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Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

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Trupanion is a Seattle-based pet insurance company that sells medical insurance for dogs and cats. Trupanion policies are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company. Founded in Canada, the company expanded into the US and Puerto Rico in 2005. Trupanion offers policies that cover your pets if they get sick or injured, and also cover prescription pet foods, orthotic devices, and carts.
 
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How is Trupanion rated?

Breakdown

5.0/5
Coverage
4.5/5
Cost
4.5/5
Extras

Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5 (Excellent)

Trupanion has comprehensive coverage and a great reputation, scoring an excellent rating on Trust Pilot. However, although unlimited per-condition lifetime coverage is a great perk, it can be far more coverage--and consequently far more expensive--than some pet owners need. And that highlights the main issue with Trupanion: inflexibility. They have only one plan*, one benefit limit, and one high reimbursement percentage. This does not give consumers the opportunity to "adjust the knobs" and change the cost of their monthly premium. They are, however, the only company that can pay your veterinarian directly at the time of checkout.

Trupanion Coverage

Coverage - 5 / 5

Trupanion offers comprehensive coverage that covers prescriptions and prescription foods. As with most plans, the company will not cover preventative care, taxes, exam fees, or pre-existing conditions. Trupanion also offers additional "owner assistance" coverage. This package includes third-party damage, trip cancellation, advertising and reward, alternative therapies, and breeding dog protection. While other pet insurance companies, for example, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance or Petplan Insurance, provide these services in their standard plans, they are only available through Trupanion at an extra cost.

With Trupanion, you have the option to get a recovery and complementary care rider that pays for non-clinical procedures such as behavior modification therapy, hydrotherapy, rehabilitation, and chiropractic care for an additional cost.*
Pets Covered
Dogs
Cats
Coverage Types
Medical
Vet Selection
Unrestricted
Out-of-State Coverage
Yes
Commercial Pets Covered

Medical Conditions Covered

  • Accidental
  • Illness
  • Hereditary
  • Congenital
  • Cancer
  • Chronic
  • Accidental Dental
  • Dental Illness

Medical Treatments Covered

  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Prescription Medications
  • Emergency Care
  • Specialty Care
  • Alternative Care
  • Behavioral Therapy
  • Prosthetics & Mobility Aids

Benefit Limits

Benefit Limits - 5 / 5

Trupanion offers no limits on benefits of any kind, per-incident, annual, or lifetime. While this is indeed a great feature for peace of mind, again, it might suit a particular customer's situation to not have unlimited coverage. For example, someone might know from past experience or the vets in their area that there will be a rock solid limit to what they will possibly spend in a year. Other companies might offer a benefit limit in line with this, and as a result a much lower monthly premium. Having the option is always a good thing.
Benefit Limit Types
Unlimited

Reimbursement & Deductibles

Reimbursement - 5 / 5

Unlike other companies, Trupanion does not allow you to choose a reimbursement percentage. They only offer 90%*. While this is a generous reimbursement, it limits the client's flexibility in customizing their premium. For some pet owners, a lower reimbursement percentage and lower monthly premium might be preferable to Trupanion's single reimbursement model.
Reimbursement Model
Actual Cost
Minimum Percent Reimbursement
90%
Maximum Percent Reimbursement
90%

Deductibles - 5 / 5

Trupanion sets itself apart from the pack by offering a per-incident lifetime deductible*. This means that your deductible will not reset annually. For a given condition, once you pay your deductible, you can receive unlimited benefits for the rest of the pet's life. Among Trupanion's deductible choices is a $0 deductible, which most plans do not offer.
Deductible Type
Annual
Minimum Deductible Offered
$0
Maximum Deductible Offered
$0

Pricing: How much does Trupanion cost?

Cost - 4.5 / 5

Trupanion's premiums are definitely on the high end of the spectrum. Although the coverage is quite comprehensive, similar coverages are available for up to $20 less a month.

Trupanion earns 4.3 out of 5 stars from Trust Pilot. It's extremely important to read any policy you're considering carefully and to pay particular attention to the limits placed around pre-existing conditions.

Starting Monthly Premiums

Dog: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male Golden Retriever in zip code 92683
$59.21
Cat: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male American Shorthair in zip code 92683
$32.41
Rate Details: Annual Deductible: $700, Benefit Cap: Annual & Unlimited, Reimbursement Model: 90% of Actual Cost

Enrollment & Waiting Periods

Enrollment - 4.5 / 5

Pets are eligible to enroll from birth to 13.9 years old. Trupanion has a 5-day waiting period for accidents and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses. As opposed to other plans, Trupanion does not have any malady-specific waiting periods for things like dysplasia and cruciate ligaments.
Min Enrollment Age
0 weeks
Max Enrollment Age
14 years
Accident Waiting Period
5 days
Illnesses Waiting Period
30 days
Free Look Period
30 days

Claims & Service

Extras - 4.5 / 5

Trupanion says claims will be fulfilled within 60 days. Although this is twice as long as the period offered by other carriers, you must keep in mind that Trupanion is one of the few pet insurance providers that have the capacity and technology to pay your vet or hospital directly. This is a huge deal because, unlike with many other plans, with Trupanion you can limit out-of-pocket expenses. They also claim to process about 60% of claims in just 24 hours. If you do file your own claims, the company requires you to download the claim form via online portal, then submit it by email, mail, or fax.
Advertised Response Time
7 days
Claim Form
Online Portal

