Healthy Paws vs Trupanion
Trying to choose between Healthy Paws and Trupanion? Here are the differences that decide how much you get back when you claim, taken straight from each insurer’s own sample policy so you can compare them side by side. Nothing here is a recommendation: just the facts, in plain English.
What are the main differences between Healthy Paws and Trupanion?
- Deductible: Healthy Paws' is annual; Trupanion's is per condition, paid once for each illness or injury.
- Payout limit: Healthy Paws has a lifetime limit on your declarations page; Trupanion has no annual or lifetime limit.
- Illness waiting period: Healthy Paws 15 days; Trupanion 30 days.
- Vet exam fees: covered by neither.
- Behavioural treatment: not covered by Healthy Paws; covered by Trupanion only with its Recovery and Complementary Care rider.
Everything we checked, side by side
| Healthy Paws | Trupanion | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of policy | Accident and illness, one plan | Accident and illness, one plan, 'for the life of your pet'; monthly, renews automatically |
| Deductible you pay first | Annual: applies once per 12-month coverage term | Per condition: once paid for an illness or injury, that condition is covered with no further deductible. Can be raised any time; lowered only in the first 30 days |
| Share of each vet bill it pays back | Coinsurance shown on the declarations page | Coinsurance shown on the declarations page; the website says up to 90% |
| Most it will pay out | A lifetime limit shown on the declarations page; no limits per claim or per year below it | No annual or lifetime payout limit (website statement) |
| Wait before illness is covered | 15 days | 30 days (illnesses in the first 30 days are treated as pre-existing) |
| Wait before injuries are covered | 15 days | 5 days |
| Wait before knee problems are covered | Hip dysplasia: 12 months. Dogs 6 or older at enrolment get no cover for hip dysplasia at all | No separate waiting period, but cruciate ligament, luxating patella, elbow dysplasia and some eye conditions are excluded if signs appeared on either side in the 18 months before enrolment or the first 30 days; hip dysplasia if any sign at any time before enrolment or in the first 30 days; IVDD likewise |
| Problems on both sides of the body, like both knees | Not in the documents we read | For the listed conditions (incl. cruciate, luxating patella, elbow dysplasia), signs on either side before cover make both sides pre-existing |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions | Not covered: any illness or injury that started before the policy effective date | Excluded if signs existed, or were masked by treatment, in the 18 months before enrolment. The policy wording does not say a cured condition can later be covered |
| Vet exam fees | Not covered | Not covered, at any time |
| Cover for behavioural treatment | Not covered (training, therapy, medication or other behaviour modification) | Only with the optional Recovery and Complementary Care rider (which also covers rehab, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic). The rider can only be added in the first 30 days |
| Dental cover | Only injury to teeth from an accident; dental health care excluded | Dental illness and injury covered if teeth were examined by a vet in the 12 months before enrolment (otherwise from the first exam after), and recommended cleanings are done. Cleanings themselves are not covered |
| Routine care, like vaccinations | Not covered (vaccinations, flea control, heartworm, spay/neuter) | Not covered (vaccinations, spay/neuter, parasite prevention) |
| Oldest age your dog can join | No maximum age stated. Pets 6 or older need a full vet exam within 30 days before cover or 15 days after | Not in the documents we read |
| Youngest age your dog can join | 8 weeks | No minimum age given: all cats and dogs under 14 can enrol |
| Hip dysplasia | 12-month waiting period. Not covered at all for dogs aged 6 or older when they join | Excluded if there was any sign of hip dysplasia at any time before enrolment or in the first 30 days |
| Cremation and burial | Not in the documents we read | Cremation and burial not covered unless the optional Pet Owner Assistance Package is added |
| Discount for insuring more than one pet | Not in the documents we read | None: Trupanion does not offer multi-pet discounts |
From each insurer’s own sample policy (Texas) or website, read in October 2026. Terms vary by state and change over time, so check the policy before you buy.
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