Trupanion has been a big brand name in the pet insurance industry for more than two decades. It’s well-established and trusted by many vets and pet parents nationwide. However, Pumpkin is shaking things up as one of the new kids on the block with its extensive coverage and plan customizations. Is one a better fit for your pooch?
We compare coverage, customer service and reputation, claim processing, pricing, and customizations and explain which company delivers the best option for most. Remember that each pet and household budget varies, so obtaining quotes from multiple companies for your situation can help you get the best policy and price.
| Pumpkin Pet Insurance | Trupanion | |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Coverage | Extensive | Limited |
| Customer Service & Reputation | Uncertain, New | Excellent, Stable |
| Claim Processing Average | 5 Days | 2 Days |
| Average Price Of Policy | Higher | Higher |
| Plan Customizations | Restricted | Limited |
| Overall Winner |  | |
| Get Pumpkin Quote | Get Trupanion Quote | |
| Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
Policy Coverage
Policy Coverage Winner
The table below shows precisely what Pumpkin and Trupanion cover.
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.
| Pumpkin | Trupanion | |
|---|---|---|
| Illness Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 30 Days |
| Accident Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 5 Days |
| Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 30 Days |
| CCL Surgery Waiting Period* | 14 Days | 30 Days |
| Behavioral Therapies | | |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapy | | Extra Fee |
| Wellness Care For An Extra Fee | | |
| Exam Fees | | |
| Underwriter | United States Fire Insurance Company | American Pet Insurance Company |
| A.M. Best Rating | A | Unrated |
*States are slowly adopting a Model Law for pet insurance. This Model Law attempts to standardize each state’s regulations, which includes a standard for waiting periods that all companies must follow. Waiting periods for California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington are as follows:
- Accidents – 0 days
- Illnesses – 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Conditions – 30 days
- Routine Care – 0 days
Pumpkin comes out ahead because it covers exam fees, includes alternative/holistic therapy for no extra fee, and offers wellness care. Pumpkin pet insurance also has shorter waiting periods for illness, hip dysplasia, and CCL surgery.
Pumpkin’s underwriter has an A rating from A.M. Best (a measurement of financial stability). This means that its underwriter is considered less of a risk than Trupanion’s based on A.M. Best’s reporting when it comes to dependability of claim repayment. However, it should be noted that Trupanion has been in business 20 years longer than Pumpkin. So, finding actual customer experiences for Trupanion will be more readily available – for both good and bad reviews. You can read more about these companies’ reputations in the next Customer Service section.
Another key deciding factor for you may be the age restrictions. Trupanion doesn’t enroll pets who are older than 14 years old, while Pumpkin does not enroll new puppies from birth while Trupanion does. Overall, Pumpkin has more extensive coverage than Trupanion.
However, given its newness to the category, we would be hesitant to recommend them as our first choice. It might be wise to get quotes from these two and also consider other popular pet insurance providers.
Customer Service & Reputation
Customer Service & Reputation Winner
Pumpkin entered the pet insurance space in 2020. And from the customer reviews we’ve seen, there are many complaints regarding pricing, difficulty canceling, long claim processing times, and more. It takes years for a company to stabilize its performance and pricing, and it appears that Pumpkin is still working through these challenges.
Trupanion has a consistent history of higher than average prices. There have been no significant policy changes for several years, and prices have remained about the same as well. This is a good sign that you can count on steadiness when you sign up for a Trupanion policy. However, Trupanion isn’t immune to high prices or lack of coverage and reimbursement complaints.
As you can see, both companies have opportunities for improvement, but Trupanion wins this category in the end.
Claim Processing
Claim Processing Winner
Trupanion processes claims within two days on average, which is considered extremely good since most companies average fewer than ten days. You may be able to have Trupanion pay your vet directly, so you don’t have to pay a hefty vet bill in advance and wait for reimbursement. But this isn’t available everywhere, so check with your vet first to see if Trupanion Express is an option for you.
Pumpkin states it processes claims in five days. This is drastically shorter than the previous 2 to 4 weeks it had been.
Because Trupanion has a shorter claim processing average and offers a direct payment option to veterinarians, it wins this category by a strong margin.
