Trupanion Pet Insurance Review and Costs (2024)

Trupanion scored 4.2 out of 5 stars based on our objective rating scale, which considers pricing, plan types, coverage, customer experience and customer reviews. We named it our top pick for unlimited lifetime payouts because the company will not cap your pet’s coverage for any reason.

We like that Trupanion’s policies provide 90% reimbursement and the company’s commitment to price transparency — claiming it will never raise rates solely based on your pet’s age or claim history. However, Trustpilot reviewers have noted that despite this promise, rates increased each year as their pets aged, sometimes so much that the policy became unaffordable. 

One of the main advantages of a Trupanion plan is its vet direct pay option, which can provide instant claim approval and payment at checkout. It is the only pet insurance company we’ve reviewed to partner with a large network of veterinarians in 50 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico to provide this service, eliminating the sometimes cumbersome reimbursement process.

However, Trupanion’s pricing is the highest of other providers we’ve reviewed and many customers mention increasing annual premiums, which the company states are necessary to continue providing unlimited payouts. We also wish Trupanion offered more options for plan choices and customizations, which could help lower pet owner costs.

Pros and Cons

How Trupanion Scored in Our Methodology

After analyzing Trupanion using our pet insurance methodology, the company scored 4.2 out of 5 stars. Trupanion performed well in the covered treatments and customer experience categories but scored lower when it came to cost and custom coverage levels.

Flip Card Trupanion Pet Insurance Rating

MarketWatch Rating 4.2 / out of 5 stars

Rating is based off of MarketWatch Methodology Guidelines

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Rating breakdown

Monthly Cost Trupanion was more expensive than the average cost of pet insurance for each of the four unique pet profiles we used to gather quotes. 3 / 5

Plans Trupanion offers accident-only, accident-illness and wellness add-on coverage, earning it full points in this category. 5 / 5

Custom Coverage Levels Trupanion scored lower in this category due to offering only one deductible and reimbursement option but earned high marks for its unlimited annual limit. 3.3 / 5

Covered Treatments Trupanion earned full points for this rating factor for offering a wide variety of covered treatments. It also earned a bonus point for providing prescription medication coverage as standard. 5 / 5

Customer Experience Trupanion was awarded the maximum points in this category thanks to its availability in 41-plus states and features such as a mobile app, 24/7 customer service and more. We awarded one bonus point to Trupanion for offering vet direct pay. 5 / 5

Waiting Periods Trupanion lost points in this category for an illness waiting period lasting 15-plus days and a seven to 12-month waiting period for orthopedic and ligament conditions. 4 / 5

Reputation Trupanion lost the most points in this category due to its low BBB customer review score. 3 / 5

Eligible Age Limit Trupanion has an age limit on coverage for dogs and cats, resulting in a lower rating for this factor. 4.5 / 5

How Much Does Trupanion Pet Insurance Cost?

The average cost of a Trupanion pet insurance plan is $88 per month. This breaks down to $123 per month for dogs and $53 for cats. Trupanion’s pricing is likely higher than average because all plans include unlimited coverage and a 90% reimbursement rate. Your plan cost will vary depending on where you live and your pet’s breed, age and species. Premiums may also increase incrementally each year as your pet ages. 

We determined average monthly costs by obtaining quotes for four sample pets in each state — two for dogs and two for cats. We then averaged the overall and species-specific costs in each state to determine a national average. We used the following sample pets: a 5-year-old medium, mixed-breed dog, a 2-year-old golden retriever, a 5-year-old mixed-breed cat and a 2-year-old Siamese cat.

Signing up for a Trupanion plan is simple based on our experience because the provider offers only one type of pet insurance. Based on our experience, the website quote tool is fast and lays out options clearly on the screen. During sign-up, Trupanion prominently displays what is covered and offers a link to study coverage in greater detail.

Although Trupanion allows cancellations at any time, it charges a one-time administration fee at sign-up. To avoid losing money on this fee if you need to cancel, we recommend pet owners carefully study a sample plan and familiarize themselves with options and pricing before finalizing their purchase.

Trupanion offers one basic accident and illness plan and two optional riders to broaden coverage. Each rider increases overall monthly costs.

Accident and Illness Plan Details

The accident and illness plan covers many common conditions, diagnostics and procedures. However, Trupanion has some notable exclusions. The plan does not pay for exam fees, pre-existing conditions, preventable conditions, or wellness and routine care. You must follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for routine care — such as annual dental cleanings, parasite prevention and specific vaccines — to maximize future coverage.

