Trupanion Pet Insurance Senior Review

Trupanion offers coverage for accidents, injuries, and congenital and hereditary conditions, as well as optional add-on coverage. Trupanion pays veterinarians directly and offers 24/7 customer support.

Trupanion is a pet health insurance service that can “approve and pay bills directly to select veterinary hospitals within minutes.” The Trupanion plan is a condition-based deductible plan that covers 90% of the actual cost of the veterinary visit once the deductible is met. Only one plan is offered that covers illness, injury, hereditary and congenital conditions, diagnostic tests, surgeries and hospital stays, and prescription medications. While exam fees and wellness and preventive care are not reimbursed, customers can add various optional add-on packages for a fee.

Grandfolk Scoring

Price 7/10

Reimbursement 8/10

Deductible 8/10

Illness waiting period 4/10

Accident waiting period 9/10

Warranty 10/10

Age limits 7/10

Eligibility 10/10

Accident coverage 10/10

Preventive coverage 10/10

Multiple pet discount 1/10

Price Monthly cost	$12-100+
Reimbursement Amount reimbursed?	90 percent of covered vet bills, minus exam fees
Deductible Type of deductible?	Per incident (illness or injury)
Illness waiting period Delay before coverage?	30 days
Accident waiting period Delay before coverage?	5 days
Warranty Risk-free period?	30-day money-back guarantee
Age limits Age limits for enrollment?	Yes, up to 14 years of age for enrolling
Eligibility Are all pets eligible?	Yes
Accident coverage Is it available?	Yes
Preventive coverage Is it available?	Yes
Multiple pet discount Is it available?	No

Age Score:

50-64 Years

65-74 Years

75-84 Years

85-Older

Trupanion provides health coverage for a pet, so the age of the senior has no impact on the service as long as the senior can take the pet to veterinarian appointments. Because claims can be filed by fax, email or regular mail, and because payments can be made by direct deposit, Trupanion is particularly friendly to aging seniors.

Health Score:

Poor Health

Fair Health

Good Health

Great Health

The senior’s health has little to no impact on Trupanion Health Insurance to the extent that the senior can still care for the pet. Decreased mobility and increased hospitalizations can prevent seniors from adequately caring for a pet, including taking the pet to vet appointments. This may become another role for a caretaker. The critical importance of a loved pet as a senior’s health declines cannot be measured. Trupanion allows the policy to be transferred with the pet within 30 days of the transfer of ownership, should that become necessary.

Pros:

Trupanion Pet Insurance covers 90% of eligible veterinary costs related to a pet’s injury or illness, including eligible specialists and emergency clinic visits.
The insurance is valid at any veterinarian in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as all U.S. and Canadian territories and military bases.
Trupanion offers 24/7 customer support.
Trupanion pays the hospital directly rather than reimbursing the customer.
Unlike some pet insurance policies, hereditary and congenital conditions are covered in this plan at no additional cost.
Working pets such as guard dogs, service pets and therapy pets can also be insured.
Deductibles are condition-based, meaning one only pays it once per issue and all of its complications.

Cons:

Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet health insurance plan.
Some concerns have been voiced that Trupanion unfairly rejects their claims and has mistakenly identified hospital visits as relating to a pre-existing condition.
Trupanion has a 30-day waiting period for illnesses so if a pet becomes ill before the 30 days have passed, the illness could count as a pre-existing condition.
Routine wellness care, such as regular vet check-ups, vaccines and preventive medications are not covered. Trupanion does not cover veterinarian exam fees.
There is an age limit on this coverage. Dogs and cats must be 14 years of age or younger to qualify for enrollment in Trupanion.

Bottom Line:

For a senior who is looking for a simple health insurance with a low deductible, Trupanion could be a good choice. Trupanion offers a variety of services comparable to other health insurance plans but, unlike most other companies, does not cover veterinarian exams. However, Trupanion does pay 90% of covered vet fees. Trupanion was the first pet health care company to be awarded a seal of excellence from the American Animal Hospital Association Seal, in 2008. Trupanion may be a good choice for a senior who is looking for a basic health insurance but does not seek much preventive medical care for his or her pets.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does the deductible work, and how will I receive my reimbursements? Customers may choose any deductible amount from $0 to $1000 in selecting their pet’s health plan. Claims can be filed by fax or email for the fastest processing, but they can also be submitted via snail mail. You will receive a check in the mail for any money owed or can sign up for direct deposit for electronic payments.
Can I have more than one pet on my account? Yes. However, there is no discount on additional pets added to the plan, as Trupanion seeks to provide the lowest rates across the board.
Where is my insurance accepted? Trupanion can be used with any licensed veterinarian in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico.

More Information:

Product Details

Overview: Trupanion offers one basic plan with several optional add-on packages.

Package Details:

Customers may choose any deductible from $0 to $1000. The deductible is an incident deductible, which means that it can only be applied once for a given condition with which the pet is dealing. Once the deductible is paid, all future medical costs related to that condition will be eligible for reimbursement by Trupanion. Unlike some insurance companies, Trupanion issues reimbursements based on the actual cost of the health bill rather than a national average of the cost of a given procedure.

Trupanion insurance covers illnesses, injuries, hereditary and congenital conditions, diagnostic tests, surgeries and hospital stays, and prescription medications. Trupanion does not reimburse exam fees, sales tax, wellness and preventive care, or pre-existing conditions.

Optional Add-on Services:
Recovery and complementary care can be added to the insurance policy for a fee. Recovery and complementary care includes rehabilitation, acupuncture and behavioral therapy; pet owner assistance add-on includes boarding fees, funeral-related expenses, and liability coverage for third-party property damage; breeding add-on includes illnesses and injuries related to breeding.

Additional Company Details

Contract Details: The Trupanion plan must be canceled in writing.

Warranty: Trupanion offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Accreditations: Trupanion is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has earned an A+ rating.

Company Details: Trupanion was started in 2000 as the company VetInsurance. In 2004, Trupanion became the first profitable pet insurance provider in North America. Trupanion’s goal is for pets to live longer, healthier lives. Trupanion is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating.

Contact

Trupanion
6100 4th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: (888) 733-2685
Website: http://www.trupanion.com
Email: customercare@trupanion.com

Sheeva Azma - Senior Advisor

Sheeva is senior researcher with Grandfolk® providing in-depth product and service reviews to empower senior buying decisions.