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Trupanion Pet Insurance Review 2025

Trupanion pet insurance logo on a purple background.
Trupanion pet insurance: Is it right for your pet? Trupanion/Insider
Updated

Trupanion offers one policy for cats and dogs with unlimited coverage and lifetime deductibles, great for younger pets. However, it has strict rules on preexisting conditions, and its premiums are some of the most expensive in the industry.

Business Insider compared Trupanion to the best pet insurance companies and found it to be a standout offering, with unique features like lifetime deductibles and direct pay capabilities. However, it's relatively expensive, doesn't offer wellness packages, and won't cover curable preexisting conditions.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Pros and Cons

Trupanion Pet Insurance Pros

  • Unlimited coverage with highly customizable deductibles
  • Direct pay capability
  • Lifetime per-condition deductibles
  • No premium increases based on pet age

Trupanion Pet Insurance Cons

  • Expensive coverage
  • No multi-pet insurance
  • No wellness plans
  • Doesn't cover curable preexisting conditions
  • Long waiting period for illness coverage

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Trupanion Pet Insurance
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Compare rates and policies from participating pet insurance companies with Petted
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Offers coinsurance of up to 90% of each eligible bill with no annual limit

Average Price

$131 for dogs and $51 for cats per month

Deductible Options

$0 - $1,000 per condition

Reimbursement Options

70% - 90%

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited coverage with highly customizable deductibles
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Direct pay capability
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Lifetime per-condition deductibles
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No premium increases based on pet age
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Expensive coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No wellness plans or pre-existing condition coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Long waiting period for illness coverage
Insider’s Take

With unlimited coverage options and affordable rates for many pet parents, Trupanion sets itself apart with per condition deductibles. So once you pay a deductible on (for example) allergies, you would not be responsible for further deductibles in coming years.

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Pets Best Pet Insurance
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On Pets Best's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.89/5
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Perks

Get a free quote in seconds. Pets Best provides comprehensive pet insurance plans to more than 750,000 pets.

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers pet insurance with unlimited coverage
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers deductibles of as low as $50 and as high as $1,000 annually
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Company partners with large insurance companies like GEICO
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Rates can be extremely affordable for pets of all breeds
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, DC
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Alternative and holistic treatments may not be included
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Customer reviews indicate claims processing may take longer
Lemonade Pet Insurance
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On Lemonade Insurance Company's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.5/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

10% off your policy for bundling insurance products; 5% off your policy for insuring multiple pets; and 5% off your policy for enrolling in the annual payment plan

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $12 premiums for basic care
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Add-ons available for other preventative care
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Comprehensive mobile experience for claims and support
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only available in 37 states and Washington DC
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No 24/7 telehealth line for veterinary advice
Insider’s Take

Lemonade offers auto, homeowners, renters, pet, and life insurance. It's been around since 2015 and is known for offering some of the lowest rates. Lemonade ranks on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction surveys for renters insurance, however, it doesn't rank for life and homeowners insurance.

Lemonade Pet Insurance review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Discounts for bundling policies and having multiple pets
  • Starts at $10 a month
  • Offers a discount for enrolling in an annual payment plan
Spot Pet Insurance
Get quotes
On Spot Insurance Services LLC's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.22/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Offers coinsurance of up to 90% of each eligible bill with no annual limit

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Wellness plans and accident and illness plans available
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Available in all 50 states with comprehensive coverage options
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Coverage available for senior dogs and cats
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Pets have to be at least 8 weeks for coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Does not offer coverage for exotic pets
Insider’s Take

Spot pet insurance provides comprehensive pet insurance, including an allowance for end-of-life memorials. Some plan upgrades cover dental cleanings and other costly services.

Spot Pet Insurance review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

Trupanion Pet Insurance Overview

Trupanion offers one comprehensive plan for cats and dogs with highly customizable deductibles, 90% reimbursement, and unlimited coverage. Pets as old as 14 are eligible for coverage, so Trupanion can be a decent choice for senior pet insurance.

Deductibles are paid per-condition throughout the entirety of the policy, which means once you hit your deductible for that condition, you won't have to pay a deductible for that treatment again. This is great for pet owners who are concerned about chronic conditions their pet may develop. It's also great for those with very young pets, as owners won't have to keep paying deductibles for the same illnesses.

Trupanion has the ability to directly pay vets, so policyholders don't have to go through Trupanion's claims process. That said, customers report that Trupanion has a fairly quick claims processing time.

Trupanion's most glaring omission is its lack of an optional wellness package, which many of its competitors provide. Additionally, while almost all companies don't cover preexisting conditions, many pets are re-eligible for coverage after a symptom-free waiting period. However, Trupanion doesn't cover preexisting conditions, regardless of if they're curable or not.

Trupanion also doesn't come cheap. It's easily one of the most expensive pet insurance products on the market on top of your per-condition deductible, which can add up if your pet racks up a diverse array of ailments. however, Trupanion doesn't increase premiums based on your pet's age, so you may find its competitors' premiums outpace yours as your pet ages. Trupanion still reserves the right to adjust your premiums based on inflation and local vet costs.

