Trupanion vs Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: Compare Coverage, Customer Service, Pricing, And More

This content was reviewed by our licensed insurance agent, Michelle Schenker.

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We find Healthy Paws to be a better pet insurance pick than Trupanion for most pet parents. Healthy Paws has lower pricing on average and more plan customization options. However, our detailed comparison will help you determine which insurer best suits your needs.

TrupanionHealthy Paws
Policy CoverageLimitedLimited
Customer Service & ReputationExcellent, StableExcellent, Stable
Claim Processing Average2 Days2 Days
Price Of PolicyHigherVariable
Plan CustomizationsRestrictedRestricted
Overall WinnerOrange X (No or Not)Brown checkmark (Yes)
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Policy Coverage

Policy Coverage Winner

The table below shows specific differences between what Trupanion and Healthy Paws cover. Note: Both companies cover emergency care, surgery and hospitalization, specialized exams and specialty care, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, cancer, chronic conditions, euthanasia, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, non-routine dental treatment, and prescription medications. Neither covers pre-existing conditions, cremation and burial costs, pregnancy and breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.

TrupanionHealthy Paws
Illness Waiting Period30 Days15 Days
Accident Waiting Period5 Days15 Days
Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period30 Days12 Months
CCL Surgery Waiting Period30 Days15 Days
Behavioral TherapiesBrown checkmark (Yes)Orange X (No or Not)
Alternative/Holistic TherapyExtra FeeOrange X (No or Not)
Wellness Care For An Extra FeeOrange X (No or Not)Orange X (No or Not)
Exam FeesOrange X (No or Not)Orange X (No or Not)
UnderwriterAmerican Pet Insurance CompanyWestchester Fire Insurance Company/Chubb
A.M. Best RatingUnratedA++

As you can see, Trupanion and Healthy Paws offer very similar coverage. The primary difference is that Healthy Paws does not cover behavioral therapies or offer alternative/holistic therapy for an extra fee, and Trupanion does. Neither provides coverage for wellness care or exam fees.

You’ll also notice that Healthy Paws has an A++ A.M. Best rating (a measurement of financial stability), which is the best we’ve seen from any pet insurance company. Meanwhile, Trupanion’s underwriter is unrated by A.M. Best.

Another key deciding factor for you may be the age restrictions attached to each of these companies. Neither company enrolls pets who are older than 14 years old. Additionally, Healthy Paws will not enroll pets older than four years old in New York state. And if you choose to enroll your pet with Healthy Paws after their sixth birthday, you’ll notice plan customization restrictions and exclusions for hip dysplasia coverage.

Because of Healthy Paws’ behavioral therapy exclusion and age restrictions, we feel Trupanion has the better coverage of the two. However, if behavioral therapy isn’t a concern for you and your dog is young, we recommend Healthy Paws because of its superior financial stability.

Customer Service & Reputation

Customer Service & Reputation Winner

Customer service and reputation can be overlooked when you’re met with an attractive quote for your policy, but we think it’s one of the most important elements you should consider. We hope you never have to file a claim, but should the need arise, we want it to be as painless and easy on you and your furry friend as possible.

It doesn’t matter how much you pay; if you call a company and never get your questions answered or problems solved, you feel like you’ve wasted your money. Both companies offer multiple support options, including phone and email. They also offer 30-day money-back guarantees, so if you find that the plan you chose isn’t working for you, then you can cancel and get your money back.

Healthy Paws has some of the best customer service reviews we’ve seen. Our readers have shared many positive testimonials with us, raving about their experiences. On the other hand, we’ve received more complaints about Trupanion, which is why Healthy Paws wins this category.

Claim Processing

Claim Processing Winner

Both Healthy Paws and Trupanion pay most of their claims within two days. This is a speedy turnaround on repayment. Compare this to the time it may have taken to get your money back when you’ve filed a claim for a car accident or on your homeowners insurance policy.

Additionally, Trupanion may be able to pay your vet directly for the covered portion of your bill, so you wouldn’t have to wait for reimbursement. Direct payment to the vet is one of the unique perks that Trupanion offers its customers, but only at participating vet offices. (Note: Healthy Paws may be able to provide this option as well if you call and discuss it with them. However, you may not find it as necessary since its claim processing is more timely.)

Price Of Policy

Price Of Policy Winner

Trupanion requires a one-time fee of $35 ($25 in Washington; $0 in Maryland & Michigan), while Healthy Paws has no one-time fees.

Your premium price quote is based on your pet’s details (age, breed, location, etc.). We recommend obtaining quotes from each company for your specific pet. You can also visit our pet insurance comparison quotes to see a few sample prices we’ve gathered. 

Healthy Paws almost always came out less expensive than Trupanion in the quotes we’ve run. However, remember that it’s always best to get quotes for your specific dog to compare what pet insurance could cost for you. You can use our pet insurance quote form to get multiple company quotes when you complete this one-quick form.

Additionally, Healthy Paws has an annual deductible, whereas Trupanion’s deductible is per-condition and lifetime. An annual deductible is important if your pet experiences multiple accidents or illnesses during the policy period (one year). However, if your dog is subject to chronic conditions, like allergies, hip dysplasia, cancer, urinary tract infections, etc., then Trupanion’s per-condition deductible for the life of your pet may be a better choice.

Coupons

Healthy Paws

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price and get a quote for your pet from Healthy Paws. You can also visit our dedicated Healthy Paws promotions page to learn more.

Trupanion

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price and get a quote for your pet from Trupanion. You can also visit our dedicated Trupanion promotions page to learn more.

Plan Customization

Plan Customization Winner

Trupanion has a set 90% reimbursement and a set unlimited payout limit, so their policies aren’t nearly as customizable as many other pet insurance companies. Trupanion also has a per-incident deductible (choose from $0 to $1,000), which means you’ll have to meet the deductible multiple times for each emergency or illness in a given policy period. This can result in more expenses for you.

Healthy Paws has unlimited payouts on all plans, and they offer more plan flexibility than Trupanion. Unfortunately, Healthy Paws has some restrictions on reimbursement and annual deductible amounts, depending on your pet’s age at enrollment.

  • Dogs and cats 5 years and under:
    • 90%, 80%, and 70% reimbursement
    • $100, $250, and $500 deductible
  • Dogs and cats 6 and 7 years old:
    • 80%, 70%, or 60% reimbursement
    • $250, $500, or $750 deductible
  • Dogs 8 years and older: 
    • 50% or 60% reimbursement
    • $750 or $1,000 deductible

In the end, Healthy Paws offers more customization options for its plans than Trupanion does. Although the options may become more limited for older pets seeking new enrollment, Healthy Paws still offers more customizations than Trupanion.

What’s The Verdict?

Overall Winner

Healthy Paws is the winner in this comparison. For comparable coverage and more plan customization options, most people can save money by choosing Healthy Paws over Trupanion. If you didn’t find what you were looking for, our experts have gone in-depth with individual reviews of Trupanion and Healthy Paws so you can expand your comparison.

Our experts have spent thousands of hours researching to bring you our comprehensive and frequently updated pet insurance reviews, including our top picks, along with details on each of the most popular pet insurance companies. So, if you want to know how other providers compare against one another, you may find this review helpful in your pet insurance search.

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Disclaimer: Information regarding insurance company offerings, pricing, availability, and other contract details are subject to change by the insurance company at any time and are not under the control of this website. Information published on this website is intended for reference use only. Please review your policy carefully before signing up for a new insurance contract or any other contract as your unique circumstances will differ from those of others who may be used for example purposes in this article.

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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