Options: Trupanion offers deductibles from $0 to $1,000.
- Reimbursement: Trupanion has a single reimbursement level of 90% after the deductible is met.
Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
Pet insurance policies typically have waiting periods before coverage kicks in. Trupanion’s waiting periods are:
- Accidents: 5 days
- Illness: 30 days
There is no extended waiting period for conditions like hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament issues.
You may purchase a Trupanion policy for a pet from birth until age 14. Policies purchased before age 14 continue with lifelong coverage.
Trupanion vs. Competitors (Waiting Periods)
How Much Does Trupanion Cost?
According to Forbes Advisor research, Trupanion’s pet insurance costs an average of $120 per month for dogs and $63 per month for cats. This is based on a plan with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and a 90% reimbursement level.
Trupanion Price Comparison for Dogs
Source: Forbes Advisor research. Costs are based on unlimited annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level.
Trupanion Price Comparison for Cats
Source: Forbes Advisor research. Costs are based on unlimited annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level.
Trupanion Costs vs. Other Top Insurers
Source: Forbes Advisor research. Costs are based on unlimited annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level for dogs and cats, ages 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years. Chewy Essential Plus and Trupanion do not offer a 80% reimbursement level, rates are based on 90% reimbursement level.
Availability and Claims
Trupanion is available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
If your veterinarian uses Trupanion’s software, the company pays them directly. If not, claims can be filed online, or submitted via email or fax along with an itemized vet invoice.
Digital Experience
The Trupanion mobile app has mixed reviews, especially on the Android platform. The website, which allows for claim submissions and payments, is considered to offer a better user experience. Live chat support is available on the website.
Trupanion vs. Key Competitors
Trupanion vs. Pets Best
Trupanion vs. Figo
Trupanion vs. Chewy
About Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion, established in 2000, is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Co. and insures approximately 500,000 pets. They also support pet charities.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor collected data and scored pet insurance companies using the following categories:
- Only insurers offering annual maximum coverage of $100,000 or unlimited were scored.
- Pet insurance rates for mixed breed dogs (20% of overall score).
- Pet insurance rates for purebred dogs (20% of overall score).
- Direct payment to vet (10% of overall score).
- Special waiting period (5% of overall score).
- 24/7 vet health line (5% of overall score).
- Routine wellness plans (5% of overall score).
- Multipet discount (5% of overall score).
- Digital experience (5% of overall score).
- Behavioral therapy (2% of overall score).
- Alternative therapy (2% of overall score).
- Dental illness (2% of overall score).
- Pays veterinary exam fees (1% of overall score).
- Stem cell therapy (1% of overall score).
- Coverage for prescription food and supplements (1% of overall score).
- Euthanasia or end-of-life expenses (1% of overall score).
- Forbes Advisor customer satisfaction survey (15% of overall score).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is Trupanion pet insurance good? Trupanion scored 3.3 out of 5 stars in our analysis, impacted by higher prices and limited coverage features but is a good option where direct payment is available and the ability to bypass extended waiting periods is preferred.
- Does Trupanion pet insurance work with any vet? Yes, Trupanion covers licensed veterinarians.
- Can I add multiple pets to my Trupanion pet insurance policy? While you can insure multiple pets, each one requires a separate policy.
- Does Trupanion pet insurance cover dental care? Yes, dental accidents and illnesses are covered.
- Does Trupanion pet insurance cover spaying and neutering? No, this is not covered and there is no wellness option.
- How can I reach Trupanion’s customer service? You can contact customer service by phone at (888) 733-2685, email [email protected], or use the live chat.
