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Trupanion vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Comparison 2024: The Differences

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

HEP-Trupanion-vs-HealthyPaws

Trupanion and Healthy Paws are two of the most reputable and highly rated pet insurance providers today.

At first glance, you will notice that they have striking similarities. They both have straightforward policies that only cover accidents and illnesses, in addition to having unlimited annual benefits. However, when you take a closer look at their individual services, you will find a few differences that might play a role in your ultimate decision about which company to go with.

While neither of these companies can be considered a true low-cost pet insurance provider, Healthy Paws is the more budget-friendly option of the two. However, Trupanion’s model puts it in a better position to work in tandem with other forms of insurance, such as travel or homeowners insurance, filling the gaps left behind by those policies.

For example, Trupanion’s policy offers unique coverages such as property damage liability and trip cancellation, which are extremely rare among pet insurers.

As such, there is a lot more to consider than just price when choosing between these two pet insurers. To help you make an informed decision, we have created this comparison guide for you so you can know what to expect from each company. Let’s dive into the Healthy Paws vs Trupanion debate:

Best Customer Service
Our rating: 4.0 / 5
Best Coverage Limit
Our rating: 4.7 / 5

A Quick Comparison

Company Name Trupanion Healthy Paws
Pets Covered Dogs and cats Dogs and cats
Types of Plans Accident and Illness Accident and Illness
Deductibles
  • $0 – $1,000
  • 5 years and younger: $100, $250, and $500
  • 6 – 7 years: $250, $500, and $750
  • 8 years and older: $750 and $1,000
Reimbursement
  • 90%
  • 5 years and younger: 70%, 80%, and 90%
  • 6 – 7 years: 60%, 70%, and 80%
  • 8 years and older: 50% and 60%
Additional Perks
  • Direct vet payments
  • $0 deductible options
  • No payout limits
  • No reduced coverage with specialists
  • 5-day claim repayment
  • 24/7 helpline
  • The non-profit foundation helps homeless pets through the Every Quote Gives  Hope™ program.
  • 24/7 helpline

Brief Overview of Trupanion:

Trupanion Pet Insurance

Pros
  • Pricing guarantee
  • No annual limits
  • All plans come with a 90% coverage
  • $0 deductible available
  • Reliable customer service
Cons
  • Few customization options
  • Limited paying terms
  • Does not cover preventative care
  • No discounts

 

Trupanion was founded in 2000 under the name “VetInsurance.” It only took 4 years for Trupanion to become the first profitable pet insurance provider in North America. Since then, the company has grown tremendously, offering vital forms of pet coverage, such as the rare hip dysplasia cover, and expanding to new markets.

Today, Trupanion offers a wide array of pet insurance options to allow pet owners to find the most suitable coverage for their needs.

There are some common themes across Trupanion’s plans. For starters, there are no annual limits, meaning that you cannot run out of coverage once you get a Trupanion policy. Secondly, all Trupanion policies come with an automatic 90% reimbursement rate for covered treatments.

Additionally, unlike most pet insurers, Trupanion does not raise the price of their policies as your pet gets older. The company also offers a $0 deductible option that allows you to avoid paying a certain sum out of pocket every year before your coverage kicks in.

Nonetheless, Trupanion’s plans do have their drawbacks. For example, they come with limited customization options. As mentioned, all plans come with a built-in 90% reimbursement rate and no annual limit, making it almost impossible to tailor a plan that can lower your premiums.

Moreover, Trupanion’s payment terms are quite limited, as they only accept monthly payments, meaning that you cannot pay upfront in full. Couple that with the fact that this company does not offer discounts of any kind, and you can see why working with this provider can be remarkably expensive.

Additionally, like most pet insurers, Trupanion too does not cover preventative care.


Brief Overview of Healthy Paws:

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Pros
  • Unlimited annual benefits
  • Fast claim processing
  • Excellent customer service
  • Flexible policy
Cons
  • Not ideal for older pets

Healthy Paws is both a pet insurance provider and a nonprofit. This company was founded in 2009 after its co-founders met at an animal shelter where they were both volunteers. They founded Healthy Paws to help pet owners and rescue organizations afford vet care.

Therefore, even though Healthy Paws is renowned for its attractive pet insurance policies, the company remains highly involved in its charity ventures. In fact, Healthy Paws donates to animal shelters and rescue organizations every time it issues an online quote.

Unlike other providers, Healthy Paws only has a single all-encompassing policy, and it only covers accidents and illnesses. Fortunately, congenital and hereditary conditions are also included in the cover.

