A dog and a cat

Is Your Pet Eligible?

There are two basic requirements to be eligible for Trupanion pet insurance:

You must own a cat or dog between 8 weeks and 14 years of age

You must be a U.S., Canadian or Puerto Rican resident

After meeting these requirements, some pet owners have additional questions. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about eligibility.

Common Eligibility Questions

Question
I just adopted my pet and I’m not certain about his age. Am I still eligible?

Answer
Yes! Your veterinarian will do his or her best to pinpoint your pet’s age and we will use that best guess to create a policy for you.

Question
My pet is sick right now. Will you still cover her?

Answer
Any sickness your pet is currently suffering from will not be covered under your insurance policy, as it will be considered a pre-existing condition Help. But while that particular illness won’t be covered (as well as anything related to that illness), you may still invest in a policy for future illnesses or accidents.

Question
I don’t have my pet’s medical records. Can I sign up without them?

Answer
Yes. In many adoption cases, for example, pets do not have medical records. If this is the case, when processing a claim, Trupanion will use any medical records made while the pet was in a shelter, or when you first started taking your pet to a veterinarian.

Question
My dog is 10 years old and he has never been covered with pet health insurance before. Is that a problem?

Answer
No. We do not discriminate based on your pet’s prior coverage or lack thereof.

Question
My pet isn’t spayed/neutered. Will he still be able to be covered?

Answer
Yes, but for pets that have not been neutered or spayed prior to their first birthday (or within 30 days of being adopted), they will not be covered for illnesses related to prostate problems, hormonal skin conditions, testicular tumors, perianal tumors, mammary tumors, uterine and ovarian conditions, birthing, or injury due to fighting, collision with a motor vehicle or aggressive behavior.

Question
I know I’m eligible for pet health care coverage, but I’ve heard about waiting periods – what are those?

Answer
We have a 5 day waiting period for accidents and 30 day waiting period for illnesses. That means that we will cover accidents five days after the policy start date. Illnesses will be covered thirty days after the policy start date.

Question
Is my pet eligible for hip dysplasia Help coverage?

Answer
All pets insured with Trupanion have hip dysplasia coverage.*

*Subject to regulatory approval in your state.