When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works.
Pet insurance can be a lifesaver when unexpected vet bills arise, but with so many providers to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Pumpkin and Trupanion are two popular options, each offering extensive coverage but with key differences in plan structure, pricing, and reimbursement methods. Whether you’re looking for flexibility in coverage or a seamless claim experience, understanding these distinctions is essential.
Pumpkin gives pet owners more customization options, allowing them to select different payout limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates. In contrast, Trupanion provides unlimited payouts on all plans and a unique per-condition deductible. Another standout feature? Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay covers the bill directly at participating clinics, eliminating out-of-pocket payments and reimbursement delays. But which insurer offers the best value for your pet’s needs? Let’s dive in and explore how these two providers compare.
  |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Star Rating | 3.5/5.0 | 3.8/5.0 |
| Our Ranking | N/A | Best For Vet Direct Pay |
| Year Founded | 2020 | 2000 |
| Customer Support Options | Live Chat, Phone, Email | Live Chat, Phone, Email, Fax |
| Underwriter | Independence American Insurance Company | American Pet Insurance Company |
| A.M. Best Rating* | A- | Unrated |
| Demotech Rating* | Unrated | A’ |
| Claim Processing Average | 5 Days | 2 Days |
| Can Reimburse Vets Directly |  | |
| Payout Limits | $5,000 to Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductibles | $100 to $1,000 | $0 to $1,000 |
| Reimbursement Rates | 80% to 90% | 50% to 100% |
| One-Time Fees | N/A | $35** |
| Accident Waiting Period | 14 Days | 5 Days |
| Illness Waiting Period | 14 Days | 30 Days |
| Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period | 14 Days | 30 Days |
| Enrollment Ages | 8 Weeks or Older | 0 to 14 Years |
| Preventative Plan | | |
 | |
**$25 in Washington; $0 in Maryland & Michigan.
Coverage Comparison
Both Pumpkin and Trupanion offer accident and illness insurance plans in all 50 states. These plans provide coverage for newly diagnosed diseases and injuries, including a range of medical treatments such as emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, specialized diagnostics, and advanced imaging like MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds. However, their standard policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, breeding, pregnancy, or elective cosmetic procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping, and dew claw removal.
Both insurers include coverage for newly developed conditions like cancer, hip dysplasia, allergies, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears, chronic illnesses, hereditary disorders, and congenital diseases in their base policies. However, if any symptoms were present before enrollment or appeared during the waiting period, those conditions will be excluded from coverage.
Trupanion caps enrollment for pets at 14 years old. Meanwhile, Pumpkin has no maximum age restrictions and allows enrollment for pets starting at 8 weeks old.
Pumpkin has a 14-day waiting period for all accidents and illnesses, including hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament injuries. When using Trupanion, there is a 5-day waiting period for accidents and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses.
Trupanion offers two optional add-ons for an extra cost. The first, the Pet Owner Assistance package, costs $4.95 per month and covers pet boarding if you’re hospitalized, liability protection for accidental property damage, and reimbursement for canceled travel plans due to a pet emergency. It also helps pay for cremation or burial costs in the event of accidental pet death and provides funds for lost pet advertising and rewards. Pumpkin does not offer a similar add-on.
The second optional add-on, Recovery & Complementary Care, costs between a few dollars and $30 per month and extends coverage to treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, rehabilitative therapy, behavioral therapy, and naturopathy. Unlike Trupanion, Pumpkin includes alternative therapy as part of its standard policy.
Pumpkin includes coverage for exam fees in its base plan, while Trupanion does not offer coverage for them.
Base pet insurance policies from Pumpkin and Trupanion cover non-routine dental treatment, tooth extractions, and trauma to the teeth, face, and jaw. The two differ in dental illness coverage for gum (periodontal) disease and endodontic disease because Pumpkin covers gum disease but does not cover endodontic disease. Meanwhile, Trupanion covers canines and carnassials for both gum disease and endodontic disease. Each company covers developmental abnormalities with its own terms: Pumpkin covers them under its base policy, while Trupanion covers pets enrolled before they are six months old.