Price Of Policy
Price Of Policy Tie
Trupanion requires a one-time enrollment fee of either $0, $25, or $35, depending on the state in which you live, but has no transaction fees. Pumpkin has a monthly transaction fee of $2 but no one-time fees. In just 12 months, you will have paid $24 in fees to Pumpkin which is likely pretty close to what you would have paid Trupanion upfront, so considering these fees may be a bit misleading at first glance.
Pricing 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. Then use our pet insurance quote form to see how other top providers compare for your actual pet.
On average, both companies are among the most expensive on average compared to competitors, which is why this category is a tie. Again, we recommend getting multiple quotes and reading each policy before signing on the dotted line for any policy.
Coupons
Pumpkin
Pumpkin offers the following discount:
- 10% off for multiple pets
Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.
Trupanion
Use this link to get the best possible price and obtain a quote for your pet from Trupanion.
Plan Customization
Plan Customization Winner
One of the significant differences between these two companies is the available plan customizations.
| Pumpkin | Trupanion | |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible Options | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | $0-$1,000 |
| Payout Options | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, unlimited | Unlimited |
| Reimbursement Options | 80%, 90% | 90% |
Overall, Pumpkin has more customization options than Trupanion, which may make it a better fit for your budget.
What’s Our Verdict?
Overall Winner
In the end, Trupanion wins this comparison against Pumpkin due to its 20+-year-long reputation and faster claim processing. However, if you want coverage for your pet’s routine (aka wellness-related) expenses or more custom options to fit pet insurance into your budget, you may want to consider Pumpkin.
If you didn’t find what you were looking for, our experts dig even deeper into each company in our individual reviews of Pumpkin and Trupanion.
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.
Methodology
We review each U.S. pet insurance company to provide an unbiased breakdown of providers’ performance in real claim situations. We use a 100-point scale for each pet insurance company to rank them. Our in-depth research includes:
- Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We scrutinize every policy from top to bottom and read all the fine print, carefully noting each exclusion. We factor in any age restrictions, required add-ons for basic coverage, and whether a company is available nationwide. Insurers with fewer exclusions receive more points in this category than those with less coverage.
- Pricing (15%) – We evaluate pricing by running thousands of sample quotes for dogs and cats of various breeds, sizes, locations, and ages. We analyze which companies charge extra fees and discounts and consider which companies nick and dime pet owners with add-on coverage. Providers with the lowest premiums, fewest extra fees, most discounts, and fewer add-ons receive more points in this category.
- Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We assess hundreds of customer reviews, scope out the sign-up process, speak with representatives, and factor in company history and years in the pet insurance marketplace to determine the points in this category. Companies with an easy sign-up process, highly rated mobile apps, multiple ways to reach customer service, positive consumer feedback, and a seamless claim filing process score high in this category.
- Financial Strength (10%) – Insurance is only beneficial if you can count on reimbursed claims. Companies with at least five years of nationwide experience and high A.M. Best and Demotech ratings receive high remarks in this category.
- Customization Options (10%) – We consider customizations available to adjust your coverage to fit your budget. Companies with fewer restrictions based on breed, age, location, etc., multiple plan options, and more reimbursement rates, deductibles, and annual limits earn the highest scores.
- Waiting Periods (5%) – Providers with the shortest illness and accident waiting periods and fewer additional waiting periods for other conditions merit high remarks.
- Claim Processing (5%) – We share our firsthand experience submitting claims with companies and examine how long it takes to be reimbursed. Insurers with a vet direct pay option and short claim processing averages earn the most points.
- Innovation (3%) – We meet with company representatives to discuss changes related to the industry, their company, and their offerings. Providers offering unique, comprehensive coverage and utilizing advanced technology receive more points.
Unlike many other review sites, we refuse to let pet insurance companies pay for the top spot in our rankings. Companies must earn their position in our comparisons by performing well in the marketplace. We also highlight each company’s pros and cons in light of their competitor’s strengths. In doing so for over a decade, we’ve helped pet parents make more educated decisions among the top pet insurance options. Pet insurance providers read our reviews, regularly check them for accuracy, and value our input to help create positive industry changes and better protect your pets. We only recommend the best of the best because it’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 accuracy, and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented.
