With their extensive coverage, Trupanion and Pets Best Pet Insurance easily make the list of the best pet insurance providers. Each has certain features that set it apart from the others and its own advantages that appeal to pet owners. With my comprehensive comparison, you’ll be able to choose the insurance that best meets your needs.
  |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Star Rating | 3.8/5.0 | 5.0/5.0 |
| Our Ranking | Best For Vet Direct Pay | Best Overall |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 2005 |
| Customer Support Options | Live Chat, Phone, Email, Fax | Live Chat, Phone, Email, Mail, Fax |
| Underwriter | American Pet Insurance Company | Independence American Insurance Company American Pet Insurance Company (New York & Washington only) |
| A.M. Best Rating* | Unrated | A- Unrated |
| Demotech Rating* | A’ | A’ |
| Claim Processing Average | 2 Days | 18-30 Days |
| Can Reimburse Vets Directly | Yes | Yes |
| Payout Limits | Unlimited | $5,000 to Unlimited |
| Deductibles | $0 to $1,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| Reimbursement Rates | 50% to 100% | 70% to 90% |
| One-Time Fees | $35** | No |
| Accident Waiting Period | 5 Days | 14 Days |
| Illness Waiting Period | 30 Days | 3 Days |
| Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period | 30 Days | 14 Days |
| Enrollment Ages | 0 to 14 Years | 7 Weeks or Older |
| Preventative Plan | No | Yes |
 | |
**$25 in Washington; $0 in Maryland & Michigan.
Coverage Comparison
Pets Best offers three accident and illness pet insurance policies, while Trupanion one. Both companies are available in all 50 states. Plans include testing and treatment for newly diagnosed illnesses and accidents. Emergency care, hospitalization and surgery, specialized examinations and specialty care, blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, cancer, chronic illnesses, congenital disorders, hereditary conditions, non-routine dental care, prescription drugs, and more are all covered by these insurance plans. Pre-existing conditions, breeding, pregnancy, and unnecessary cosmetic procedures (such as ear cropping, dew claw removal, and tail docking) are not covered by either provider.
The base pet insurance policies of both providers cover a variety of conditions, such as cancer, hip dysplasia, allergies, tears in the canine cruciate ligament (CCL), chronic illnesses, hereditary illnesses, and congenital diseases. On the other hand, a condition is not covered and will not be included in the policy if symptoms existed prior to enrollment or during the insurer’s waiting periods.
There is a 5-day waiting period for accidents and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses when using Trupanion. For accidents, Pets Best offers a 3-day waiting period; for illnesses, it is 14 days; and for cruciate ligaments, it is 6 months.
Two riders (add-ons) are available for Trupanion at an extra price. The $4.95 per month Pet Owner Assistance package includes boarding expenses in case you end up in the hospital, liability coverage for damage to third parties’ property, cancellation costs for holidays due to pet-related emergencies, cremation or burial for accidental pet deaths, and reward and advertising for lost pets. This rider is exclusive to Trupanion; neither Pets Best’s base plan nor any add-ons provide this coverage. The additional cost of the Recovery & Complementary Care rider, in addition to the accident and illness plan, can range from a few dollars to $30. Acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, physical and rehabilitative therapy, behavioral modification, and naturopathy are all covered.
Three accident and illness packages are available from Pets Best. The Essential plan is the most basic plan; the Plus and Elite plans follow. Plus is a step up from Essential and covers exam fees. Elite is a step up from the Plus plan and covers chiropractic, acupuncture, and rehabilitation. Pets Best does not provide coverage for alternative therapies.
Base pet insurance policies from Trupanion and Pets Best cover trauma to the teeth, face, and jaw, as well as non-routine dental care. Furthermore, Trupanion covers only canines and carnassials, whereas Pets Best covers all teeth for gum disease. For dogs and cats, endodontic disease, tooth extractions, and developmental abnormalities, if enrolled before six months of age, are covered by Trupanion and Pets Best.
As long as there are no symptoms or indicators within the 18 months prior to enrollment, Trupanion will cover curable pre-existing conditions. In the meantime, Pets Best states that it covers curable pre-existing conditions that are healed or are curable and require no further treatment (no duration is specified).
Many pet insurance providers do not cover conditions or diseases that affect both sides of the body (referred to as bilateral conditions) if the pet has a pre-existing diagnosis for one side. For example, if a dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia on the left side before the policy starts, most insurers won’t cover hip dysplasia on the right side. This can be tough for pet owners because surgery for hip dysplasia can cost $1,700 to $4,500 or more. It’s crucial to understand your policy. Trupanion is one of the few insurers that does not have these exclusions in its policies.
