US pet insurance
Trupanion vs Pets Best
Trying to choose between Trupanion and Pets Best? 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 Trupanion and Pets Best?
- Deductible: Trupanion's is per condition, paid once for each illness or injury; Pets Best's is annual, from $50 to $2,000.
- Payout limit: Trupanion has no annual or lifetime limit; Pets Best offers $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or no annual limit.
- Reimbursement: Trupanion up to 90%; Pets Best 50% to 90%.
- Vet exam fees: never covered by Trupanion; covered by Pets Best only with the optional benefit.
- Knees: Trupanion has no extra waiting period but looks back 18 months; Pets Best has a 6-month waiting period a vet can reduce or waive.
Everything we checked, side by side
| Trupanion | Pets Best | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of policy | Accident and illness, one plan, 'for the life of your pet'; monthly, renews automatically | Accident and illness (an accident-only plan is also sold) |
| Deductible you pay first | 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 | Annual: $50 to $2,000 in $50 steps |
| Share of each vet bill it pays back | Coinsurance shown on the declarations page; the website says up to 90% | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% |
| Most it will pay out | No annual or lifetime payout limit (website statement) | $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or no annual limit |
| Wait before illness is covered | 30 days (illnesses in the first 30 days are treated as pre-existing) | 14 days |
| Wait before injuries are covered | 5 days | 3 days |
| Wait before knee problems are covered | 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 | Cruciate ligament events: 6 months (can be reduced or waived if a participating vet certifies the pet's health first) |
| Problems on both sides of the body, like both knees | For the listed conditions (incl. cruciate, luxating patella, elbow dysplasia), signs on either side before cover make both sides pre-existing | Not in the documents we read |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions | 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 | Not covered: anything a vet advised on or treated, or that showed signs, before the policy or during a waiting period |
| Vet exam fees | Not covered, at any time | Only with the optional office visits/exam fees benefit, chosen at enrolment |
| Cover for behavioural treatment | 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 | Training and treatment not covered, except consultations and prescription medication if the supplemental benefits are bought |
| Dental cover | 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 | Periodontal disease covered if there were no signs before cover; tooth fractures from trauma covered |
| Routine care, like vaccinations | Not covered (vaccinations, spay/neuter, parasite prevention) | Not in the documents we read |
| Cremation and burial | Cremation and burial not covered unless the optional Pet Owner Assistance Package is added | Not in the documents we read |
| Youngest age your dog can join | No minimum age given: all cats and dogs under 14 can enrol | 7 weeks, with no upper age limit |
| Discount for insuring more than one pet | None: Trupanion does not offer multi-pet discounts | 5% on Accident and Illness plans when you enrol more than one pet and all policies are with the same underwriter |
| Hip dysplasia | Excluded if there was any sign of hip dysplasia at any time before enrolment or in the first 30 days | Not in the documents we read |
| Cancer treatment | Not in the documents we read | Covered as an illness. Not covered: further occurrences of a carcinoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumor, melanoma or sarcoma the pet has had before, unless histopathology shows it was fully removed with clean margins early enough to rule out spread; then the same type in a different place may be covered |
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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