Trupanion Pet Insurance Review: Pros, Cons, and Coverage in 2025
Trupanion stands out for its ability to pay vets directly and immediately. But it doesn’t offer wellness benefits or cover pre-existing conditions.
Excellent
)
)
Edited byNick Versaw
)
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
)
Reviewed byJohn Leach
)
John LeachLicensed Insurance Agent
John Leach is a licensed insurance agent who reviews and fact-checks articles for Compare.com. John has several years of experience reviewing and editing various insurance topics, and he also holds a valid personal lines producer license from the California Department of Insurance (NPN #20461358).
He’s also an alumnus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics.
Updated
Why You Can Trust Compare.com: At Compare.com, it’s our mission to find simple ways to help our customers save money on the things they need. While we partner with some of the companies and brands we talk about in our articles, all of our content is written and reviewed by our independent editorial team and never influenced by our partnerships. Learn about how we make money, review our editorial standards, and reference our data methodology to learn more about why you can trust Compare.com.
Advertiser Disclosure
At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
In This Article
Trupanion offers one accident and illness plan with a few coverages and features that other pet insurers don’t. For example, Trupanion can pay many veterinarians directly at checkout, rather than having you file a claim and wait for reimbursement.[1]
The 25-year-old pet insurance company doesn’t cap payouts, and it won’t raise your rates or reduce your coverage because of past claims. Its single plan covers 90% of eligible costs after you meet your deductible.
But Trupanion doesn’t offer any wellness coverage, and it limits new enrollments to pets younger than 14.[2]
Here’s what you should know about Trupanion to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you and your pet.
Our Take on Trupanion
Trupanion’s standout benefit is the ability to pay covered claims immediately, directly to the billing veterinarian.
That means pet parents whose vets accept Trupanion’s VetDirect Pay won’t have to pay the entire bill up front and wait for reimbursement. But if your vet doesn’t accept direct payment, Trupanion has a traditional reimbursement process in which you file a claim and wait for the insurer to pay you back.
We also like that Trupanion’s single policy covers a broad range of accidents, illnesses, procedures, and pet-related healthcare costs, like prescription food and acupuncture. And because it never caps payouts for covered costs, policyholders with pets who have hereditary, congenital, or chronic conditions especially stand to benefit.
But Trupanion’s lack of a wellness option could leave a significant coverage gap for pet parents who’d like help covering routine care for their pets. And its 30-day waiting period for illness coverage and an 18-month lookback for pre-existing conditions could leave many pets excluded from coverage.
Trupanion
Pros
Pays vets directly
Covers all breeds
No annual or lifetime payout limits
Cons
No wellness or preventive care coverage
Higher-than-average premiums
Doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions
Trupanion offers standard accident and illness coverage, but it doesn’t have a wellness plan. Its policies are comprehensive, with no lifetime or annual limit for payouts. And, if you see a participating veterinarian, Trupanion will pay them directly when you check out, so you won’t have to file a claim and wait for reimbursement.
Find Pet Insurance That Works for You
Comparing quotes could save you up to 57%.
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
4.7/5 (1,395+ reviews)
What Pet Insurance Policies Does Trupanion Offer?
)
Trupanion offers only a single type of policy: a comprehensive accident and illness plan for cats and dogs. The insurer says its policy is intended to cover new, unexpected illnesses and injuries, not routine care.
But the company has just one reimbursement option: 90%. Still, you can customize your policy a bit by choosing any deductible amount up to $1,000.
Optional add-ons
While Trupanion doesn’t offer a routine-care add-on, it has three optional coverages that you can add to your policy for an additional cost.
Recovery and complementary care: Covers alternative therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, rehab, chiropractic care, homeopathy, and behavioral therapy.
Pet owner assistance package: Adds coverage for things like rewards for finding a lost pet, boarding fees, vacation cancellation, third-party property damage, and cremation or burial.
Breeding rider: Covers injuries from breeding, whelping, and queening.
