Nationwide Pet Insurance Review

3.7 _/5

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Pet Insurance

• Covers exotic pets
• No upper age limits for coverage
• Wellness coverage options
• Multi-pet discounts

• Higher premiums than some insurers
• No 100% reimbursement option
• Few ways to customize your plan
• Recent complaints about policy cancellations

Annual coverage limits	Unlimited
Reimbursement	50%, 70%, 80%
Deductible	$250, $500, $1,000

Nationwide pet insurance offers several plan types for cats, dogs, and even exotic pets. Its plans come with multi-pet discounts and wellness options. Unfortunately, it ranks the lowest of all the pet insurers we’ve rated due to high premiums, limited customization options, and poor customer reviews. 

This review looks at what Nationwide covers, what customers say, and how it compares to other options. We’ll help you decide if it’s a good fit for your furry, feathered, or scaly friend—or if another pet insurance company may be best.

How does Nationwide pet insurance work?

Nationwide offers several pet insurance plans, including options for dogs, cats, and exotic pets. Here’s an overview of how its insurance works:

Nationwide pet insurance
Eligible breeds	All breeds of dogs and cats; various exotic pets
Eligible ages	8 weeks and up
Maximum benefit	Unlimited
Reimbursement amount	50%, 70%, 80%
Deductibles	$250, $500, $1,000
Medical exam required?	Not usually
Ready to apply?	Get a free quote

Nationwide’s plans vary by state, but you generally have three options: 

• Major Medical plans cover accidents and illnesses. They have per-condition annual benefit maximums and a $250 annual deductible.
• Major Medical with Wellness plans cover accidents, illnesses, and preventive care. They have per-condition annual benefit maximums and a $250 deductible.
• Whole Pet plans cover accidents and illnesses. They have a maximum annual benefit of $10,000 and a $250 deductible, with a 70% or 50% reimbursement level in many cases.  
• My Pet Protection plans are only available through participating employers. They include a 50% or 70% reimbursement limit, $250 deductible, and $7,500 in annual benefits.  

Tip

Did you know? You must enroll your pet before age 9 to be eligible for wellness coverage with a Major Medical plan. 

Nationwide’s waiting period is usually 14 days for accident and illness coverage. The waiting period is 12 months for ACL issues (including cruciate rupture and meniscus damage) and 12 months for hereditary conditions under the Major Medical plan, except for in these states:

• There is no waiting period for ACL and hereditary conditions in Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington.
• In Georgia, the standard waiting period for ACL issues is 6 months (hereditary conditions still have a 12-month waiting period).
• In Maine, the waiting period for ACL and hereditary conditions is 30 days.

After the waiting period, you can submit claims for covered conditions. Nationwide will reimburse you based on your plan’s terms after you’ve met your annual deductible.

Nationwide typically processes claims within 30 days. You can manage your policy and submit claims through your online portal or by email, mail, or fax. 

How much does Nationwide cost?

How much you’ll pay for Nationwide pet insurance depends on your pet’s breed, age, location, and the coverage plan options you choose.

The company advertises that monthly rates start at $13 for dogs, $7 for cats, and $9 for exotic pets. However, the rates we saw online were much higher than that. 

Nationwide has a 5% multi-pet discount that increases to 10% for four or more pets. The best way to determine how much you would pay is to get a free quote online on Nationwide’s website. However, you cannot get a quote for exotic pets online—you must call for that. 

We grabbed five quotes from Nationwide based on different pet breeds, ages, and coverage options. This is what we found:

Pet type	Coverage details	Monthly price
Dog (French bulldog), less than 1 year old	Major Medical w/ Wellness ($250 deductible)	$80.32
Dog (Medium mixed breed), 2 years old	Major Medical w/ Wellness ($250 deductible)	$65.87
Dog (Labrador retriever), 9 years old	Major Medical ($250 deductible)	$165.84
Cat (Domestic shorthair), 1 year old	Whole Pet ($250 deductible, 70% reimbursement)	$49.13
Cat (Scottish fold), 3 years old	Whole Pet ($250 deductible, 70% reimbursement)	$73.00

What does Nationwide cover?

Pet insurance plans are usually peppered with all types of exclusions and caveats, and Nationwide is no different. To avoid surprises, make sure you know what is and isn’t covered before you purchase a policy.

Nationwide’s coverage will vary depending on your state and the plan you choose, but here’s a general overview of what you can expect:

What is covered?

Treatment	Covered?
Accidents (broken bones, poisonings, sprains, lacerations, ingested items)	✅
Illnesses (ear infections, vomiting, heart disease, cancer, diabetes)	✅
Emergency care	✅
Surgeries	✅
Hospitalizations	✅
Prescription medications	✅
Diagnostic tests (X-rays, blood tests, MRIs)	✅
Congenital and hereditary conditions when you purchase a rider	✅
Chronic conditions	✅
Cruciate ligament injuries that occur after your first policy term	✅
Dental surgeries and diseases	✅
Alternative therapies	✅
Behavioral treatments when prescribed by a vet to treat a covered condition	✅
Wellness exams*	✅
Vaccinations or titer tests*	✅
Flea control*	✅
Heartworm prevention*	✅
Bloodwork*	✅
Urinalysis*	✅

What is not covered?