Ultimately, Trupanion offers fairly comprehensive insurance, but at a high cost, especially when your policy is new. It's best for those who have very young pets.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage

Trupanion currently only offers one pet insurance plan. However, its coverage is relatively comprehensive. Here's a closer look at the four types of medical expenses it covers:

Type of Medical ExpenseSample Coverage
Medical Procedures
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Pet surgeries
  • Hospital stays
  • Medications
  • Veterinary supplements
  • Herbal therapy
  • Prosthetic devices and carts
Hereditary Conditions
  • Elbow and hip dysplasia
  • Diabetes
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Thyroid disease
Congenital Conditions
  • Heart disease
  • Nervous system issues
  • Cataracts
  • Liver disease
Unidentified symptoms
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Cough
  • Change in weight

Notably, this is an accident and illness policy, meaning pre-existing conditions and routine care costs are not covered. For example, you'll have to pay for exam costs for vet check-ups and preventive medications yourself. Additionally, Trupanion won't cover wellness costs, such as spaying and neutering or routine dental care.

Trupanion Deductibles

Most plans charge an annual deductible, which policyholders must pay yearly. Trupanion, on the other hand, sets a lifetime, per-condition deductible, which is charged once for each health condition occurring over your pet's lifetime.

Trupanion offers deductibles ranging from $0 to $1,000 that customers can customize in $50 increments. The higher deductible you choose, the lower your monthly premium will be.

Trupanion Reimbursement

Once you've met your deductible, Trupanion will reimburse you 90% of all submitted claims with no annual limit, meaning you only have to worry about paying the remaining 10% of the cost.

Your coinsurance rate also applies to your deductible. In other words, if you submit a $1,000 vet bill at the beginning of the year, $900 would go toward your $1,000 deductible. The additional $100 would be your share based on your 90% coinsurance. Coverage would kick in once vet bills satisfy the remaining $100 (with a 90% coinsurance rule applied).

Trupanion Waiting Periods

Trupanion's insurance policy includes a five-day waiting period for accidents and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses. Coverage would kick in once the waiting period expires. So if your pet is in an accident within the first five days, Trupanion will not cover any connected vet bills. The same applies to illnesses diagnosed or treated within the first 30 days.

Trupanion Discounts

The company offers a 10% discount for insuring a service animal in every state except Washington.

It does not, however, offer a discount for adding multiple pets to a family. Your price per pet is the same whether you enroll one dog or five.

Trupanion Additional Coverage Options

Trupanion offers two add-ons that policyholders can purchase for an additional cost. Trupanion's riders both offer unlimited coverage in the following areas:

  • Pet Owner Assistance Package: This rider covers fees for incidents occurring outside of the vet's office, including hospital boarding costs, advertising/reward costs if your pet gets lost, liability coverage for damage to another person's property, and cremation or burial coverage in the event of an accident.
  • Recovery and Complementary Care: This rider offers coverage for complementary rehabilitative and holistic therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic services, behavioral modification, homeopathy, and physical and rehabilitative therapy.

How Much Does Trupanion Pet Insurance Cost?

The cost of pet insurance with Trupanion depends on various factors such as species, breed, age, gender, and location. 

To get an idea of how much Trupanion's coverage costs, we'll look at how much a pet owner living in New York City would pay in pet insurance premiums. We chose New York City for our quotes because it is one of the most expensive places to receive vet care, which insurance premiums will reflect. Your premiums will likely be lower than the prices below.

Insuring most common dog breeds under Trupanion's accident and illness plan (unlimited coverage, 90% reimbursement) with a $500 deductible will cost the following:

Breed2-year-old male (monthly)6-year-old male (monthly)
French Bulldog $345.86$539.51
Labrador Retriever$231.15$359.26
Golden Retriever$207.57$322.20
German Shepherd$217.34$337.56
Poodle$192.25$298.12
Mixed Medium (20-55 lbs)$153$236.45

Let's go over premiums for cats covered by Trupanion's accident and illness plan.

Breed2-year-old male (monthly)6-year-old male (monthly)
Ragdoll$104.40$163.05
Maine Coon$114.04$178.49
Devon Rex$115.79$181.30
Exotic Shorthair$107.56$168.10
Persian$112.46$175.96
Mixed Breed$101.25$158

Trupanion offers a 10% discount for service animals. It does not offer any discounts for enrolling multiple pets.

How to Purchase and Manage a Trupanion Pet Insurance Policy

Getting a quote from Trupanion is easy. All you have to do is go to the Trupanion website and select "get a quote." From there, it will direct you to answer a few questions about your pet, including:

  • Pet species/breed
  • Pet name
  • Pet age and sex
  • Pet's spay/neuter status
  • Whether your pet is an assistance animal or therapy pet
  • ZIP code
  • Your email

Once you fill in the information, Trupanion provides an instant quote.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Claims Process

When you're ready to file a claim with Trupanion, there are two ways to do it. You can either submit a claim through your online account with the company or email claims@trupanion.com. If you need help throughout the process, contact Trupanion's customer service team at (888)-733-2685 or via the website chat.