Pets Best offers wellness coverage as an optional add-on to its insurance policy. These wellness plans cover routine vet visits and fees associated with annual exams, spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, dental cleanings, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, and more. With a wellness plan, preventive care is included in coverage and eligible for reimbursement. Trupanion does not provide an added wellness plan.
| Coverage | | |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Therapy* | Base Plan & Add-On | Base Plan |
| Alternative Therapy* | Base Plan & Add-On |  |
| Wellness Care For An Extra Fee | | Add-On |
| Exam Fees | | Add-On |
| Hip Dysplasia | After 30 Days | After 14 Days |
| Non-Routine Dental Treatment | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Trauma To Teeth, Face, & Jaw | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Gum (Periodontal) Disease | Canines & Carnassials | Base Plan |
| Tooth Extractions | Base Plan | Base Plan |
| Endodontic Disease | Canines & Carnassials | Canines & Carnassials |
| Developmental Abnormalities | If Enrolled By 6 Months Old | If Enrolled By 6 Months Old |
| Pre-Existing Bilateral Conditions | Base Plan | |
Premiums & Pricing
Insurers use the age, breed, and location of your pet, as well as the plan coverage level you choose, to calculate premiums. Compared to Pets Best, Trupanion was more expensive in the hundreds of quotes I looked up. However, because Trupanion’s plans have a 90% reimbursement rate, comparing identical coverage levels is difficult. Pets Best offers different deductible options, annual payouts, and reimbursement rates.
Whereas Trupanion’s deductible is per condition and lifetime, Pets Best’s is annual. If your pet gets sick or is involved in several accidents during the policy period (a year), an annual deductible can help as you only have to pay the deductible once. Nonetheless, Trupanion’s per-condition deductible for the duration of your pet’s life might be a better option if your best friend has any chronic illnesses, such as allergies, hip dysplasia, cancer, UTIs, etc., since you only have to pay the deductible for each condition once.
There is no maximum reimbursement limit with any Trupanion policy, so you won’t have to worry about not being reimbursed for having too many vet bills. To help you fit the premium into your budget, Pets Best offers you a choice between $5,000 and unlimited annual payouts.
Pets Best charges a $2 monthly transaction fee but does not charge one-time fees. In comparison, Trupanion has no transaction fees and charges a $35 one-time administration fee ($25 in Washington and $0 in Maryland and Michigan). You can avoid Pets Best’s transaction fee by making an annual payment rather than a monthly one. Because if you pay every month, you will have paid $24 in fees to Pet Best in a year, which is not dissimilar from what you would have paid Trupanion up front.
The monthly premiums for Trupanion and Pets Best are displayed in the table below based on sample quotes. The different payouts, deductibles, and reimbursement rates are indicated in the table’s footnotes. By providing several examples for each pet from each provider, I demonstrated how pricing can vary depending on plan coverage selection.
| Pet Details | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Bulldog | $193.76* | $110.12* | $112.39** | $67.08** |
| Labrador Retriever | $114.58* | $39.27* | $218.23# | $23.92** |
| Golden Retriever | $286.93‡ | $60.34* | $154.94# | $48.27† |
| Ragdoll Cat | $41.93* | $24.43* | $26.70** | $14.88* |
*90% reimbursement and $500 deductible; **90% reimbursement and $1,000 deductible; †70% reimbursement and $500 deductible; ‡90% reimbursement and $0 deductible; #70% reimbursement and $0 deductible;
To compare the costs of pet insurance, it is always best to obtain quotes for your particular dog. You can get fast quotes from several companies by using our pet insurance quote form below.
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, Pets Best offers 5% off to military personnel and their families, as well as pet owners insuring multiple pets.
Customer Service & Reputation
When you receive an appealing policy quote, it’s easy to overlook customer service and reputation, but these are two of the most crucial factors you should take into account. Although I sincerely hope you never have to, I want you and your pet to have the easiest and least stressful claim experience possible if the time comes.
No matter how much you spend, you feel as though you have thrown away your money if you call a company and never get your questions answered or problems resolved. Both businesses provide a variety of support channels, such as live chat, email, fax, and phone. Pets Best also offers mail service. Both insurers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can cancel and receive your money back if the plan you selected doesn’t work out for you.
I read hundreds of Yelp, Trustpilot, and Better Business Bureau (BBB) customer reviews for Trupanion and Pets Best. In total, Trupanion had a couple thousand more reviews than Pets Best. On all platforms, the ratings from each provider were comparatively similar. Both insurers are active on the internet, answering pet parent’s questions and resolving problems.
High premium increases, avoiding claim coverage, and dividing a claim into two conditions (resulting in two deductibles) were the most frequent complaints I read about Trupanion. Pet owners complain that they cannot switch insurance when Trupanion premiums rise due to pre-existing conditions that Trupanion covers, but other insurers won’t.
However, Pets Best’s customers are generally dissatisfied with the time it takes to process their claims and get reimbursed. Over the past few years, I’ve had many conversations with Pets Best about this, and they’ve told me that they are actively investing in expanding their workforce, enhancing their technology, and streamlining their processes to improve the claims flow.
