Trupanion Pet Insurance Review: History, Coverage, Fees

Trupanion is a leading pet insurance provider known for its comprehensive coverage and direct-to-vet payment model. Founded in 2000, the company has built a strong reputation for offering straightforward policies that help pet owners manage unexpected veterinary costs. In this review, we’ll explore Trupanion’s history, the scope of its coverage, and the fees associated with its plans to help you determine whether it’s the right choice for your furry family member.

 

Trupanion Pet Insurance History

Trupanion was founded in 2000 by Darryl Rawlings in Vancouver, Canada, initially operating under the name Vetinsurance. The company was created with the goal of providing pet parents with a more reliable and transparent way to manage pet health insurance expenses. In 2007, Vetinsurance rebranded as Trupanion and moved its headquarters to Seattle, Washington, to expand its presence in the U.S. market.

 

One of Trupanion’s most notable innovations was its decision to eliminate reimbursement-based models in favor of a direct payment system to animal hospitals and emergency animal hospitals, helping reduce out-of-pocket costs for pet owners at the time of service. Trupanion became publicly traded in 2014 under the ticker symbol "TRUP" on the NASDAQ, further solidifying its position in the pet insurance industry.

 

Over the years, the company has grown to insure hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats across North America, earning a reputation for high-quality customer service, unlimited payouts for life, and customizable pet insurance coverage plans.

 

Trupanion Coverage Offerings

• Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 out of 5 stars)
  
• Total Reviews: 9,216
  
• Deductible: $0 to $1000
  
• Reimbursement Rate: 90%
  
• Annual Limit: Unlimited

 

 

Waiting Periods

• Accident Waiting Period: 5 days
  
• Illness Waiting Period: 30 days
  
• Wellness Waiting Period: N/A
  
• Orthopedic Waiting Period: 30 days

 

 

Coverage Details

• Accidents: ✅ Included
  
• Illnesses: ✅ Included
  
• Wellness: ❌ Excluded
  
• Dental Coverage: ✅ Included
  
• Exam Fee Coverage: ❌ Not Covered
  
• Direct Vet Pay: ✅ Available
  
• Claims Expiration: Must be submitted within 90 days of treatment
  
• Claims Submission App: ❌ Not Available

 

Illness and Accident Coverage

Trupanion offers a single accident and illness pet insurance plan designed to cover unexpected veterinary expenses. While certain aspects of the plan are fixed, others can be customized to suit your financial preferences:

 

• Reimbursement Rate: Fixed at 90%, helping pet parents shoulder the financial burden of covered treatments
  
• Annual Coverage Limit: Unlimited (no cap on payouts), offering pet health coverage you can count on
  
• Deductible Options: Flexible, ranging from $0 to $1,000, with a lifetime per-condition structure
  
• Wellness Coverage: Not available — Trupanion does not include routine care, focusing instead on core pet insurance coverage for illnesses and injuries

 

Coverage Details

• Accident Coverage
  
• Cancer Care
  
• Chronic Condition Coverage
  
• Congenital Condition Coverage
  
• Diagnostic Services
  
• Emergency Medical Treatment
  
• Hereditary Condition Coverage
  
• Illness Coverage
  
• Prescription Drug Coverage
  
• Prosthetics and Mobility Devices
  
• Surgical Procedures

 

Optional Add-ons

Trupanion allows pet parents to enhance their base pet insurance plan with optional add-ons, offering additional protection for specialized treatments and non-veterinary situations.

 

 

Recovery and Complementary Care Add-On

This add-on supports your pet’s recovery and overall well-being with alternative and rehabilitative therapies, which are often used alongside traditional treatments at animal hospitals:

 

• Acupuncture
  
• Behavioral modification
  
• Chiropractic care
  
• Homeopathy
  
• Hydrotherapy
  
• Naturopathy
  
• Physical therapy
  
• Rehabilitative therapy
  

 

 

Pet Owner Assistance Add-On

This add-on extends coverage beyond medical needs, helping pet parents manage unexpected events outside the veterinary setting:

 

• Advertising and reward for lost pets
  
• Boarding fees if you are hospitalized
  
• Liability coverage for third-party property damage
  
• Cremation or burial expenses for accidental death
  
• Holiday trip cancellation due to pet emergencies

 

 

Coverage Exclusions

Trupanion does not cover expenses related to the following conditions, services, or circumstances. These exclusions are based on the Sample California Policy (TRU 00001 v09.201601); for other states, refer to the applicable sample policy.

 

 

Waiting Period Exclusions

• Illnesses occurring or recurring within 30 days of the policy enrollment date are considered pre-existing and not eligible for pet insurance coverage.
  
• Injuries occurring within 5 days of the policy enrollment date are also considered pre-existing and excluded.
  

