Trupanion vs Fetch Pet Insurance

Waiting periods: up to 30 days with Trupanion, 6 months with Fetch

Like almost all pet insurance companies, Fetch (also known as Fetch by The Dodo) has waiting periods for injuries and illnesses following enrollment. This is completely normal, and Trupanion has them too at 5 days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses. However, Fetch 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.

It is possible to have Fetch’s 6-month waiting period waived. In order to do so, you must visit your veterinarian and get a special examination that establishes your pet does not have any pre-existing conditions related to their knees.

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. Fetch cannot

Like most pet insurance companies, Fetch 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 is the only provider that 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 Vet Direct Pay.

Trupanion will not raise rates because your pet gets older. Fetch might

Fetch, 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. Fetch has business hours

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).

Fetch has online chat support, but live customer service is only available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Time is in EST.

Deductibles: annual with Fetch, 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.

Fetch runs things a little differently. There are only three deductible options ($300, $500, and $700), and it is a single, annual deductible that pet parents are responsible for meeting year after year. According to Fetch’s website, some “legacy members” have a per-condition deductible, but this is not an available option for brand-new members.