Like Trupanion, Healthy Paws’ policy also has unlimited annual benefits, meaning there is no cap. Additionally, the company is exceptionally fast at processing claims, with up to 99% of claims being processed within two days of submission.

However, Healthy Paws’ policy is not ideal for older pets, as the company has severe restrictions for animals over the age of 5. Additionally, your pet must go through a complete physical examination before you can apply for this policy.

The good news is that Healthy Paws has some of the best rates in the game. They are also renowned for their exceptional customer service.


Other Top-Rated Pet Insurance Companies

Most Customizable
Our rating: 4.5 / 5
Best Wellness Plans
Our rating: 4.1 / 5
Best Dental Coverage
Our rating: 4.5 / 5

Trupanion vs. Healthy Paws: Plans Available

Company Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs Sample Monthly Cost For Cats Learn More
Trupanion $59.30 $31.26 Click to Get Quote
Healthy Paws $45.88 $21.42 Click to Get Quote

Find The Best Insurance Companies in 2024


Trupanion vs. Healthy Paws: Reimbursements and Deductibles

Trupanion

% of Medical Expenses
  • 90%
Annual Deductible Options
  • $0 – $1,000
Maximum Coverage Options
  • No coverage limits

Healthy Paws

% of Medical Expenses
  • 60%
  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%
Annual Deductible Options
  • $100
  • $250
  • $500
  • $750
  • $1,000
Maximum Coverage Options
  • No coverage limits

Company Verdict: Which One Has the Edge?

Areas of Coverage 🌐

  • Edge: Trupanion

While their coverages are remarkably similar, Trupanion’s is a little bit more comprehensive. For example, Trupanion covers behavioral and alternative therapy while Healthy Paws does not. Another difference in their coverages is in their deductibles. Healthy Paws’ policy has an annual deductible, while Trupanion features a per-condition deductible.

The advantage of Healthy Paws’ annual deductible is that it ensures your pet remains covered throughout the year regardless of the number of illnesses or injuries they suffer during that year. However, Health Paws’ plan does not cover chronic conditions, such as hip dysplasia, while Trupanion’s per-condition deductible can be tailored towards those conditions.

Therefore, if your dog is prone to certain conditions, Trupanion’s coverage might be the better choice.

Price of Plans 💲

  • Edge: Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws’ coverage allows you more flexibility when it comes to tailoring a policy to suit your budget. Trupanion’s policies, on the other hand, limit your customization options severely, thus resulting in higher premiums.

Claim Repayment 💵

  • Edge: Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws has a stellar track record when it comes to processing claims, with up to 99% of claims being paid within two days. On the other hand, Trupanion takes an average of 14 days to process its claims, sometimes taking as long as 60 days. Fortunately, Trupanion can pay your vet fees directly so that you do not have to wait for a reimbursement.

Customer Service 📞

  • Edge: Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws’ customer service is the stuff of legends, with numerous customers citing it as one of the main reasons they prefer this provider. Their agents are available 24/7 by email and 12 hours a day on the phone.

Trupanion’s customer service is good, but not great. It has quite a number of negative reviews.


What the Users Say

Both companies enjoy an above-average customer satisfaction rate. According to most reviews, Trupanion’s coverage is excellent for senior dogs. Additionally, several reviewers appreciated how Trupanion sorted out their vet bills for them without a lot of hassle. However, a few reviewers say that Trupanion has denied their claims.

Healthy Paws reviews indicate that the company has outstanding customer service. It is also incredibly fast at processing claims. However, some reviewers complained that the company tends to raise premiums without notice.

Find The Best Insurance Companies in 2024


Conclusion

Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws
Our Rating
Our Rating:
Our Rating:
Unlimited Plan
Unlimited Plan:
Unlimited Plan:
Multi-Pet Discount
Multi-Pet Discount:
Multi-Pet Discount:
Hereditary Conditions
Hereditary Conditions:
Hereditary Conditions:
Surgery
Surgery:
Surgery:

Have you made your Healthy Paws vs Trupanion pet insurance decision? If you are looking for an outstanding pet insurance provider with affordable rates, consider going with Healthy Paws. This provider gets top reviews routinely from both pet owners and financial analysts.

While Trupanion might have higher premiums, it is worth noting that this company’s coverage comes with some features that make it attractive to certain groups of people, especially those who own large dog breeds. Such dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, which is a condition that Healthy Paws actively avoids covering. Trupanion, on the other hand, has no qualms about covering hip dysplasia.

Ultimately, both companies are two of the best pet insurance providers out there today. Your choice, therefore, will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

  • Hepper acknowledges that it is not licensed as an insurance agent, and therefore will not offer any advice regarding insurance, nor recommend a particular coverage, policy, or insurance company.

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