Pumpkin will cover curable pre-existing conditions if the pet has been free from treatment and symptoms for 180 days, except for ligament and knee conditions. Meanwhile, Trupanion states that it covers curable pre-existing conditions that show no symptoms or indicators within the 18 months before enrollment.
Wellness coverage is available as an add-on to Pumpkin’s insurance policy. These wellness plans can cover routine veterinary visits, vaccinations, blood tests for heartworm and tick diseases, and fecal tests for intestinal worms. Trupanion does not offer a separate routine care program.
| Coverage | | |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Therapy* | Base Plan | Base Plan & Add-On |
| Alternative Therapy* | Base Plan | Base Plan & Add-On |
| Wellness Care For An Extra Fee | Add-On |  |
| Exam Fees | Base Plan | |
| Prescription Medications | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Hip Dysplasia | After 14 Days | After 30 Days |
| Non-Routine Dental Treatment | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Trauma To Teeth, Face, & Jaw | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Gum (Periodontal) Disease | Base Plan | Canines & Carnassials |
| Tooth Extractions | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Endodontic Disease | | Canines & Carnassials |
| Developmental Abnormalities | Base Plan | If Enrolled By 6 Months Old |
Premiums & Pricing
Insurance providers calculate premiums based on factors such as your pet’s age, breed, location, and the level of coverage selected. Based on multiple quotes, Trupanion tends to be more expensive than Pumpkin. Trupanion offers a single plan with unlimited annual coverage, whereas Pumpkin provides greater flexibility with various payout limits, deductible options, and reimbursement rates.
Pumpkin uses an annual deductible, while Trupanion has a lifetime per-condition deductible. An annual deductible benefits pet owners if their pet faces multiple illnesses or accidents in a policy year since they only need to meet the deductible once. On the other hand, Trupanion’s per-condition deductible may be beneficial for pets with chronic conditions like allergies, hip dysplasia, or cancer, as owners only pay the deductible once per condition for the lifetime of the pet.
Pumpkin allows policyholders to select from $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, and unlimited annual payout limits. Trupanion, in contrast, provides unlimited reimbursement for all plans, ensuring there is no cap on how much the provider will cover for veterinary expenses.
Pumpkin has no enrollment fees but applies a $2 transaction fee per payment. In comparison, Trupanion does not charge transaction fees but requires a one-time administration fee of $35 ($25 in Washington and $0 in Maryland and Michigan).
The table below presents sample monthly premiums for Pumpkin and Trupanion. The table’s footnotes highlight the different payout limits, deductible choices, and reimbursement rates. By providing multiple examples for each pet and provider, the table illustrates how pricing varies based on plan selection.
| Pet Details | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Bulldog | $127.22* | $241.28* | $87.47** | $139.20** |
| Labrador Retriever | $121.21* | $147.14* | $81.20** | $86.07** |
| Golden Retriever | $119.90* | $286.93† | $72.12** | $154.94‡ |
| Ragdoll Cat | $30.82* | $56.56* | $20.20** | $34.95** |
French Bulldog (6-month-old male, 92121, San Diego, CA); Labrador Retriever (2-year-old female, 14211, Buffalo, NY); Golden Retriever (2-year-old male, 33604, Tampa, FL); Ragdoll Cat (5-year-old female, 78040, Laredo, TX)
*90% reimbursement and $500 deductible; **90% reimbursement and $1,000 deductible; †90% reimbursement and $0 deductible; ‡70% reimbursement and $0 deductible
To compare pet insurance costs, it’s best to obtain quotes for your specific dog. You can use our pet insurance quote form to request instant quotes from multiple companies.
Discounts
Pet insurance providers sometimes offer discounts to pet owners who insure more than one pet, bundle other insurance policies, are military or veterans, work as a veterinarian, work at an animal shelter, pay yearly, and more. Trupanion does not offer discounts to pet owners. On the other hand, Pumpkin has a 10% multi-pet discount when you use this link.
Customer Service & Reputation
When comparing pet insurance providers, customer service and reputation are just as important as policy coverage and pricing. While no one plans to file a claim, having a smooth and stress-free experience can make a significant difference if you ever need to.