 

 

Pre-Existing Conditions

Trupanion will not cover the cost of treatment for any illness or injury that:

 

• Showed signs or evidence of potential manifestation within 18 months before enrollment
  
• Was treated or controlled with medication during that 18-month period
  
• Was observable, known, or reasonably should have been known to you or your licensed veterinarian before enrollment
  
• Was evidenced by clinical signs, even if not documented in your pet’s medical records
  

 

Also excluded are conditions such as:

 

• Orthopedic issues like luxating patella, elbow dysplasia, and cranial cruciate ligament injuries if signs were present from 18 months before through 30 days after enrollment
  
• Eye conditions including cataracts, entropion, ectropion, glaucoma, or cherry eye within the same timeframe
  
• Hip dysplasia if signs were evident or reasonably assumed prior to enrollment
  
• Repetitive behavior-related conditions (e.g., repeated foreign body ingestion, bite wounds), if similar incidents occurred twice within the 18 months before enrollment
  
• Masses (cutaneous or subcutaneous) if similar ones were present from 18 months before through 30 days after enrollment
  
• Intervertebral disc disease, if signs appeared prior to enrollment or during any applicable waiting period
  

 

 

General Exclusions

Trupanion also excludes coverage for:

 

• Routine exams, administrative fees, and taxes
  
• Claim processing and the transmission of medical records
  
• Preventive care, or injuries resulting from intentional acts involving pet parents or household members
  
• Breeding-related conditions, unless the Breeding Rider is included
  
• Elective or cosmetic procedures, including tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, dew claw removal, and microchip implantation
  
• Routine care such as vaccinations, titer tests, flea control, tick control, heartworm medication, and deworming
  
• Boarding, medical boarding, or pet transport expenses
  
• Complications or sequelae from illnesses, injuries, procedures, or treatments excluded by the policy
  
• Routine maintenance like anal gland expression, grooming, bathing, nail trims, and ear cleaning
  
• Supplies including bedding, crates, cages, feeding accessories, toys, leashes, collars, clothes, pet food, raw diets, or non-prescribed supplements
  
• Injuries related to training for or participating in racing, including sled or track events
  
• Spaying or neutering unless required due to a covered medical condition
  
• Internal or external parasite control
  
• Cremation and burial (unless covered under an optional add-on)
  
• Any optional coverage not selected at the time of enrollment
  
• Any loss resulting from war, invasion, civil unrest, rebellion, or riots
  
• Any claim resulting from nuclear reaction, radioactive contamination, or chemical, biological, or electromagnetic events

 

Client Requirements

• Pets can be enrolled at any age from birth up to 14 years old.
  
• Complete medical history and records for your pet must be submitted at enrollment.
  
• By enrolling, you authorize Trupanion to request and access your pet’s medical records from any veterinary clinic or hospital.

 

Claims

Trupanion features Vet Direct Pay, allowing them to pay your veterinarian or emergency animal hospital directly at the time of checkout—eliminating the need for pet parents to pay out-of-pocket and wait for reimbursement, wherever this service is accepted. If Vet

 

Direct Pay isn't available, you can still file a traditional pet insurance claim by submitting invoice(s) within 90 days of treatment via fax, mail, or email. Additional claims and payment conveniences include:

 

• Direct deposit for faster reimbursements
  
• Online claim submission for added ease
  
• Vet bills paid directly at participating clinics during checkout

 

Customer Assistance

 

 

Hours of Operation

Available 24/7, Monday through Sunday

 

 

Contact Information

• Phone: 888-733-2685
  
• Email: info@trupanion.com
  
• Other: Live chat available on their website

 

 

How to Cancel Trupanion Pet Insurance

To cancel your policy, contact Trupanion’s customer service team via phone, email, fax, or mail. They’ll guide you through the cancellation process.

 

 

Money-Back Guarantee

If no claims have been submitted, you’re eligible for a full refund when canceling within the first 30 days of your policy.

 

Trupanion Customer Reviews

Tony from Dallas, TX shared his experience on ConsumerAffairs:

 

“My dog was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor and needed surgery and further treatment... I submitted my 1st claim and within 2 weeks I got reimbursed for 90% minus my deductible.”

 

Ashley's Experience with Harold:

 

"He was so tiny and helpless, and this was truly the most traumatic thing I could imagine. Harold’s animal hospital went directly through Trupanion, so I never saw a bill while this was all going on."

 

Ashley saved over $10,000 with a Trupanion policy.

 

Lisa's Experience with Jiminy:

 

"I am profoundly thankful for the peace of mind I get from having Jiminy insured with Trupanion, knowing that I can give him a bright future full of new experiences, adventure and restful moments together!"

 

Lisa saved almost $20,000 with a Trupanion policy.

 

Final Thoughts

Trupanion Pet Insurance provides robust coverage for both dogs and cats, focusing exclusively on accidents and illnesses without offering optional wellness benefits. One of its standout features is the lifetime per-condition deductible, which only needs to be met once for each condition, potentially saving pet owners money over time.

 

The policy includes a short 5-day waiting period for accidents, which is quicker than many competitors, though the 30-day waiting period for illnesses is longer than the industry average. Another key advantage is Vet Direct Pay, a rare benefit that allows Trupanion to pay veterinarians directly at checkout, minimizing the financial burden on pet owners and simplifying the claims process.