Claim Processing
Some pet owners’ decisions may be influenced by how long it takes an insurer to reimburse claims. While some can’t wait several weeks to get paid, others are okay with holding out a little longer. With most of their claims paid within two days, Trupanion has one of the quickest average claim reimbursement times. As for Pets Best claims, they currently take 18 to 30 days to process, which is among the longest times in the business.
Trupanion is the only insurer that can pay its share of your vet bill straight to your veterinarian’s office at the time of checkout, saving you the trouble of waiting for reimbursement. If this benefit appeals to you, you can discuss gaining access to Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay software with your veterinarian’s office. The software needs to be installed on the veterinarian’s office computer. Additionally, Pets Best offers Vet Direct Pay. Send your completed claim to Pets Best with a signed copy of the veterinarian reimbursement release form to utilize it. Pets Best’s Vet Direct Pay isn’t applied at the time of checkout like Trupanion’s but is instead used as an alternative form of claim reimbursement.
Plan Coverage Options
Trupanion provides an unlimited payout limit for all plans with a per-condition deductible. The reimbursement levels begin at 50% and increase to 100%, with deductible options ranging from $0 to $1,000. The options differ based on the state in which you reside. Trupanion is among the few companies that provide options for 100% reimbursement and no deductible.
Pets Best has customization options for the annual deductible, annual payout, and reimbursement rate. Deductible options begin at $50 and go up to $1,000. You can choose between a $5,000 annual limit or unlimited. As for reimbursement rates, Pets Best offers the standard 70%, 80%, and 90% options.
Pets Best also offers an accident-only pet insurance plan, covering conditions associated with a sudden physical injury. Pets Best’s accident insurance covers conditions like broken bones, foreign body ingestion, poisoning, and other injuries. Unlike other accident-only insurance policies, Pets Best’s does not cover torn ligaments (i.e., cruciate ligament tears). Accident-only plans are typically more affordable than accident and illness policies.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Payout Options | Unlimited | $5,000, Unlimited |
| Deductible Options | $0-$1,000 (in $5 increments) | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 |
| Reimbursement Options | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
| Optional Wellness Plan |  | |
| Accident-Only Plan | |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions we get asked about Trupanion and Pets Best. If you don’t see your question, reach out in the comments.
Why do vets recommend Trupanion?
Since 2000, Trupanion has paid veterinary bills totaling more than $2 billion. Various factors lead veterinarians to recommend Trupanion. Some claim it’s because Trupanion has over 20 years of experience in the pet insurance industry. Others claim it’s because veterinary hospitals receive direct payment via Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay, which is provided by more than 10,000 veterinarians and more than 2,300 veterinary hospitals.
How does Pets Best pay out?
If your policy has been updated with your direct deposit information, payment will be made directly to your chosen bank account. If your Pets Best Customer Portal does not have your bank information, a check will be sent to the address on file.
Do Pets Best require an exam?
Pets Best does not require an exam to enroll your pet.
Which Is Better For Your Pet?
Pets Best shares the same underwriter as Trupanion for most of its policies. Both companies have some of the best dental coverage, the only difference being that Trupanion covers gum disease for canines and carnassials while Pets Best covers all teeth. Curable pre-existing conditions are eligible for coverage from both providers once all terms are met.
With Trupanion, you can have your vet bill paid directly by them, eliminating the need for reimbursement. Even without that feature, its two-day claim processing average is among the fastest in the industry compared to Pets Best’s 18-30 day average. Additionally, Trupanion covers alternative therapy and pre-existing bilateral conditions for undiagnosed sides of the body. Pets Best excludes both of these things.
On the other hand, Pets Best offers three options for accident and illness plans, each with increased coverage, while Trupanion offers two plan add-ons for extra coverage. Exam fees are eligible for coverage through Pets Best by upgrading to a higher-tiered accident and illness plan. Pets Best also provides an optional preventive care plan and an affordable accident-only policy, none of which are available through Trupanion. On average, Pets Best’s premiums are much lower than Trupanion’s, and discounts are offered to multi-pet households and those with military status.
Pets Best and Trupanion provide comparable pet insurance coverage overall. The per-condition deductible offered by Trupanion may be of interest to you if you are concerned about chronic conditions. Meanwhile, Pets Best may have a better price point if you need something more affordable.
To help you with your comparison, I’ve gone even deeper into my individual reviews of Trupanion and Pets Best. You can also read my reviews of the best pet insurance, including my top suggestions and need-to-know information on all well-known pet insurance providers. If you want to know how different providers compare, this review might be useful in your search for pet health insurance.
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 writer 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 insurance policies legally. Kimberly has spent over 100 hours researching Trupanion and Pets Best, reading every line in their policies, speaking with their operation teams, and gathering quotes to bring you the most accurate information.