Company Disclaimers

State Farm and the State Farm logo are registered trademarks of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, neither offer nor are financially responsible for pet insurance products. State Farm is a separate entity and is not affiliated with Trupanion or American Pet Insurance. Trupanion is a registered trademark owned by Trupanion, Inc. Underwritten in the United States by American Pet Insurance Company or ZPIC Insurance Company, 6100 4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108. Sold and administered by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Coverage is subject to policy terms and conditions, waiting periods, does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
http://trupanion.com/
Headquarters Address
6100 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98108
Mailing Address
6100 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98108
Year Founded
2000
What We’re Hearing From Our Readers
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Customer Comments

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Helen M

9/16/2019
I have had Trupanion since 2007. And they was good with my first dog. Then he passed. And I got 3 more dogs . I had a deductible of $50.00 per dog. Then after 10 years with the one and 6 with the other one and the last one around 3 years. I got a divorce so I had to raise my deductible on my dogs so I asked for a $500 deductible for each dog and then I would see how my finances are. At that time they didn't tell me that they raise it when you come back at the same deductible. Nor that if you call back before the statement of the bill has changed that they will still raise the policy. They have raised my policy at least 3 times in a year and I have went from a $50.00 to a $500... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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neil o

9/16/2019
Insurance companies are difficult to deal with in any scenario but Trupanion is one of the worst of the worst and this is coming from an almost 6 year long loyal customer. My first experience with them was when my dog tore an ACL and had to have TPLO surgery. Trupanion was great through the start of the process approved all claims leading up to the surgery even pre-approved the almost $4000 surgery. That's when it all started to go bad. Surgery went great we payed the vet assured we would get reimbursed by Trupanion. 30 days go buy and receive notification our claim was denied with no other reasoning other than they said it was a pre-existing condition (yes, after it was already... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Taylor K

7/11/2019
Got my puppy (German Shephard) and went to my vet shortly after to get her checked up and get everything going for her spay. We then started noticing after her surgery, that when we were teaching her how to sit, we could feel her hips popping. So as a RESPONSIBLE pet owner should, we went into the vet to try to figure out whats going on. The vet said it could be hip dysplasia but the only way to know for sure is that we do an x-ray. So we say OK and the vet said but in case it is, it would be a good idea to get pet insurance as it could become costly. And they recommanded us to Trupanion. So we got it and then a couple months after getting her policy we take her to have her hips x-rayed.... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Tina T

6/17/2019
THIS COMPANY IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED, please please please try. a different insurance, just warning you guys. This company is very shady. I gave them 3 months to call me back after calling and speaking with them time and time again. No one called me back ever. The level of professionalism is horrible. They will sound like a great company to work with when you speak with them on the phone and say they will resolve matters asap and call you back with an update and then leave you hanging. How could you trust your business and money with a company that does this? Never had an insurance problem like this. Taking my business elsewhere. This company cares only about saving as much money as they can.... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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brewern6673

4/7/2019
I have had my dog covered for 3 years and started as soon as we got him (8 weeks) in order to avoid any pre-existing conditions. I have never had to use my coverage, so I have no comments on that part. However, my premiums have increased with each annual policy renewal, and now I feel like it is getting too expensive...and we are only at 3 years old. I hate to see what my premium is going to be when he is 10!! I am going to cancel my policy since they will not lower my premium unless I raise my deductible considerably. I am thinking I will switch to Healthy Paws and give them a try.
1 People found this helpful.
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Kathie

3/4/2019
During the past 5 years we have had Trupanion pet insurance for our 4 pets, premiums have totaled approximately $6000.00. I recently had my first significant claim when our basset hound developed glaucoma. Since we have $1000 deductible, I submitted all the receipts totally approximately $1250.00. I was told by their representative that evaluations and diagnostics were covered, but Trupanion disallowed all these claiming that these were merely "exams". My dog has had over 13 appointments to diagnosis his eyesight and adjust his medications, and Trupanion did not pay for a doctor's' appointment even when an ophthalmologist was involved! The representative advised me to appeal and... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Jeffrey Y

1/13/2019
Their rates have increased 61% since I started 2 year ago and I have only submitted one claim when my dog hurt himself running through a fence. They cover nothing as my deductible is $700.00. I have a younger pet so it's not like he gets sick or injured often. I don't understand why the rates would increase so much in two years for a 3 year old pet. I'd rather pay an overall deductible than a per incident deductible even with it being a lifetime deductible.
1 People found this helpful.
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Diana J

12/10/2018
Just terrible - always opt to pay out of pocket. Every month you pay and every claim they find some absurd convoluted way to refuse coverage. Follow up conversations by me and the veterinarian to no avail. If they can't connect it so some far-fetched tangential issue you as a responsible pet owner brought your pet in for care for, they will apply it to a deductible for each and every issue your pet confronts during the course of its lifetime. An infected bee sting in 2018 is preexisting because it connects to "itchy ears" from 4 years prior -- REALLY??My suggestion say very little when making the appointment for your pet because if you, as a layperson, mention a condition that they can... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Samuel B

11/13/2018
Do not give this company your money, or trust them to help you when your pet gets sick or hurt. They will not help you, no matter what your contract says. Frankly, Trupanion is a scam. This company has no intention of ever paying for bills, and the consumer has little or no recourse. I have paid forty dollars per month, every month, since I enrolled. My puppy was diagnosed with temporary panosteitis, essentially "growing pains", during their 30 day waiting period. Based on this, any hip or leg-related condition is considered a pre-existing condition, and ineligible for coverage, forever. This includes the $500+ bill to check for hip dysplasia I was just issued. I am currently fighting... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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John D

10/26/2018
terrible experience with this company. incredibly devastated. i have paid them for years under the guise that they would cover my dog. well when the time came- they denied all claims and stated "sorry we changed our policy now and you should have read the small print." please be aware- this company is a scam- very sad. Also please be aware- there are multiple lawsuits on Trupanion- google it!! Scary I fell for this scam!
1 People found this helpful.
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