Trupanion’s base plan covers diagnostics and treatments related to the following conditions:

• Chronic conditions such as allergies, diabetes and arthritis
• Congenital conditions such as heart, brain and liver defects
• Hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, respiratory defects and eye disorders
• Illnesses such as infections, cancer and gastrointestinal issues
• Injuries such as broken bones, dental trauma and lacerations
• Pregnancy and whelping

Covered treatments include:

• Advanced dentistry
• Cancer treatments
• Hospitalization
• Imaging tests
• Lab work
• Prescription food (for up to two months)
• Prescription medication
• Prescription supplements
• Prosthetics and carts
• Surgery

Recovery and Complementary Care Add-on

Trupanion does not provide rehabilitation or alternative care coverage in its base plan. To opt into this coverage, you must choose the rider during sign-up or call to add it within 30 days. The cost runs between $10 and $60 per month, depending on your pet’s base plan cost and your chosen deductible. Coverage includes:

• Acupuncture
• Behavior treatments
• Chiropractic treatments
• Homeopathy
• Hydrotherapy
• Naturopathy
• Rehabilitation therapy

Pet Owner Assistance Add-On

The Pet Owner Assistance rider includes the following non-veterinary coverages for $5 per month:

• Boarding fees if a pet’s caregiver is hospitalized
• Cremation or burial
• Lost pet advertising and reward
• Third-party property damage liability
• Vacation cancellation caused by a pet’s illness

Rating:

Our Pick for Unlimited Lifetime Payouts

4.2/5

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Customizable Coverage Levels

Trupanion’s single plan offers few customization options compared to other companies. Because Trupanion sets fixed prices for the reimbursement rate and annual limit on all policies, customers can only change the deductible to adjust their plan’s price. While you can raise your deductible at any time, you can only lower it within the first 30 days after purchasing a policy.

Deductible Options

Trupanion’s deductible options are unique because you can choose any number in $5 increments on a sliding scale from $0 to $1,000. The deductible applies per condition rather than annually, unlike some other companies. This means if your pet develops a chronic or relapsing condition, you only have to pay the deductible for that condition once.

Reimbursement Rates

Trupanion’s set reimbursement rate is 90% for all policies. This means Trupanion will pay 90% of each covered veterinary bill after you meet your per-condition deductible, and you must pay the remaining 10%.

Annual Limit Options

One primary feature of Trupanion policies is unlimited coverage on all policies. The company will not limit payouts for covered services over the lifetime of your pet.

We analyzed reviews on Trustpilot and Reddit to get a sense of how real customers feel about Trupanion’s policies. Overall, the verdict on Trupanion is positive, with 79% of reviewers leaving 5-star ratings. However, many customers pointed out recent changes in pricing and claims processing times that made them second guess their policy’s value.

To better assess the customer experience, we identified major themes in what customers like and dislike about Trupanion. 

What Customers Like

• Above-average customer service: Most customers who spoke with an agent felt they were compassionate and helpful. Customers also appreciated the company’s 24/7 customer service availability.
• Easy sign-up: Many of Trupanion’s 5-star reviews are from customers who recently signed up, stating the purchase process was fast and pricing adjustments were easy with the sliding deductible.
• Per-condition deductible: Customers liked that they only had to pay a deductible once for conditions requiring long-term care.
• Vet direct payments: Customers who used the vet-direct pay feature gave Trupanion a higher score than those who submitted claims after receiving care, saying the company approved the vet direct claims without any fuss. The pre-approval process gave many customers peace of mind as they made medical decisions for their pets.

What Customers Don’t Like

• Claim denials: Many of Trupanion’s 1-star reviews mentioned how customers experienced difficulty appealing decisions based on pre-existing conditions coverage, even with their veterinarian’s help.
• Claims processing: Customers noted that claims processing speeds slowed in 2023, leaving them waiting for reimbursement for several weeks, rather than the usual several days.
• Misleading advertising: Some customers took Trupanion’s “pricing promise,” in which it promises never to raise rates because of a pet’s age or claims history, to mean their pet’s quoted rate was locked in for life.
• Price increases: Although most customers expected annual price increases, an unpredictable nature and increases of 100% or more in some cases had them questioning their plan’s affordability and value.
• Pushy sales tactics: Some customers who were awarded special offers when they adopted a pet from a Trupanion partner felt pressured into buying insurance because the offer expired in 24 hours.

We reached out to Trupanion for comment on the negative customer reviews mentioned in this article but did not receive a response.

Use our comparison table below to see how Trupanion stacks up against other pet insurance providers.