Both Pumpkin and Trupanion provide multiple ways to contact customer support. Pumpkin offers phone, email, and live chat, while Trupanion provides phone, fax, live chat, and email. If a policyholder decides their plan isn’t the right fit, both companies offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing cancellations within this period for a full refund, as long as no claims have been filed.
To assess customer feedback, I reviewed Yelp, Trustpilot, and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings for both companies. Trupanion has a significantly higher volume of customer reviews compared to Pumpkin, which has fewer ratings overall. In terms of overall satisfaction, Pumpkin has a slightly higher rating, though both companies have mixed feedback.
Common complaints about Pumpkin include dissatisfaction with claim denials, especially when conditions are categorized as pre-existing, which some policyholders believe is unjust. Additionally, some customers feel that the wellness plan lacks comprehensive coverage, leaving certain routine care expenses uncovered.
For Trupanion, the most frequent concerns involve rising premium costs, denied claims, and the handling of deductibles. Some customers report that the company significantly increases renewal prices, making long-term affordability a challenge. Others mention that claims are sometimes categorized under separate conditions, requiring them to meet multiple incident deductibles rather than just one.
Both companies are active in addressing customer concerns online, engaging with reviews, and responding to complaints in an effort to resolve issues. However, policyholders from both insurers occasionally express frustration with claim denials and coverage exclusions, which are common challenges across the pet insurance industry.
Claim Processing
The time it takes for an insurer to process and pay claims can be an important factor for pet owners, especially those who may not be able to wait weeks for reimbursement. Some pet owners prioritize quick payouts, while others are comfortable with a slightly longer processing time.
Trupanion is known for its fast claim reimbursements, with most claims paid out in less than two days, making it one of the quickest in the industry. Pumpkin’s average claim processing time is around five days, which is still relatively fast compared to many other insurers.
One unique feature Trupanion offers is Vet Direct Pay, which allows the insurer to pay its portion of the bill directly to participating veterinary offices at checkout. This eliminates the need for pet owners to pay the full amount upfront and wait for reimbursement. However, this feature requires the veterinary office to install Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay software. Pumpkin does not offer a direct payment option, meaning pet owners must pay out-of-pocket and wait for reimbursement.
Plan Coverage Options
Both Pumpkin and Trupanion offer customizable coverage, but they differ in how deductibles, payouts, and reimbursement rates are structured.
Pumpkin allows policyholders to adjust their annual payout limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates to suit their budget and coverage needs. Deductible options range from $100 to $1,000, and annual payout limits include $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, and unlimited coverage. Reimbursement choices include 80% and 90%, providing flexibility based on pet owners’ financial preferences.
Trupanion, on the other hand, operates with a per-condition deductible rather than an annual deductible. This means that once a deductible is met for a specific condition, no further deductible payments are required for that condition over the pet’s lifetime. All Trupanion plans come with unlimited payout limits, ensuring there are no caps on reimbursements. Reimbursement rates range from 50% to 100%, and deductible options start at $0 and go up to $1,000, though availability may vary by state. Trupanion is one of the few providers offering no-deductible plans with 100% reimbursement.
Some pet insurance providers offer accident-only plans, which cover unexpected physical injuries such as broken bones, poisoning, and foreign body ingestion. These policies can be a more affordable option for pet owners looking for coverage solely for accidental injuries without illness protection. However, neither Pumpkin nor Trupanion offers standalone accident-only insurance plans.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Payout Options | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible Options | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 Annually | $0-$1,000 (in $5 increments) Per Incident |
| Reimbursement Options | 80%, 90% | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% |
| Optional Wellness Plan |  | |
| Accident-Only Plan |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions we get asked about Pumpkin and Trupanion. If you don’t see your question, reach out in the comments or check out our forums.
Does Pumpkin or Trupanion offer wellness coverage?
Pumpkin offers a wellness plan as an optional add-on to cover routine care such as vaccinations, blood tests, and preventive care. Trupanion does not offer a wellness plan and only covers accident and illness-related treatments.
Are alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic care covered by Pumpkin and Trupanion?
Pumpkin includes alternative therapies in its base plan.
