Year Company Started: 2008

Underwriter: American Pet Insurance Company (APIC)

Trupanion is a founding member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).

Website: www.trupanionpetinsurance.com

Phone: 1800-569-7913

Founded in British Columbia in 1998 (under the name VetInsurance), Trupanion first started in Canada and have now been issuing policies across the United States since 2008.

If you have a cat or dog between 8 weeks and 14 years of age, Trupanion may be the pet insurance provider for you. This insurer differs from others in a few ways:

• Trupanion pays 90 percent of your cost without caps, even at emergency centers, specialty hospitals and referral clinics. Many pet insurance providers cover only 80 percent. Your rates won’t increase just because you’ve submitted multiple claims—and your coverage won’t decrease either.

• Hereditary and congenital disorders—conditions present at birth—aren’t excluded from coverage. Most pet insurers refuse to cover these, leaving you with large veterinary bills, despite having a pet insurance policy.

• The one drawback to purchasing a Trupanion policy is the lack of routine care coverage. According to the website, “dollar trading for routine veterinary costs would double monthly premiums without adding value. Instead, Trupanion offers an affordable and practical type of pet health insurance that covers major costs you can’t anticipate.”

Your pet’s breed and age at the time of enrollment will determine the premium (premiums do not increase due to pet agings). You can lower your dog or cat’s premium by selecting a per incident deductible that best matches your budget. Premiums may increase periodically to reflect the rising cost of veterinary care.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

Rating: 8

Our review process starts with calling each of the insurance providers over the telephone and then, we gather quotes for these three pet profiles:

• A 2-year old male Yorkshire Terrier named Jax
• A 6-year old male Cocker Spaniel named Max
• An 8-year old female mixed breed cat named Fluffy

I spoke with Michelle at Trupanion. Michelle was very friendly. Our call wasn’t long, but it seems there isn’t that much to explain since Trupanion only has one plan.

The Plans/Quotes

You can choose your deductible—anywhere between $0 and $1,000—to fit your premiums within your budget. Each pet gets $20,000 over his lifetime for accidents and illnesses with no limits per year, claim, illness, procedure, or condition. Trupanion reimburses 90% of every approved claim.

Monthly premiums for each pet:

The 2-year old male Yorkshire Terrier: $35 with a $500 deductible, $23.69 with a $1,000 deductible

A 6-year old male Cocker Spaniel: $44.45 with a $500 deductible, $29.03 with a $1,000 deductible

An 8-year old female mixed breed cat: $31.07 with a $500 deductible, $21.06 with a $1,000 deductible

The Details

Trupanion covers diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications (including hereditary and congenital disorders). Once you submit a claim, you can expect an approval or denial within 7 days—and as soon as 24 hours if it’s a repeat claim. Your rates will never increase due to increased claim activity, and premiums won’t increase due to aging. There is a 5-day waiting period for accidents, and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses.

Trupanion will only deny coverage for hereditary and congenital disorders if symptoms were present before you enrolled your pet, or during the waiting period. There is no coverage for routine care. According to the website, “dollar trading for routine veterinary visits would double monthly premiums without adding value.”

Trupanion owns it’s own underwriter, it hasn’t been rated by A.M. Best rated.

You can cancel your policy at any time without any penalty.

Conclusions

Pros:

• The deductibles and premiums are highly flexible, meaning you can fit the plan within your budget.
• There is no benefits schedule.
• Premiums will not increase due to aging.
• You may get coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions if symptoms occurred after your plan took effect.
• Customer reviews indicate excellent customer service.

Cons:

• Routine coverage is not included.
• Cover pets that are not spayed or neutered. However the coverage is limited in that pets who are not spayed or neutered will not be covered for illnesses relating to spay/neuter such as ovarian cancer, mammary cancer, etc.

Overview

Year Company Started: 1999

Underwriter: American Pet Insurance Company (APIC)

Website: Trupanion pet insurance

Phone: 1-800-930-1019

Trupanion is a pet insurance company that was founded in Canada in 1999 under the name Vetinsurance. For 10 years, Vetinsurance has been receiving the highest customer reviews in Canada, and they have also earned the industry’s highest retention rates. Today, Trupanion continues to offer the same high quality experience and service.

