Trupanion vs Lemonade Pet Insurance

Waiting periods: full coverage at day 30 with Trupanion, 6 months with Lemonade

Like almost all pet insurance companies, Lemonade has waiting periods for injuries and illnesses following enrollment. However, Lemonade has a 6-month waiting period for any treatment associated with damage or rupture of cruciate ligaments, luxation of the patella, or other soft tissue disorders of the knee. With Trupanion, you get full coverage 30 days following enrollment.

Certain breeds are more prone to cruciate injuries, including Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Golden Retrievers, so protection sooner rather than later is key to maximizing your coverage.

With Trupanion, waiting periods can be waived entirely with an Exam Day Offer.

Why waiting periods matter in pet insurance comparisons

With so many other things to consider while looking for pet medical coverage, waiting periods may seem like a minor factor. But while six months may not seem like a long time to wait, Trupanion claims data shows that cruciate ruptures and luxating patellas are two of the most commonly claimed conditions as well as some of the most costly to treat. For example, a Labrador Retriever that is between the ages of 2 and 7 years old is 80% more likely than the average dog to experience a cruciate rupture, and treatment will likely cost the pet owner nearly $4,000.

If any conditions shows up before or during the waiting period, it will be considered pre-existing and will not be covered.

Trupanion can pay veterinarians directly. Lemonade cannot

Like most pet insurance companies, Lemonade is not set up to pay veterinary hospitals directly, which means you’ll have to pay for your pet’s care upfront, save the receipt and file a claim, then wait for reimbursement.

Trupanion can pay its portion of your bill directly to the hospital at time of checkout from your pet's appointment — often in just seconds. You can go to any veterinary hospital (including emergency and specialty care) you like, though not all are set up for direct payment. Even so, most claims in these cases are still processed within 24 hours.

Curious about not having to wait to get your vet bills paid? It’s easy to find out if your veterinarian accepts Trupanion’s VetDirect Pay™.

Trupanion will not raise rates because your pet gets older. Lemonade may

Lemonade, like nearly all pet health insurance companies, uses a common rate increase structure known as "birthday pricing." This is when the insurer automatically charges you more as your pet gets older, often on top of other rate changes for inflation and anything else that may affect your price.

Trupanion does not practice birthday pricing. This isn’t to say that your rate won’t ever increase — your cost with Trupanion may still change over time due to factors like inflation and fluctuating veterinary costs. However, your price will never go up simply because your pet has a birthday.

Trupanion has 24/7 live support. Lemonade has online chat only

It’s impossible to predict when your pet will become ill or injured, much less when you’ll have questions about your coverage. Trupanion offers live phone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year (including holidays).

Lemonade has online chat support only with no access to live phone support, no matter the urgency.

Deductibles: annual with Lemonade, lifetime per condition with Trupanion

Your insurance deductible is the amount you are responsible for before coverage kicks in. With Trupanion, you can choose any deductible you like (between $0 and $1,000) and will only have to meet it once per condition. Once it’s met, eligible costs for that condition are covered for your pet’s life.

Lemonade does not offer a deductible option that is less than $100 or higher than $750, and it is a single, annual deductible that pet parents are responsible for meeting year after year.