Trupanion offers alternative therapy coverage as an add-on through its Recovery & Complementary Care rider for an extra cost.
Why do veterinarians recommend Trupanion?
Since 2000, Trupanion has reimbursed pet owners for over $3 billion in veterinary expenses. Many veterinarians recommend Trupanion due to its long-standing presence in the pet insurance industry, offering over two decades of financial stability. Additionally, Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay system is widely used, with more than 2,300 veterinary hospitals and over 10,000 veterinarians participating. This feature allows Trupanion to pay its portion of the bill directly to the clinic at checkout, reducing the financial burden on pet owners.
Is Pumpkin Or Trupanion Better?
Pumpkin and Trupanion both offer comprehensive pet insurance, but their approaches to coverage and flexibility differ in key ways. Both providers cover hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions, as well as alternative therapies—though Pumpkin includes alternative treatments in its base plan, while Trupanion requires an add-on. In terms of dental coverage, Pumpkin covers gum disease but does not include endodontic disease, whereas Trupanion covers both but only for canine and carnassial teeth.
When it comes to plan customization, Pumpkin offers more flexibility with multiple annual payout limits, deductible options, and reimbursement rates. Additionally, Pumpkin allows enrollment for pets older than eight weeks, while Trupanion caps new enrollments at 14 years old. In terms of affordability, Pumpkin’s plans tend to be more budget-friendly, and its wellness add-on helps pet owners manage routine care expenses.
Trupanion stands out with Vet Direct Pay, allowing policyholders to have their portion of the bill covered immediately at participating vet clinics, removing the need for out-of-pocket payments and reimbursement wait times. Even without this feature, Trupanion’s claims processing is among the fastest in the industry, averaging under two days.
Neither insurer imposes extended waiting periods for orthopedic conditions, unlike many competitors. Both providers offer strong coverage, and the best choice depends on your priorities. If you want a highly customizable plan with wellness coverage and lower average premiums, Pumpkin may be the better fit. If you prefer unlimited payouts, fast claims processing, and the ability to pay vets directly, Trupanion could be the right choice for you.
I’ve provided in-depth individual reviews of Pumpkin and Trupanion, covering key details to help you make an informed decision. Additionally, my comprehensive pet insurance comparison outlines differences among the most well-known providers, making it easier to see how each company stacks up.
Methodology
My team and I conduct extensive research on the most reputable pet insurance companies, analyzing customer feedback, policy changes, and industry trends. Our licensed insurance agent fact-checks everything, and we update our reviews year-round as insurers adjust premiums, coverage, exclusions, and customer service.
We rank each U.S. pet insurance provider using a 100-point scale, ensuring an unbiased breakdown of how companies perform in real-world claims.
Our Ranking Criteria
- Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We analyze policies, exclusions, and age restrictions, rewarding companies with fewer coverage limitations.
- Pricing (15%) – We run thousands of sample quotes and factor in extra fees, discounts, and add-ons.
- Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We review hundreds of customer experiences, assess the sign-up process, and evaluate claim support.
- Financial Strength (10%) – We examine A.M. Best & Demotech ratings to ensure companies can pay claims reliably.
- Customization Options (10%) – Providers with more deductible, reimbursement, and payout flexibility rank higher.
- Waiting Periods (5%) – Shorter illness & accident waiting periods result in a better score.
- Claim Processing (5%) – Companies offering fast reimbursements and direct vet pay score higher.
- Innovation (3%) – We recognize unique offerings and advanced technology in the industry.
Unbiased Pet Insurance Rankings: Putting Pets First
Unlike many review sites, we don’t sell rankings—every provider earns its spot based on real performance. Our in-depth comparisons help pet parents make informed decisions, while insurers use our reviews to improve their policies. We only recommend the best because that’s what our readers deserve.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance since 2012, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly knows the subject so well that she can answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources.
Kimberly also consulted with Michelle Schenker, Canine Journal’s in-house licensed insurance agent, for additional expertise, to ensure precision and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented. Together, Kimberly and Michelle frequently communicate with Pumpkin and Trupanion, which helps ensure accuracy and keeps them abreast of any changes.