With Trupanion, you can get lifetime coverage for your dog or cat without having to be concerned about your premiums increasing because of your pet getting older or as a result of filing claims. Trupanion guarantees that policyholders will “never be penalized for the number of claims submitted” or for the increasing age of the covered pet.

The lifetime cap for Trupanion is set at $20,000. The lifetime cap may increase to reflect an increase in medical costs in your area. This coverage pays for diagnostic tests, medications, and surgeries that are recommended by your veterinarian.

Through Trupanion, you do not pay a deductible for veterinary medical costs. Instead, you are required to pay the veterinarian’s examination fee. In the end, Trupanion will pay for 90% of all approved claims.

Keep in mind that with this pet insurance policy, pre-existing conditions are not covered. According to Trupanion, neutering/spaying and hip-dysplasia are also not covered. Accident coverage begins five days after you start coverage, while illness coverage will not begin for thirty days.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Review (formerly Vetinsurance)

Rating: 8

Our review process starts with calling each of the insurance providers over the telephone and then, we gather quotes for these three pet profiles located in Vancouver, BC:

• A 2-year old male Yorkshire Terrier named Jax
• A 6-year old male Cocker Spaniel named Max
• An 8-year old female mixed breed cat named Fluffy

The Plans/Quotes

You can choose your deductible—anywhere between $0 and $1,000—to fit your premiums within your budget. Each pet gets $20,000 over his lifetime for accidents and illnesses with no limits per year, claim, illness, procedure, or condition. Trupanion reimburses 90% of every approved claim.

Monthly premiums for each pet:

The 2-year old male Yorkshire Terrier: $40.13 with a $500 deductible, $49.50 with a $250 deductible

A 6-year old male Cocker Spaniel: $51.45 with a $500 deductible, $64.23 with a $250 deductible

An 8-year old female mixed breed cat: $36.02 with a $500 deductible, $45.06 with a $250 deductible

*note: Quote total does not include applicable taxes, one-time $35 administration fee, or optional charity donation.

The Details

Your pet is covered for all hereditary and breed related conditions except for hip dysplasia which is not covered. Once you submit a claim, you can expect an approval or denial within 7 days—and as soon as 24 hours if it’s a repeat claim. Your rates will never increase due to increased claim activity, and premiums won’t increase due to aging. There is a 5-day waiting period for accidents, and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses.

Trupanion will only deny coverage for hereditary and congenital disorders if symptoms were present before you enrolled your pet, or during the waiting period.

You have the choice of going to any licensed veterinarian in Canada. You can also use your coverage while visiting in the United States. The insurer follows an indemnity insurance model. With this model, you pay the veterinarian up front, submit your claim to Trupanion, and then you will be reimbursed later.

No routine visits are covered for your pet at any age because these checkups are considered to be routine or preventative. Sickness and medication will continue to be covered even when your pet grows older.

Coverage

If your pet becomes sick or is injured, you are covered for:

• Hereditary disorders
• Congenital disorders
• Diagnostic tests
• Surgeries
• Medications
• Chronic or recurring conditions

What is not covered?

• Routine care
• Veterinary exam fees
• Pre-existing conditions

Important Exclusions:

1. Pre-existing conditions
2. Hip dysplasia – optional coverage for dogs and cats enrolled before 1st birthday

You can cancel your policy at any time without any penalty.

Conclusions

There is one plan that covers all accidents and illnesses without the disadvantage of a deductible. The only requirement is that you pay the veterinarian for the examination fees.

Trupanion will then pay 90% of the approved claim, leaving you with the final 10%.  Your premium may be lowered by choosing a per condition deductible amount that works for you. If you do not spay or neuter your pet or do not maintain routine preventive care, the amount of coverage you receive will be quite restricted.

In making my choice, I will consider the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• You only have one limit: $20,000 over your pet’s lifetime.
• The deductibles and premiums are highly flexible, meaning you can fit the plan within your budget.
• There is no benefits schedule.
• Premiums will not increase due to aging.
• You may get coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions if symptoms occurred after your plan took effect.
• Customer reviews indicate excellent customer service.

Cons:

• Routine coverage is not included.
• Cover pets that are not spayed or neutered. However the coverage is limited in that pets who are not spayed or neutered will not be covered for illnesses relating to spay/neuter such as ovarian cancer, mammary cancer, etc.
• Hip dysplasia is not covered unless your dog is under one year at the time of enrollment.
• Monthly premium is slightly more expensive than others.