Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Seattle, Trupanion operates a bit differently than most pet insurers. Instead of offering an annual deductible that you have to pay each year before you start getting reimbursed, in most states, Trupanion offers per-condition deductibles. Once you meet the deductible, Trupanion will fully cover that condition's treatment for life.

What's more, in a handful of states, Trupanion's plan has no deductibles at all.

Trupanion also has a few consumer-friendly features that some other insurers don't. For instance, if you're worried about saying yes to pricey treatment because you're unsure it'll be covered, you can contact Trupanion 24 hours a day for preapproval.

Trupanion won't automatically increase your pet's premium just because they're another year older. Instead, premiums will change from time to time to reflect the cost of vet care for pets like yours in your area.

Trupanion is the pet insurance provider for State Farm.

Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.

Trupanion pet insurance
4.5NerdWallet rating 
Trupanion earned 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. Our editorial team determines NerdWallet's ratings. The scoring formula considers consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.

Based on this rating, Trupanion is on NerdWallet's list of the Best Pet Insurance Companies.

State availability
Trupanion offers pet insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Trupanion pet insurance plans
Trupanion offers a single accident and illness plan with unlimited payouts for every dog or cat. The company doesn't sell wellness or accident-only plans.

What Trupanion pet insurance covers
Trupanion pet insurance covers:

Treatment, hospitalization and surgery for injuries and illnesses, including cancer.

Diagnostic tests.

Hereditary conditions.

Congenital conditions.

Prescription medications.

Some prescription food and supplements purchased through a veterinarian.

Prosthetic devices and carts.

Herbal therapy.

Dental disease.

In most states, you can buy the following additional coverage:

Recovery and complementary care rider: This includes coverage for physical therapy and rehab, acupuncture, behavioral modification, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy and homeopathy.

Pet owner assistance package: This covers nonmedical expenses such as boarding fees if you're hospitalized, a monetary reward to offer if your pet is lost, and cremation or burial services.

In a handful of states, the standard Trupanion plan may include rehabilitative therapy, chiropractic care and hydrotherapy at no extra cost.

» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?

What's not covered
A Trupanion plan won't pay for:

Exam fees for accidents or illnesses.

Pre-existing conditions.

Wellness and preventive care, including spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations and flea/tick medication.

Routine dental care.

Elective or cosmetic procedures such as declawing or tail docking.

Conditions arising from racing or mistreatment.

Trupanion coverage options
Deductibles: In most states, Trupanion offers plans with deductibles ranging from $0 to $1,000. (A deductible is the amount of your pet’s care you need to cover before the plan starts paying.)

Unlike most pet insurers, which have annual deductibles that apply to all accidents or illnesses your pet has in a given year, Trupanion applies its deductibles to individual conditions. Once you've reached the deductible for a particular illness, you don't have to pay it anymore for the life of your pet.

Say your dog develops allergies and requires ongoing medication. With an annual deductible, you'd have to pay it each year if your dog continued to need treatment. With Trupanion's per-condition deductible, you'd pay it once and be done. However, if your dog also had to go to the vet for a different problem, you'd pay an additional, separate deductible.

In Florida, Texas, Maine and Arizona, Trupanion charges no deductibles.

Reimbursement amounts: Trupanion offers 90% reimbursement for all pets in most states. That means once you've hit your deductible for a given condition, you'll be responsible for only 10% of your vet bill and Trupanion will pay the other 90%.

In Florida, Texas, Maine and Arizona, you can customize your reimbursement amount to any level between 70% and 100%.

Coverage limits: Trupanion has no annual, per-condition or lifetime coverage limits.

» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?

Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: There's no minimum age limit. You can enroll older pets up until their 14th birthday.

Waiting periods: A waiting period is a time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. The waiting period for Trupanion is five days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses.

Discounts
A discount may be available for service animals. However, it doesn't apply to emotional support pets or service animals in Washington state.

Consumer experience
Website: Trupanion's website is chock-full of information about its coverage and plan options, including a sample policy you can review for your state. You can get an online quote, file and track claims, pay for your policy, and update your billing information on the website.

App: Trupanion's app is relatively simple, allowing you to submit and track claims, view plan information, and earn rewards by referring friends.

Claims: Trupanion can reimburse you for vet bills you've already paid or send payment directly to your vet if the vet uses the company's software. If direct payment isn't an option at your vet's office, you can submit invoices online or by email, mail or fax. The company says it processes over half of the claims within 24 hours. You can check the status of your claim through your online portal and get paid through direct deposit.

Customer service: You can contact Trupanion by phone (888-733-2685), email (info@Trupanion.com) or live chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

» MORE: How much is pet insurance?

Trupanion vs. competitors
Here's how Trupanion stacks up against three other popular pet insurance companies.

Trupanion vs. Healthy Paws
Like Trupanion, Healthy Paws offers a single accident and illness plan with no payout limits. The main difference between the two insurers is the type of deductible offered. While Trupanion uses per-condition deductibles in most states, Healthy Paws charges an annual deductible that applies to all conditions and resets yearly. (In a few states, Trupanion has no deductibles at all.)

Healthy Paws also offers a range of reimbursement options, while Trupanion covers all pets at a 90% reimbursement level in most states.

Unlike Healthy Paws, Trupanion covers dental diseases plus some prescription food and supplements. That said, Healthy Paws includes alternative treatments in its standard plans, while Trupanion charges extra for this coverage in most states. In addition, neither company offers wellness plans or covers exam fees for accidents and injuries.

Both companies process claims quickly and can pay some vets directly. Read our full Healthy Paws pet insurance review.

Coverage options

Trupanion

Healthy Paws

Deductible

$0 to $1,000 per condition in most states (in a handful of states, no deductible applies).

$100 to $1,000 per year. (Not all options are available to all pets.)

Reimbursement

90% in most states. In states with no deductible, you can choose a reimbursement amount up to 100%.

50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%. (Not all options are available to all pets.)

Annual limit

Unlimited.

Unlimited.

Trupanion vs. Nationwide
Nationwide's Whole Pet plan includes coverage for exam fees, behavioral therapies, acupuncture and chiropractic care. In contrast, Trupanion never pays exam fees and charges extra to cover complementary therapies.

Like most pet insurers, Nationwide has an annual deductible, which could save you money over Trupanion's per-condition deductible if your pet visits the vet for multiple problems in a given year. But if you have a pet that develops a chronic condition, you may be better off with Trupanion's deductible.

Lastly, if you want wellness coverage, Nationwide offers it; Trupanion doesn't.

Learn more about Nationwide pet insurance.