Good to know
But keep in mind that Trupanion doesn’t offer a wellness plan. That means you’ll pay out of pocket for things like vaccines, dental cleanings, spaying, neutering, and annual checkups.
What Trupanion Pet Insurance Covers
Trupanion’s straightforward policies mean you get broad accident and illness coverage. But you’ll need to budget separately for routine and preventive care.
But the company’s add-ons can help fill some gaps, especially if you want alternative therapies or extra protection for specific scenarios.
Here’s an overview of some common accidents, illnesses, and other care, and whether Trupanion covers them, with or without a waiting period.
Common Accident, Illness, or Cost  | Covered? | Waiting Period? |
|---|---|---|
| Broken bone (accident) | Yes | 5 days for injuries |
| Swallowed object (accident) | Yes | 5 days for injuries |
| Cancer | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
| Diabetes | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
| Hip dysplasia | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
| Allergies | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
| Urinary tract infection | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
| Hereditary/congenital conditions | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
| Preventive care (vaccines, exams, dental cleanings, spay/neuter) | No | Not applicable |
| Pre-existing conditions | No | Not applicable |
| Dental cleanings | No | Not applicable |
| Exam fees | No | Not applicable |
| Pre-existing conditions (curable or incurable) | No | Not applicable |
| Dental disease | Yes | 30 days for illnesses |
Trupanion defines a pre-existing condition as anything your pet showed symptoms of or was diagnosed with before coverage started or during the waiting period. The insurer won’t cover these conditions, now or in the future.[3] Some other pet insurers provide coverage for pre-existing conditions if they’re curable, but Trupanion doesn’t.
Find Affordable Pet Insurance – Fast
Compare quotes and buy a policy online in minutes.
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
4.7/5 (1,395+ reviews)
How Does Trupanion Pet Insurance Work?
Most pet insurers require you to pay up front and wait for reimbursement. But Trupanion’s VetDirect Pay feature means the insurer pays your vet directly for covered services when you check out.
If your vet uses Trupanion’s software, you won’t have to submit a claim or wait to get reimbursed. The vet sends the bill straight to Trupanion, and it pays its portion of the covered costs right away. You cover only what’s left — your deductible (if you haven’t already met it) and 10% of the bill.
How Trupanion works:
Imagine your dog swallows a toy and needs emergency surgery that costs $5,000. Your deductible is $100, and your vet uses VetDirect Pay. Your up-front cost will be $590 (your $100 deductible plus $490, 10% of the remaining bill). Trupanion covers its 90% share ($4,410) immediately.
If your vet doesn’t use VetDirect Pay, you’ll pay your vet the entire amount up front, and l submit your claim online or by email. Trupanion will then reimburse you after reviewing the claim.
Per-condition deductibles, not per year
Trupanion uses a lifetime per-condition deductible, meaning you pay your deductible only once per new health issue, not annually.[4] That means if your dog develops a chronic health condition after you enroll in a Trupanion policy, your deductible will apply only to the first time your pet gets treatment for the condition.
After that, Trupanion covers 90% of all future costs for that condition, for the rest of your pet’s life.
90% reimbursement rate across the board
Trupanion reimburses 90% of eligible costs for covered injuries and illnesses, once you’ve met the deductible for a condition. You’ll be responsible for the other 10%.
No payout limits
It’s common for pet insurance companies to have limits on how much they’ll pay out for claims in a plan year. But Trupanion doesn’t cap payouts, either annually, per condition, or over your pet’s lifetime.[5]
Two types of waiting periods
Many pet insurers have waiting periods after enrollment to ensure they don’t end up paying for a condition that might have existed before you signed your pet up for a policy.
Common waiting periods are 14 days for illnesses and none (or a very short one) for accidents. Orthopedic conditions often have much longer waiting periods — six months for some insurers.
Trupanion’s waiting periods are fairly simple — five days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses. It’s also worth noting that Trupanion may refuse to cover a curable pre-existing condition if your pet showed symptoms or got treatment for it in the 18 months before you enrolled them.[6]
Trupanion vs. Pumpkin, Spot, and Odie
Before investing in a pet insurance plan, it’s a good idea to compare multiple insurance companies, their coverage options, and costs.
