Comparing Two Of The Most Popular Pet Insurance Companies – CanineJournal.com

The table below shows what Trupanion and Lemonade cover.

Note: Both companies cover x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, specialized exams, surgery, hospitalization, emergency care, specialty care, chronic conditions, cancer, euthanasia, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, and prescription medication.

The biggest differences between these two companies regarding coverage is:

• Trupanion has longer waiting periods for hip dysplasia, illnesses, and accidents.
• Lemonade has a longer waiting period for ACL injuries.
• Lemonade offers a wellness plan for an extra fee; Trupanion does not.
• Trupanion covers behavioral therapy; Lemonade does not.
• Trupanion is available nationwide; As of today, Lemonade pet insurance is only available in 34 states and Washington, D.C.
• Trupanion doesn’t enroll pets after their 14th birthday (if the pet is enrolled before turning 14, coverage will continue).
• Lemonade has more payout limit options to your budget than Trupanion does.
• Trupanion has a per-incident deductible instead of an annual deductible (what Lemonade has); this means that with Trupanion, you’ll have to meet the deductible multiple times for every new incident your pet encounters instead of one annual deductible.

However, the catch is that Lemonade just started offering pet insurance in 2020; so it’s hard for us to gauge if they will offer consistent coverage and pricing for the long haul. Although Trupanion doesn’t offer a wellness plan, behavioral therapy coverage, or enroll pets after their 14th birthday, we’d still classify their coverage as being more dependable and better than Lemonade’s at this time.

Trupanion has a history of providing dependable coverage at a consistent price. There haven’t been any massive changes, which shows that you can count on things being fairly steady when you sign up for a Trupanion policy.

The same may or may not be true for Lemonade since it is newer. Lemonade may still be working out some kinks and figuring out what type of coverage and pricing it can offer its customers over time. It’s not uncommon for new entrants to go through many changes during the first five years of offering pet insurance, which can frustrate customers because they may experience drastic policy or price changes.

We also like that Trupanion offers unlimited claim payouts, which is something that Lemonade lacks. Trupanion also has an established customer service department that can help if you run into any issues with your policy.

Trupanion says it will pay claims within 60 days but averages a 14-day repayment. A 14-day claim repayment leans toward a longer claim repayment timeline, but it’s still shorter than some competitors. Additionally, you may be able to have Trupanion pay your vet directly, so you don’t have to pay a hefty vet bill in advance and wait for reimbursement. But this isn’t available everywhere, so check with your vet first to see if Trupanion Express is an option for you.

On the other hand, Lemonade pet insurance gives no claim repayment timeline promises to its customers. However, Lemonade’s goal is to pay the majority of straightforward claims almost instantly. I spoke with Lemonade directly and was told that they don’t share their average handling time for claims. However, it’s artificial intelligence (AI) claims process opens up more possibilities for a more timely reimbursement.

The other major differences between these two companies are the level of plan customization available and age restrictions.

Trupanion has unlimited payouts and 90% reimbursement for all plans. The only customization part of a Trupanion policy is the option of a $0 to $1,000 deductible. Additionally, Trupanion offers enrollment starting at birth, but it doesn’t allow enrollment of a pet older than 14 years old into a new policy. One other difference with Trupanion is that they offer coverage from birth and are among the only companies to offer coverage for newborns.

Lemonade pet insurance offers many customization options, no matter the pet’s age:

• Annual payout options: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000
• Deductibles: $100, $250, or $500
• Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%

Lemonade offers coverage for pet ages 8 weeks to 20+ years, depending on the breed and species. Some breeds are ineligible for enrollment once they hit a certain age, but, like Trupanion, they don’t terminate pets’ coverage as they age.

Overall, Trupanion has fewer customization options than Lemonade does, which may make it more difficult to fit into your budget. Additionally, Lemonade has fewer age restrictions. In the end, Lemonade wins this category.

Trupanion requires a one-time enrollment fee of either $0, $25, or $35, depending on the state in which you live, but charges no transaction fees. On the other hand, Lemonade doesn’t have any one-time fees or recurring transaction fees.

Overall, Lemonade wins our comparison due to its AI claim repayment, customized plans, and more affordable pricing. However, if you want a company with a more established reputation and coverage history, you should consider Trupanion.