Trupanion Review

Sunday, March 23rd

2025 Pet Insurance Company Reviews

Trupanion

• Monthly premium of $378.15 for an 8-year-old mixed-breed large dog in Illinois
• Deductible options from $0 to $1,000 in $50 increments
• Coverage for hereditary & congenital conditions
• Advanced dentistry coverage included
• Pet Owner Assistance package available for additional fee
• Direct pay option with participating vets
• 5-day waiting period for injury coverage
• Operates in the US, Puerto Rico, and Australia

Based in Seattle and operating in the US, Puerto Rico, and even Australia, Trupanion has been providing pet insurance since 1998. Cats and dogs under 14 years old are eligible for enrollment, and you can visit any licensed vet in any of the countries in which they operate. Trupanion is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company in the US.

Fixed reimbursement rate and uncapped payout hikes premium cost

Trupanion offers a fixed reimbursement rate of 90% (as opposed to options for 70% or 80%), no annual payout limits, and deductible options of $0 to $1,000 in $50 increments. It might sound nice to get 90% of your vet bill paid, but keep in mind that means your monthly premium will be high. We requested a quote for our use case of an 8-year-old mixed-breed large dog in Illinois and were quoted $378.15 a month - more than 3 times the cost of some competitors. You should still request your own quote (since no two scenarios are the same), but brace yourself for a higher price tag.

Good dental coverage

Trupanion's accident and illness plan includes:

• Hereditary & congenital conditions
• Unidentified issues
• Unexpected injuries and illnesses
• Diagnostic tests
• Hospital stays & surgeries
• Medications
• Advanced dentistry

There is no coverage for preventive care, pre-existing conditions, or exam visits. Trupanion does not offer extras like virtual vet visits or discounts for insuring multiple pets.

Complementary Care plan was an extra $80/month, no Wellness add-on

If you want to add coverage for complementary care like physical therapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, behavioral modification, rehabilitative therapy, and more, you can pay an extra amount each month ($80 according to our quote) for the Recovery and Complementary Care Plan. They don't offer a wellness plan, which would include things like parasite screening, vaccinations, comprehensive oral hygiene, and annual exams. Instead, they recommend asking your vet if they provide a wellness plan.

Peace of mind for unexpected scenarios

Something Trupanion offers that most other pet insurance providers don't is their Pet Owner Assistance package. For around $5 a month, you can get some peace of mind in unexpected situations. In the case that your adventurous pet decides to go on a solo expedition in the neighborhood, you'd be covered for advertising and reward costs to help bring them home safely. Or, let's say you end up in the hospital - don't worry about your four-legged companion, as their boarding fees will be covered. The package even covers holiday vacation cancellation costs and liability coverage for property damage.

5-day wait for injuries, 30 days for illnesses and orthopedic conditions

With Trupanion, you'll have a 5-day waiting period for injury coverage and a 30-day waiting period for illness coverage, which is longer than some competitors. However, the latter waiting period seems to include orthopedic conditions, like hip dysplasia, upon which other competitors often impose a heftier 6-month waiting period.

No claim (typically) necessary

Trupanion is one of only two pet insurance providers in our review that pays your vet bills directly. At checkout, just tell your vet that you're covered by Trupanion, and they'll be able to process your payment at the adjusted rate in just seconds with VetDirect Pay. If your veterinarian doesn't accept VetDirect Pay, you can still file your claim on Trupanion's website. They don't mention how long this will take, though.

Despite promise of no increase of price by age, your premium will still rise

If you're questioning why you should choose Trupanion over other providers with more coverage (like exam fees) at lower costs, you wouldn't be alone. They counter that their coverage is worth it because they are the only pet insurers who promise not to increase premiums based on your pet's age. They will rise about 2.5x in the duration of your policy, but not just because your pet gets older - unlike some estimated competitor rate increases of 11-15x. They also say they won't increase your premium based on how many claims you file. However, a quick survey of customer reviews reveals that Trupanion still hikes their rates about as much as their competitors do. One poodle owner says their dog's premium started at $86 per month, and less than 3 years later, it's $240 - without any claims filed.

Trupanion breaks the law to edge out competition

You might have heard about Trupanion after your most recent vet visit from a promotional email advertising 30 days of free coverage, no credit card information required. Trupanion says there's no catch, but they don't mention their 30-day waiting period for illnesses, which makes this "freebie” a bit less exciting. You might also like to know that Trupanion was fined $100,000 for giving gifts to providers who referred new customers to Trupanion. So if you feel like you're seeing Trupanion's name everywhere, know that it might be because they've broken laws other pet insurance companies abide by, and not necessarily because they're better. That raises questions about the other areas in which this company is willing to cut corners. However, they maintain an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau and a 4-star rating average on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews.

Negatives outweigh positives

Trupanion thinks you should choose them to be your pet's insurer because they offer direct pay, they don't raise prices based on age or claims filed, and they don't limit your payout. However, their competitors point out that there's no possibility for exam fee coverage, dental coverage excludes protection for some teeth, and there's no multi-pet discount. Trupanion also does not offer add-on wellness or preventive care plans. Given that Trupanion's prices start out high (and will only go up, despite a sneaky attempt to convince you otherwise) and their legal issues, we would recommend looking at another pet insurance provider first.