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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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J
Jennifer S

7/14/2016
I am a new customer to Trupanion and it is terrible, terrible, terrible. My pet got sick 28 days after we signed up and I was told by customer service that we were "all set" when I asked if their was anything else I needed to do to ensure my pet bills were going to be covered. The customer service rep even indicated that if our policy had lapsed they would cover us because they are in it for the health of the pets. It turns out that is a lie. None of the bills were covered because we didn't have a pet well visit 24 hours before signing up and that the certificate said that we had to have that done otherwise a 30 day waiting period is in effect. Apparently paying your insurance bill and... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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D
DavidS

6/30/2016
Dealing with them on claims is a mess. Been working with them since before May 20 to get a claim reviewed. No follow-up by Trupanion, no contact from Trupanion no nothing! Today after 2 hours of dealing with them, we submitted more paperwork, 3rd submission and wait for them to review the papers to determine if they have enough information to send to benefit appeals so we can begin a 3-6 week process to see if they will pay. All the previous paper work was all in our file, but "they didn't know what to do with it" so they did nothing. Seems the guy we spoke to and asked for it to be sent just forgot or did nothing. Horrible customer service and an almost condescending tone when they... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Nancy F

6/23/2016
Even though I have no complaints about Trupanion...claims are paid within a reasonable period of time, reps are always very nice on the phone....I'm looking for another pet insurance company. My dog is only 2 & this is the 2nd significant increase in premiums since I got the policy. At this rate, I'll be paying well over $100/ month in the next several years.
1 People found this helpful.
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Carmen B

6/7/2016
The service I have received from Trupanion Pet Insurance for my 4 dogs (Ihave a policy for each of them),has been exclellent.....they have covered costs for emergent or new medical conditions/problems at 90% of cost. Reimbursement has been fairy quick and the customer service reps have been very friendly,compassionate. My only problem with Trupanion Pet Insurance, is that every other year they increase my premiums by at least 20-26% (26% this year!), and state that it is purely based on results of Vet care cost increases in my "region" . I have asked them to explain,show me the results of their survey, as I know that,at least for my Vet Clinic, there is no way they have increased my costs... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Jason F

4/29/2016
Four years ago we signed up for Trupanion. We have three dogs, a labradoodle, a french bulldog, and my therapy lab mix. Today for the the first time the lab mix needed surgery. When we filed a claim for herTrupanion asked all the questions that they asked when we signed her up for the insurance again and said that they would get back to us in 15 minutes, to let us know what was covered. Hours later after not hearing anything we called Trupanion, they denied coverage and they denied any responsibility. by this time our lab had been waiting hours at the vet. Trupanion's supervisors both said that they don't contact the pet owner, when both my wife and I were promised by a Trupanion... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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M
Michelle A

3/9/2016
I've been a Trupanion member for 1 year now and was notified that the rate for my Domestic Grey Tabby Cat (a rescue) will go up even though I have no claims for the year. I have a perfectly healthy cat being fed the best food available on the market! After contacting Trupanion I understand that a) they slyly got rid of my old plan and put me on a new plan with so called "additional benefits" and b) these additional benefits include a rate increase to subsidize care for animals in my area with eg. "breeding related conditions." How misleading and completely discouraging for those of us rescuing animals from shelters (and for the animals that desperately need homes) and what a reward for... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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C
Carolyn W

1/12/2016
Trupanion will find any way possible to deny a claim. Trupanion maybe fast growing but not rated the best. In 2012 Kody had a lung lobe that twisted and he went through a surgery to remove that lung lobe. Six months later he started to have a milky fluid in his chest (pleura effusion). Kody went through three more surgeries which included cleaning up his chest cavity, removing a second lung lobe and removing necrotic tissue. Thousands of dollars later, Kody was great and back to his happy-go-lucky self. So I bought pet insurance from Trupanion. Kody is now 10. He started a cough in April which became worse. We tested for laryngeal paralysis, staph and allergies. We found... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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L
Lisa A

12/8/2015
Got Trupnaion after researching others. Resuced as GSD in July. Limping in October. Thought it was hips - went to vet - it was the back. Bill to exculde flea meds was about 100.00 to apply to deductable. Then vet suggested pills were 75. off of amazon. Completed paperwork. Both denied. Called in November to cancel. Talked me into appealing - which guess what takes until you pay your next payment. Visit denied because it was precautionary - no it wasn't - went there because it looked like he was hurting. Called to cancel. Next day they emailed that the meds were approved on appeal. So the visit to diagnose the problem is not approved, but the medication is approved. Sounds strange..Filed a... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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Bertram B

8/18/2015
Trupanion was represented to me as among the best for if I was ever in the need. Their price (I pay $50/mo for $150 deductible) was also among the highest. You get what you paid for right? Well they still may be very good- who knows. But after about 4 years of this almost double priced insurance, I needed help with my dog's surgery. Trupanion has tricks up their sleeve like any other big business- tricks that enrich them greatly. They considered their deductible "per condition" and not per year or per incident like you're used to with auto insurance. After considering almost every incision in my dog a separate condition, they got me for the deductible times three! After the deductible was... Read More
1 People found this helpful.
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M
Mark L

5/11/2015
This is the typical Insurance company that will bury you in paperwork and have their claims adjusters try to find any reason not to pay your claim. They truly suck and market themselves as pet lovers all along they just don't pay you for any claim. They care more about the profits than the pet's health in my experience.
1 People found this helpful.
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