Pets Best vs Trupanion
Pet Insurance

What’s the best pet insurance – Pets Best or Trupanion?

Different pet parents will have different priorities when it comes to insuring their animals. Which company you choose will depend on the exact things you look for when you consider taking out pet insurance. Both Pets Best and Trupanion are popular, established brands with little to separate them. Personal preference may be the difference at the end of the day. We strongly suggest that you also use our super-speedy pet insurance quote page and review pages, which will help you decide which pet insurance plan is best for you.

What do the plans cover?

Trupanion and Pets Best both offer accident and illness plans covering things like chronic, congenital and hereditary conditions. Trupanion also covers prosthetics and non-routine dental coverage. Pets Best won’t cover alternative therapies (Trupanion does, through their Recovery and Complementary Care add-on) but will offer coverage to pets in wheelchairs and with mobility issues. Trupanion will pay for half of any euthanasia fees and prescription foods. Pets Best also offers a no-deductibles wellness plan, starting at $16 a month, which will cover the cost of routine treatments like your pet’s microchipping, neutering/spaying, vaccinations and more. Both plans cover many common illnesses and conditions that a pet can suffer from, such as:

• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Cataracts
• Cruciate injury
• Dental disease
• Dermatitis
• Diabetes
• Diarrhea
• Ear infections
• Hip dysplasia
• Gastroenteritis
• Kidney disease
• Limping
• Liver disease
• Lymphoma
• Pancreatitis
• Seizures
• Vomiting

Are there any exclusions?

Both Trupanion and Pets Best have the standard exclusion for pre-existing conditions. Trupanion won’t cover vet exam fees and Pets Best doesn't cover preventative treatments or parasitic infections. It’s always best to read the full list of exclusions before signing up for any pet insurance plan.

How expensive are Pets Best and Trupanion?

Trupanion is the pricier option by some margin. Although its policy riders are reasonable, a typical quote will be noticeably higher than at Pets Best. Premiums at Trupanion can only be adjusted by changing the cost of your deductible (though this is more customizable than with any other insurer). Trupanion has an unlimited coverage cap – as does Pets Best – and won’t raise your premium as your pet gets older. Trupanion has no transaction fees but asks for a one-time enrolment fee (between $25 and $35 if you live in one of the states in which it is requested). At Pets Best, you won’t have to pay a one-time fee but for every payment incurs a transaction fee of $2, so it works out cheaper to pay quarterly or annually. To be sure of an exact comparison for your pet, use our indispensable quote calculator – there will be examples where the difference is less significant.

Do Pets Best or Trupanion offer discounts?

Pets Best offers discounts for additional pets on policies (5%), adopted pets (5%), and plans taken out a day after a trip to the vet (10%). Trupanion doesn't offer a multi-pet discount, but there is one for service animals.

Are the plans customizable?

At Trupanion you can’t change your reimbursement level from the standard 90% but you can customize your deductible amount to anything up to $1,000. Trupanion claims to be the only company that offers a lifetime per-condition deductible, meaning pets with a chronic condition would only ever incur the cost of the deductible once. For around $5 per month you can also add the Pet Owner Assistance Package, which covers expenses out of the vet’s office like cremation, boarding fees if you have to go to hospital, and rewards for lost pets. At Pets Best you can add a wellness plan for a little bit extra every month, and customize your reimbursement percentage and deductible amount. There are two reimbursement limits ($5,000 and unlimited) and the insurer has six deductible options: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000.

How do I make claims?

Trupanion will pay your vet directly if they have the company's software (about one in six does). You can claim via its app, website, email, or by fax. It requires you to make a claim within 90 days of treatment. Pets Best says that the best way to claim is through your account, which is available on any device or via its app. You'll need proof of the payment to your vet and to make your claim within 180 days of the treatment.

Are they easy to contact?

Yes. You can reach Pets Best by phone (877 738 7237) or, if you’re that way inclined, by fax (866 777 1434). It's based in North Carolina. Trupanion has a range of options: live chat, contact form, social media, a 24/7 toll-free number (888 733 2685), and an email address. Their headquarters are in Washington.

Customer reviews

Pets Best reviewers are a contented bunch, speaking highly of the company’s speedy claims procedures. Some may have some gripes about the way in which claims have been handled but the feedback is overwhelmingly favourable. Trupanion customers also appear to be happy, citing the customer service and efficient claims process as reasons to stay with them. Some claim that it can be difficult to procure payment from Trupanion but, on the whole, the feedback is extremely positive.

Frequently asked questions

People ask us a lot of different questions about the pet insurance providers we work with. It’s the smart thing to do because no two insurers are the same. Here are some common questions (and the answers!).

The waiting period for hip dysplasia is two weeks at Pets Best; with Trupanion it is longer at 30 days.

If your vet is willing, they can sign a release form for Pets Best's Vet Direct Pay service, which means that you only need pay what you owe depending on your deductible and reimbursement levels, and Pets Best will pay your vet the rest – if the claim is successful. It's worth checking with your vet if they offer either service.

You can find out more information on vet telehealth services by reading our telehealth service guide.

Final verdict: Pets Best vs Trupanion

Choosing between Pets Best and Trupanion will be difficult. Not a great deal separates the two companies. Pets Best may be a preference for the more money-conscious, further underlined by the fact that Trupanion won’t cover vet exam fees. Trupanion’s more inflexible policy may be appealing to some – reducing unnecessary confusion – but could be restrictive in the eyes of others. There is no doubt that Pets Best is significantly more customizable. At the end of the day, it’s your decision. We hope you have been given enough guidance here to make a fully informed call!