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Trupanion Pet Insurance is aiming to simplify the pet insurance industry by offering Vet Direct Pay, where the company pays your bill before you leave the vet office. As of early 2020, it’s the only pet insurance company with the technological capabilities to pay your vet directly at the time of checkout. Additionally, the company offers 90% coverage of the actual vet costs for eligible claims once you meet the deductible.
When it comes to pricing, the company offers flexibility by letting you choose your deductible. This amount adjusts your monthly premium amount accordingly. The company also shines when looking into the fine print of deductibles. It offers lifetime per-incident deductibles, which means you pay a deductible once per condition, rather than every time a problem comes up because of the same condition.
A downside of Trupanion is its policies don’t cover wellness and preventative care or exam fees. The company covers only unexpected injuries, illnesses, and conditions your pet may encounter. Additionally, Trupanion won’t enroll cats or dogs in its plans past their 14th birthday. Note this isn’t a problem if your pet is already enrolled.
This insurance policy is great for pet owners who want the flexibility to choose their pricing, who have pets under 14 years old, and who value the seamless experience provided by Trupanion’s technology.
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The Pet Insurance Factors We Analyzed
Pricing
Trupanion determines the cost of your pet’s insurance coverage based on the following factors: age, breed, location, deductible, and gender. The company points out it’s one of the few using your pet’s age at enrollment for the duration of your policy, versus birthday pricing that would raise your rate each year.
When you apply for a quote on the Trupanion website, you’ll enter some basic details about your pet, and then you can choose the pricing best suiting your situation. You’ll see three pricing options with deductibles from $0 to $700, but you can adjust your deductible to any amount between $0 and $1,000. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly premium, and vice versa.
For example, pricing for a 2-year-old male Labrador retriever ranges from $224.21 per month with a $0 deductible to $72.95 per month with a $700 deductible. If you have a cat, the pricing will likely be a bit lower. The quote for a 2-year-old male domestic shorthaired cat ranges from $86.80 per month with a $0 deductible to $31.22 per month with a $700 deductible. Keep in mind your quote varies depending on different factors, including pet type, breed, age, and more.
In addition to the standard coverage, there are options to “enhance” your policy by adding on Recovery and Complementary Care and Pet Owner Assistance. As per the quotes above, the Recovery and Complementary Care coverage would cost you $16.98 per month for the dog and $6.24 per month for the cat. Further, the Pet Owner Assistance would cost $4.95 per month for the dog and cat. Trupanion accepts whatever a vet charges for treatment without payout limits and reimburses the costs at 90%.
Customer experience
Using Trupanion’s website is simple. All of the pertinent information is easy to find and explained well. There are several options to get in touch with a live representative, including a live chat, call now, or schedule a call option, which is reassuring to the user. If you use live chat, which is available immediately, you’ll be greeted by a live representative after simply entering your name and whether or not you already have a Trupanion policy or not.
There are also several “call to action” buttons urging you to request a free quote for coverage. The get a quote form is simple to fill out, requiring only the most basic information about you and your pet. This process makes it easy to understand what kind of costs you’ll be facing. The company also follows up with you via email, providing more helpful information.
Coverage
The standard coverage with Trupanion includes treatment for injuries and illnesses and conditions your pet’s breed is prone to. Covered expenses include herbal therapy, hospital stays, medications, surgeries, diagnostic tests, supplements, and prosthetics. However, the company doesn’t cover wellness visits, preventative care, or exam fees. It also doesn’t cover any pre-existing conditions.
You do have the option to expand your coverage by signing up for the Recovery and Complementary Care Rider package or the Pet Owner Assistance package. Recovery and Complementary Care includes coverage for services like acupuncture, behavioral modification, rehabilitative therapy, and more. On the other hand, Pet Owner Assistance covers the costs of holiday vacation cancellation costs, cremation or burial for accidental deaths, and liability coverage for third-party damage, among others.
Trupanion Pet Insurance Overview: Financial Strength, Availability, and History
Trupanion is a fairly straight-forward pet insurer appealing to consumers who want coverage for their pets without the hassle and complications common in the insurance world. It’s underwritten by the company American Pet Insurance Company. Pet owners can appreciate the helpful website, easy quote system, 90% coverage, Vet Direct Pay, and 24/7 customer service.
It seems most Trupanion customers are pleased with its policies and its coverage; however, there are some complaints. Most of the negative marks are due to conditions considered pre-existing or fell within a policy exclusion the policyholder was unaware of. Some consumers also complained about the one-time administration fee of $35 assessed to their account. So these are factors to keep in mind.
- In business since: 2000
- BBB Rating: A-
- A.M. Best Financial Rating: Not Rated (underwriting company, American Pet Insurance Company)
- States served: 50
The Competition
States Available | 24/7 Claims Service | Wellness Coverage* | |
Trupanion | 50 | No | No |
Figo Pet Insurance | 50 | Yes | No |
Healthy Paws | 50 | No | No |
Nationwide | 50 | Yes | Yes |
Embrace | 50 | Yes | Yes |
24 Pet Watch | 50 | Yes | Yes |
All information accurate as of 3/5/2020.
*Coverage for routine care like vaccinations, flea/heartworm prevention, etc.
The Bottom Line
Trupanion is a reputable pet insurance provider helping pet owners have the peace of mind their pets are covered for unexpected illnesses and injuries as well as conditions that may appear in the future. Its policies and deductibles are flexible, allowing customers to choose the plan that makes the most sense for their unique situation. Further, the Vet Direct Pay program, lack of birthday pricing, and 90% coverage helps Trupanion to stand out from the crowd. That said, the lack of coverage for wellness visits, exams, and pre-existing conditions can be a big drawback for some pet owners who’d prefer more comprehensive coverage. As with any financial product, it’s wise to shop around and get quotes from at least three providers to find the best deal.