Petco Pet Insurance Review (And The 3 Best Alternatives)
Have you heard of pet insurance from Petco? Some people think that there is Petco insurance, and others are sure that there’s not. So, what’s the answer?
When it comes to pet insurance Petco doesn’t have their own brand. What people used to market as Petco health insurance is actually Trupanion pet insurance. There is no Petco insurance brand.
There was a time when Petco and Trupanion had a large partnership, so Petco’s website had a lot of advertisements for Trupanion pet insurance. Now, however, I can’t find any trace of Trupanion on the Petco website! There are still some old articles that mention Petco on Trupanion’s website, however, so you can see that they used to work together.
So, today I’ll be reviewing Trupanion! This is a brand that is often ranked high on review lists. I want to see if it deserves the high rank. Let’s get to the heart of the review and rating!
Need an Alternative? Try Healthypaws Pet Insurance:
Petco Pet Insurance Rating
Petco Pet Insurance Review
In the end, I decided to give Trupanion a 4-star review. I had lowered that rating to 3-stars because of some older reviews that made it seem like Trupanion doesn’t accept many claims, but further research helped me discover that in recent months, they’ve been much better about accepting claims and clarity regarding what they do and do not cover. For that reason, they get 4-stars.
Pros
Always Pay 90% On Covered Services
With “Petco dog insurance,” you always get 90% copay on qualified, covered services. Many brands make you pay more to get 90% reimbursement instead of 70% or 80%, but the 90% comes standard on all Trupanion plans. This shows that they understand that pet owners need to get as much back as they can from emergency bills.
Cover Most Conditions
Trupanion does not cover pre-existing conditions. Most pet insurance companies do not. They do, however, cover conditions that your dog’s breed may be prone to (both congenital & hereditary), which is not found at every company. They also cover dental illnesses & injuries, which can be difficult to find from a pet insurance company.
Relatively Short Waiting Period
Compared to other insurance companies, Trupanion has a relatively short waiting period. All coverage begins after the standard waiting periods of 5 days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses. This means that your dog will be covered in less time, so you don’t have to worry about them getting sick before the plan kicks in.
Pays Vet Directly
In many cases, you’ll be able to have Trupanion directly pay your vet when you are checking out. This will not work at every vet as it depends on the system that they use, but for many owners, this makes life much easier because they do not have to go through the claims process over a few weeks and instead know immediately about their insurance status.
Cons
No Routine Wellness Plans
Many people looking for Petco insurance for dogs are looking for some type of coverage to help pay for regular vet exams and costs. Trupanion does not cover exam fees or routine wellness care. If you want to get supplemental plans to cover the cost of dental cleaning, yearly exams, and more, you’ll have to find a standalone plan.
Denied Claims Cause Frustration
There are a lot of people who regret the money they put into this insurance because Trupanion denied their claims. Even when people could prove that a condition was not related to a pre-existing condition, Trupanion refused to pay out because it could have been, and the terms are written in their favor. Every pet insurance company denies some claims and Trupanion also has good reviews, so it’s hard to make a judgment call on this one.
Plan Options
There are three basic, recommended deductible levels from Trupanion: $0, $200, and $700. These are all annual deductibles. You can also customize these plans to fit your budget and needs better by using the “Pick My Price” plan, which I’m not listing below.
The terms in plans #1, #2, and #3 are all the same; the deductible and monthly premium are the only differences.
$0 Deductible Plan
- $80 per month*
- unlimited lifetime maximum payout structure
$200 Deductible Plan
- $51 per month*
- unlimited lifetime maximum payout structure
$700 Deductible Plan
- $30 per month*
- unlimited lifetime maximum payout structure
Recovery And Complementary Care Rider
- $6 per month*
- Allows addition of specialized therapies, including:
- Acupuncture
- Behavioral
- Modification
- Chiropractic
- Homeopathy
- Hydrotherapy
- Physical and rehabilitative therapy
Pet Owner Assistance Package
- $5 per month*
- Helps pets outside of the office
- Covers:
- Advertising and reward for lost pets
- Boarding fees
- Liability coverage for third-party property damage
- Cremation or burial
- Holiday vacation cancellation costs
*All prices given above are estimates based on quotes for a 3-year old, mixed breed dog. Rates will differ depending on your dog's breed, size, age, and location. Every quote is different.
Are You Getting The Best For Your Dog?
Any dog can end up with surprise medical issues. Will you be prepared?
When you have pet insurance, you’ll be sure that you are able to cover the cost of emergency or unexpected treatment. Trupanion will provide you with that ease of mind, even if they are sometimes known as Petco pet insurance.
related resources
Overall, this is a pretty good pet insurance company. They provide clear underwriting in most cases, and even though they do not cover everything, they do have fair policies that cover many conditions. Their price, while not the cheapest, is affordable, too.
If Trupanion pet insurance seems like a good fit for you, then I recommend investing in it as soon as possible. The longer you leave your dog unprotected, the more risk there is that they will develop a pre-existing condition. Cover your pet today, and get the best coverage possible for the rest of their lives!
They’re not a perfect insurance company, but they will provide a high level of care for your dog. If you’re still looking for an alternative, try Healthy Paws, Embrace, or PetsBest. All three companies offer similar terms at good prices. These are my three favorite brands!