Here’s how Trupanion stacks up to some top competitors.
Pumpkin
Pros
Covers behavioral issues and dental illnesses
Includes an optional wellness package
No upper age limit for coverage
Cons
Higher premiums than some competitors
Preventive care only available as an add-on
14-day waiting period for illnesses
Among the more expensive pet insurance options, Pumpkin offers comprehensive accident and illness plans with the option to add wellness benefits for routine care. Like Trupanion, it covers some things other insurers don’t, like exam fees.
But Pumpkin offers more options for reimbursements, and you can choose unlimited payouts for an additional cost.
Spot
Pros
Offers more reimbursement rate options
Covers senior pets without age restrictions
Provides optional wellness plans
Cons
14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses
Doesn’t offer direct payments to vets
No 100% reimbursement option
Spot Pet Insurance offers accident and illness coverage, a lower-cost accident-only plan, and optional wellness add-ons for dogs and cats. Like Trupanion, Spot doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. But if your pet recovers and remains symptom- and treatment-free for 180 days, the condition may be eligible for future coverage.
Spot also doesn’t have an age limit, so you can enroll your pet at any stage of life.
Odie
Pros
Broad range of coverages
24/7 vet chat available
No upper age limit on new enrollments
Cons
Limited deductible and annual limit options
Only one reimbursement rate (90%)
Six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues
Like Trupanion, Odie offers just one reimbursement rate of 90%. But its policies include accident-only, injury and illness, and routine care. You can also add wellness coverage to both the accident-only and injury and illness plans. Deductible options are $250 or $500, and annual limit choices are $10,000 or $40,000.
You can also add coverage for office visits and exam fees, prescription medications, and alternative therapies for an additional cost.
Protect Your Best Friend
Customize a pet insurance plan to fit your needs and budget.
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
4.7/5 (1,395+ reviews)
Trupanion Pet Insurance FAQs
Insuring your pet is an ongoing financial commitment, so you want to make sure you choose the right insurer. Here’s some additional information about Trupanion to help you decide.
Does Trupanion pet insurance have age restrictions?
Yes. You can enroll your pet with Trupanion anytime before they turn 14. After that, they’re no longer eligible for new coverage. But once your pet is enrolled, you can keep the policy for life (as long as you don’t let it lapse). Trupanion says the age limit helps ensure pets are signed up before they develop age-related health issues.
Does Trupanion pet insurance have waiting periods?
Yes, Trupanion has two standard waiting periods: Five days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses.
If your pet gets sick or injured during those windows, Trupanion won’t cover treatment. Instead, they’ll count as pre-existing conditions.
Do you have to visit a vet before you enroll in a Trupanion policy?
No. Trupanion doesn’t require a vet visit to sign up for its standard policy. But if your vet has what Trupanion calls an Exam Day Offer, you can get coverage that kicks in right after the exam, as long as you enroll within 24 hours of your visit. Not all clinics offer this, so you’ll need to check with your vet.[7]
How long does Trupanion take to reimburse a claim?
It depends. If your vet uses VetDirect Pay, Trupanion can pay the clinic directly at checkout, often in seconds. If you file a claim yourself, Trupanion says it reimburses more than 70% of claims within 24 hours. You can choose to get paid by direct deposit or check.
Which states does Trupanion offer pet insurance in?
Trupanion is available in all 50 states, plus Canada and Puerto Rico. You can visit any licensed vet — including emergency clinics and specialists — within those regions.
Sources
- Trupanion. "Why do Trupanion pets live longer, healthier lives?."
- Trupanion. "What’s the oldest age a pet can be enrolled?."
- Trupanion. "Pre-existing Conditions."
- Trupanion. "What is a deductible, and how does it work?."
- Trupanion. "Payouts as unlimited as your love for them."
- Trupanion. "Your pet’s insurance policy."
- Trupanion. "What’s a Trupanion Exam Day offer?."