Before submitting any claims, it's vital to understand Trupanion's deductible process works differently than most other pet insurance policies. While most policies charge an annual deductible, which must be paid every year, Trupanion charges a per-condition deductible, where a deductible is charged for each health condition or ailment.

If your pet has a lot of vet visits for separate issues, these charges can add up. However, Trupanion will cover claims for that condition for the remainder of the pet's life once the deductible is met. This can lead to significant savings if your pet has ongoing health issues.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Customer Reviews and Ratings

Trupanion has a mix of reviews, receiving an average rating of 4.1 on Trustpilot and 1.13 on its BBB page. Most negative reviews pertain to either increasing premiums and issues with preexisting conditions. While Trupanion says that it doesn't increase premiums based on pet ages or policy usage, customers still reported steep increases year over year. 

Numbers aside, Trupanion makes an effort to respond to negative reviews on its Trustpilot and BBB pages. A Trupanion customer service representative usually responds to negative reviews within one to two days, sometimes even within a few hours. Responses are consistent enough that leaving a review with Trupanion is a fairly reliable way to reach the company.

Let's look at some third-party ratings of Trupanion's services.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' complaint index rates insurance companies based on how many complaints they receive against its share of the market. A 1.00 means that a company has an expected number of complaints based on its size. A lower score indicates fewer complaints than expected and a higher number indicates more complaints than expected.

Trupanion's underwriter in the U.S., American Pet Insurance Company, scored 0.21, indicating that it has far fewer complaints than expected.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Alternatives

See how Trupanion compares to two other options for pet insurance coverage: Healthy Paws and Nationwide.

Trupanion vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and Trupanion offer similar pet insurance plans. Both companies offer a single plan focusing on accidents and illnesses. Neither plan covers wellness treatments or exam fees, and the two competitors offer unlimited coverage.

However, there are a few key differences, starting with the deductible. Healthy Paws charges an annual deductible, which means it resets every year. Trupanion, meanwhile, charges a lifetime, per-condition deductible in most states and offers direct pay options. Based on just the deductible structure, Trupanion may be the better option for owners worried about chronic conditions, while Healthy Paws may be the better option for general coverage.

Some coverage options vary as well. For example, while Trupanion covers dental illnesses, provided your pet has received an exam in the last 12 months, Healthy Paws does not. At the same time, Healthy Paws includes some alternative treatments under its plan coverage. For its part, Trupanion offers coverage for alternative therapies under a rider that can be added to the policy for an additional fee.

One main difference between Healthy Paws and Trupanion is cost. Healthy Paws is by far the more affordable option, making it into our guide for the best cheap pet insurance

Read our Healthy Paws pet insurance review.

Trupanion vs. Nationwide Pet Insurance

Nationwide Pet Insurance is a household name, so many pet owners choose the company as their pet insurance provider. Before considering pet insurance, Nationwide auto insurance customers may receive prompts through their auto insurance portal or mobile app to bundle and save with pet insurance. While Trupanion only provides insurance to dogs and cats, Nationwide's insurance plans also extend to birds and exotic animals, like rodents, reptiles, and amphibians.

In comparison to Trupanion's singular plan, Nationwide has three plans to choose from, including:

  • Major medical - covers accidents
  • Major medical with illness - covers accidents and illness
  • Whole Pet - covers accidents and hereditary conditions

Trupanion's coverage is more customizable than Nationwide's with its per-condition lifetime deductible, flexible deductible, and 90% reimbursement. On the other hand, Nationwide's deductible is set at $250 with a 50% or 70% reimbursement, and $10,000 annual limit for its comprehensive Whole Pet plan. Nationwide's medical insurance offers set annual coverage limits for each individual covered treatment. 

Read our Nationwide pet insurance review.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Trupanion Pet Insurance

When reviewing Trupanion, we looked at its offerings individually and compared it to other reputable providers within the industry. In particular, we look at the available coverage options, possible add-ons, claim limits, coverages, exclusions, and typical policy costs.

Selecting the right policy for you and your pet is about finding one with the right type of coverage and sufficient coverage limits. It should also fit comfortably into your budget and be easy to use when submitting a claim.

Read the full methodology for how Business Insider rates pet insurance.

FAQs

Does Trupanion pet insurance cover routine care costs?

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No, Trupanion pet insurance does not cover routine care costs, and it does not offer any optional wellness packages. It only covers accidents and illnesses that occur after coverage begins.

Does Trupanion pet insurance cover preexisting conditions?

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No, Trupanion pet insurance does not cover preexisting conditions, regardless of if they're curable or not. However, it covers some hereditary and congenital conditions.

Does Trupanion pet insurance have a waiting period?

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Yes, Trupanion pet insurance has a waiting period of five days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses, including hip dysplasia.

Can I use any veterinarian with Trupanion pet insurance?

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Yes, you can use any veterinarian with Trupanion. However, Trupanion's direct pay feature only works with certain participating vet clinics.

Does Trupanion pet insurance offer a multi-pet discount?

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No, Trupanion pet insurance doesn't offer a multi-pet discount.

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