Key takeaways
- Trupanion’s unique pricing model does not increase rates based on a pet’s age.
- Coverage in the base policy is limited.
- Trupanion’s VetDirect Pay technology pays participating veterinarians at checkout time.
Our expert take on Trupanion pet insurance
Trupanion is the largest pet insurance company in the U.S., with 22% of market share, according to AM Best.
Base-plan generosity
Trupanion has thin coverage in its base policy compared to top competitors:
- Vet-exam fees are not included.
- Alternative therapy coverage is limited to herbal therapies unless you buy an add-on called the Recovery and Complementary Care Rider.
- Behavioral therapy is not covered unless you buy the above rider.
- Euthanasia is covered but burial and cremation coverage requires the Pet Owner Assistance Package.
But there is coverage for dental illnesses (as long as you’ve followed certain rules, like having your pet’s teeth examined by a vet at least once every 12 months). Prescription food is covered at 50%, along with dietary supplements.
Customization power
Trupanion pet insurance has little ability to customize a monthly cost to your budget. It offers only one annual-coverage level (unlimited) and one reimbursement level (90%). But it does have ample deductible choices ($0 in $1,000 in increments of $50).
Price-shock protection for claims
Trupanion provides some price-shock protection after claims. There are very low deductible choices that can lower your out-of-pocket costs, and Trupanion can pay veterinarians directly with its VetDirect Pay if the vet has Trupanion’s software. The company estimates that one-third of U.S. veterinary offices have its payment software.
Trupanion uses an unusual per-condition lifetime deductible rather than an annual one: Once you’ve paid your deductible toward vet bills for a specific illness or injury, Trupanion will then pay all future claims for that specific condition (at the 90% co-insurance) without another deductible. If your pet develops chronic conditions, this could work out favorably. If your pet has a series of one-off illnesses and injuries, a per-condition deductible could become financially painful.
Premium stability
Trupanion provides a medium level of premium stability in our analysis: Making claims won’t increase your rates (although other factors can). But the current delta between rates for puppies versus senior dogs is $163 a month compared to the national average of $69. That said, Trupanion says it prices new policies so that rates won’t increase due to your pet’s age.
Cost
Trupanion’s pet insurance rates are the highest among the companies we evaluated—much higher than even the next-most-expensive competitors with unlimited annual coverage, Pumpkin and Spot. It’s also much more expensive than the cheapest pet insurance for unlimited coverage, Pets Best, which was also one of the best pet insurance companies for its base plan in our analysis.
Though the company isn’t one of the cheapest pet insurance options, Trupanion is the only pet insurance company that says it doesn’t raise rates as your pet ages. Trupanion’s rates are based on the pet’s age when you enroll, so age-related risks for claims are theoretically built into pricing when you make the purchase.
Nonetheless, expect rate increases based on other factors, like rises in local vet costs and increase in pet insurance claims from other customers. Trupanion strives to build in a profit margin of 29% every year: For every $1 it takes in from premiums, it aims to pay out no more than 71 cents in claims and other costs.
The unique pricing structure makes it hard to compare Trupanion quotes with competitors. Whether the pricing system makes Trupanion pet insurance worth it in the long run will be your own calculus.
Other notable features
- The Pet Owner Assistance Package, for extra cost, provides uncommon coverage such as pet-boarding fees if you’re hospitalized, advertising and reward if your pet is stolen or strays, and travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel or cut a trip short because your pet becomes injured or ill. This rider also provides liability insurance if your pet causes property damage to a third party, but you likely already have this coverage through your homeowners or renters insurance.
What does Trupanion pet insurance cover?
Trupanion covers medically necessary pet-treatment costs for illness and injuries, including:
- Dental illnesses and injuries, provided you adhere to preventive-care requirements
- Diagnostic tests
- Herbal therapy and supplements when prescribed by a vet to treat a condition covered by the policy
- Medical devices such as orthotic devices, prosthetic devices and pet carts
- Medical treatments such as surgeries, general procedures and nursing care
- Prescription food at 50% for up to two months, provided it is prescribed by a vet specifically to treat a covered illness or injury
- Prescription medications
Add-ons from Trupanion
Trupanion’s Recovery and Complementary Care Rider adds coverage for:
- Acupuncture
- Behavioral modification and therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Homeopathy
- Hydrotherapy
- Naturopathy
- Rehabilitative therapy
Trupanion’s Pet Owner’s Assistance Package includes up to $500 to cover the cost of advertising for a lost pet and for any reward. It helps cover the cost of pet cremation or burial, pet boarding or pet care if you’re hospitalized and unable to tend to your pet as well as trip-cancellation reimbursement if your travel plans are canceled due to a pet emergency.
A breeding rider covers illnesses and injuries associated with breeding, whelping and queening.
What does Trupanion pet insurance not cover?
Trupanion excludes pre-existing conditions that a pet developed before the policy or during the pet insurance waiting period, like other pet insurance companies—although some competitors cover curable pre-existing conditions, like ASPCA pet insurance.
Trupanion pet insurance also excludes these and other expenses:
- Administrative charges, taxes and fees for processing claims or transmitting medical records
- Bilateral conditions if the pet has signs on either side of the body before or during the waiting period
- Boarding
- Breeding, whelping, and queening, unless you purchased the optional breeding rider
- Conditions masked by treatment prior to enrollment
- Cremation, burial and other post-mortem costs (unless you purchased the Pet Owner Assistance Package)
- Dental cleanings at any time, for any reason
- Elective, cosmetic or preventive procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, dew claw removal and microchipping
- Grooming and maintenance
- Hip dysplasia
- Internal or external growths if a growth of the same type was present during this time
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) if there was any sign in any part of the spine
- Nonprescribed special diets, raw-food diets, regular pet foods and treats
- Parasitic infections (internal or external parasites) where readily available preventive treatments exist
- Repetitive activities: Illnesses or injuries arising from a specific repetitive activity (like eating foreign material) if the same or similar activity occurred more than once prior to the end of the waiting periods
- Routine and preventive care
- Spaying or neutering, unless specifically recommended by a vet following an illness or injury that damaged reproductive organs
- Veterinary-examination fees
How much does Trupanion pet insurance cost?
Trupanion has very high rates for pet insurance—the highest among the insurers we analyzed. But Trupanion says that once you buy a policy it doesn’t raise rates over time due to a pet’s age, but be aware rates can rise for other reasons.
Dog insurance rates for unlimited annual coverage
Cat insurance rates for unlimited annual coverage
Trupanion pet insurance discounts
Trupanion does not offer any pet insurance discounts, but it does provide $25 if you refer a friend, up to $100 a year.
