Trupanion Reviews: How It Stacks Up (2024)

Trupanion is a pet insurance company that offers accident and illness coverage for cats and dogs. The insurer is known for some unique features, like unlimited payouts and veterinarian direct pay.

But its premiums are expensive, and its policies have some important exclusions to consider. Still, Trupanion may be a good option for younger pets without any issues in their medical history. Here’s what you need to know about Trupanion to decide if it’s right for your pet.

Trupanion: Our verdict

Trupanion offers unlimited annual coverage for a comprehensive array of eligible conditions, including hereditary and congenital medical problems. The company covers most treatments as well, especially if you add its recovery and complementary care rider. 

Trupanion doesn’t offer as many customization options as other pet insurers, but you can choose your deductible amount between $0 and $1,000. But Trupanion charges higher-than-average premiums, doesn’t cover exam fees, and doesn’t offer coverage for routine care.^[1] 

The company also has stricter rules than most other insurers regarding pre-existing conditions and denies claims for health issues that it considers preventable. Plus, customer reviews about Trupanion are mixed.

Trupanion pros and cons

If you’re interested in getting pet insurance through Trupanion, consider some of its advantages and drawbacks.

Trupanion plans and coverages

Trupanion’s policy options are limited. The insurer offers one standard plan with your choice of deductible and two riders for an additional cost. The plan doesn’t come with lifetime or annual limits, so there’s no cap on payouts, and the insurer covers 90% of all eligible expenses after your deductible. Coverage begins after a five-day waiting period for injuries and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses.

Unlike some other pet insurance companies, Trupanion covers congenital and hereditary conditions, such as hip dysplasia, as long as your pet didn’t show any symptoms before your policy went into effect. The company also covers new injuries and illnesses, including:^[2]

• Allergies

• Arthritis

• Bite wounds

• Cancer

• Dental illnesses and accidents

• Diabetes

• Ear infections

• Heart disease

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Swallowed objects

• Urinary tract infections

Trupanion pays for most treatment costs associated with covered accidents and illnesses, including:

• Diagnostic tests

• X-rays, CT scans, and other imaging

• Medical procedures, surgeries, and hospitalization

• Dental procedures

• Prosthetics

• Medications

Trupanion coverage add-ons

You can expand the accident and illness coverage offered with Trupanion’s base plan by adding the following riders for an extra premium:

• 

  Recovery and complementary care

  This covers 90% of non-clinical veterinary services, such as acupuncture, physical therapy, and behavioral modification. The price varies depending on your deductible.

• 

  Pet owner assistance

  This package covers non-veterinary costs, like advertising a reward if your pet is lost or stolen and vacation cancellation if your pet needs urgent care, along with cremation and burial costs up to $100.

What Trupanion doesn’t cover

Trupanion policies contain several coverage exclusions:

• Exam fees and taxes: Trupanion only covers treatment for eligible conditions, which doesn’t include veterinary exam fees or sales tax.

• Routine care: Trupanion doesn’t cover your pet’s annual vaccines, preventive medications, or spay/neuter procedure. Many pet insurance companies offer wellness plans as an add-on, but Trupanion doesn’t offer coverage for routine care.

• Pre-existing conditions: If your pet was diagnosed or showed symptoms of a condition before coverage went into effect, Trupanion won’t cover that condition. This is even true for injuries that re-occur. For example, if your vet notes on your dog’s medical records that your dog was licking its paws before you signed up for a Trupanion plan or during the waiting period, all coverage for allergies will be excluded. Many pet insurers cover cured pre-existing conditions after a waiting period, but Trupanion doesn’t.

• Preventable conditions: Trupanion doesn’t cover any condition that could have been prevented by routine care or following veterinary advice, including dental conditions if the pet owner didn’t keep up with recommended cleanings.

• Elective and cosmetic procedures: Trupanion won’t cover anything that isn’t medically necessary, like tail docking or declawing.

Be sure to read a sample Trupanion policy for a full list of exclusions.

How much does Trupanion cost?

Trupanion prices pet insurance based on the following:

• Your pet’s age

• Your pet’s breed

• Your pet’s gender

• Your location

• The deductible you choose

• The additional coverage options you select

While Trupanion policies are relatively expensive compared to other pet insurance companies, your premium won’t increase annually due to your pet’s age.^[3] But other changes may cause your premiums to increase.

Cost of Trupanion dog insurance

To give you an idea of Trupanion’s premiums, Insurify pulled dog insurance quotes for a 2-year-old medium-size, mixed-breed dog living in Hartford, Connecticut.

Trupanion dog insurance policies feature comprehensive coverage, unlimited payouts, and a 90% reimbursement rate. Monthly premiums depend on your choice of deductible:

Trupanion also offers two coverage riders that you can add to your policy for an extra cost:

• Recovery and complementary care: Starts at $8.52 per month with a $1,000 deductible.

• Pet owner assistance: This package costs $4.95 per month with any deductible.

Cost of Trupanion cat insurance

Insurify pulled cat insurance quotes for a 2-year-old female American shorthair cat living in Hartford, Connecticut. Trupanion cat insurance policies automatically include a 90% reimbursement rate and no cap on payouts, but you can choose your deductible.

Below are the cat insurance premiums associated with a few different deductible amounts:

You can also add the following riders:

• Recovery and complementary care: Starts at $1.80 per month with a $1,000 deductible.

• Pet owner assistance: This costs $4.95 per month.

How customers feel about Trupanion

Trupanion has great reviews on Trustpilot, with 4.2 out of 5 stars based on more than 6,700 reviews. Many pet owners commented that the coverage allowed them to afford expensive procedures for their pets, the Trupanion team was supportive, and the enrollment process was easy.

Some customers also mentioned the ease of direct vet pay, as in the review below.

But customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau and Yelp are less favorable. Some customers on these platforms also mention positive customer service experiences and appreciate the convenience of direct payment. But others complain about claims that weren’t covered or expensive premiums that increase over time, as in the example below.

The bottom line: Is Trupanion pet insurance worth it?

An affordable pet insurance policy that meets your pet’s needs is typically worth the cost. If your pet requires hospitalization or surgery, your vet bills could cost you thousands.^[4] Pet insurance may enable you to provide your pet with care you couldn’t otherwise afford. But it’s important to understand coverage exclusions and weigh that risk against the cost of ongoing premiums.

Trupanion charges higher premiums than other companies. For example, the average monthly dog insurance premium for an accident and illness policy is about $53, according to data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.^[5] Low-deductible dog insurance plans from Trupanion cost more than double this average.

While you can avoid high premiums by selecting a higher deductible, remember that you’ll need to cover the deductible for every new condition. If your pet develops a serious chronic condition, Trupanion may save you money. But it’s also possible that a Trupanion policy could cost more over time than setting aside savings and paying for your vet bills on your own.

Trupanion pet insurance FAQs