Treatment	Covered?
Pre-existing conditions	❌
Behavioral issues not prescribed by a vet to treat a covered condition	❌
Boarding and grooming	❌
Prescription food*	❌
Tax	❌
Waste disposal	❌
Cruciate ligament injuries that occur within your first policy term	❌
Cosmetic procedures	❌
Breeding-related expenses	❌
Experimental treatments	❌
Congenital and hereditary disorders unless you purchase a rider	❌
Routine and preventive care**	❌

Note: Nationwide pet insurance coverage is not available for cats with FeLV or FIV. Full exclusions vary by policy and plan type. You can view a complete list of exclusions by downloading a sample policy on Nationwide’s website for the specific plan you’re considering.

Nationwide pet insurance pros and cons

Pros

• Exotic pet coverage

  One of the few insurers offering policies for birds, reptiles, and other exotic pets — not just cats and dogs.

• No upper age limits

  Allows coverage for older pets, unlike many competitors with age restrictions for enrollment.

• Wellness coverage option

  Some plans include routine care coverage to help with costs like vaccinations and annual check-ups.

• Multi-pet discount

  Get a 5% discount for enrolling two or three pets and a 10% discount for enrolling four or more pets.

• Dental coverage available

  In most plans, Nationwide offers dental illness coverage if your pet needs a tooth extraction after a covered accident or illness.

Cons

• Higher premiums than some insurers

  Rates are often more expensive than competitors, especially as pets age.

• No 100% reimbursement option

  Maximum reimbursement is capped at 80%, while some competitors offer 100% reimbursement plans.

• Limited customization

  You don’t have the ability to choose deductibles and annual limits the way you do with some other pet insurers.

• Recent policy cancellations

  Some long-term customers report unexpected policy cancellations, especially for older pets.

• Rigid policy options

  Some plans have per-condition payout limits and complicated benefit schedules that make it challenging to understand exactly what’s covered.

How to get a Nationwide pet insurance policy

You can get Nationwide pet insurance online, by phone, or through participating employers. Follow these steps to get a policy online: 

1. Go to petinsurance.com. 
2. Click on Get a personalized quote. 
3. Enter your zip code, email address, pet’s name, breed, and age. Click Get a quote.

4. Customize your reimbursement percentage, annual deductible, and coverage options until you find a plan that fits your needs. Add another pet if needed. Click Next. 

5. Answer the short health questionnaire and click Next. 

6. Enter your contact and billing information. Click Complete purchase. 

Nationwide’s pet insurance customer service is available Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pacific, and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pacific.

Tip

Switching insurers? If you’re considering switching to Nationwide from another pet insurer, be aware: Nationwide may treat conditions covered by your current insurer as pre-existing. This could result in loss of coverage for ongoing health issues. Always check Nationwide’s policy on pre-existing conditions before switching.

Nationwide pet insurance customer reviews

Nationwide is struggling when it comes to customer reviews. Here’s a quick look at its pet insurance ratings across different platforms:

Platform	Rating	Number of reviews
Trustpilot	3.2/5	279
Google	2.1/5	426
Better Business Bureau (BBB)	1.1/5	366

So, what’s the gist? Some customers are happy with Nationwide. They praise the easy claims process and quick payouts. Long-term customers appreciate coverage for their senior pets. Some even mention good experiences with end-of-life care and compassionate customer service.

However, many recent reviews are negative. The main complaints are:

• Steep premium increases — Some report premiums doubling or tripling over time.
• Policy cancellations — Many long-term customers say their policies were suddenly dropped.
• Denied claims — Some customers feel Nationwide finds excuses to deny claims or label conditions as pre-existing.

A recurring theme is disappointment from loyal customers. Many feel Nationwide has changed its policies to prioritize profits over pet care. Some veterinarians who once recommended Nationwide now advise against it.

Where to find alternatives to Nationwide

There are many excellent pet insurance companies that you may like more than Nationwide. Ultimately, the right alternative will depend on what you’re looking for in a provider.

For example: 

• Embrace pet insurance might be a better fit if you want shorter waiting periods. The company’s accident coverage begins after just two days, and illness coverage starts after 14 days.
• Lemonade pet insurance could be preferable if you want faster claims processing. This insurer processes most claims in minutes, compared to up to 30 days with Nationwide.
• Trupanion pet insurance might be better if you don’t want to pay your vet upfront and wait for reimbursement. It has VetDirect Pay, where it will pay your vet directly at checkout.

These are some of the best pet insurance providers based on our research, ranked from highest rating to lowest rating:

FAQ

What is the waiting period for Nationwide pet insurance?

Nationwide pet insurance has a 14-day waiting period for most conditions, including accidents and illnesses. However, the waiting period may differ for specific plans or coverage, so it’s important to review your policy details.

How do I contact Nationwide pet insurance customer service?

You can contact Nationwide pet insurance customer service by calling 1-877-263-6008. You can also manage your policy and access support through Nationwide’s website or mobile app.

Is Nationwide pet insurance legit?

Yes, Nationwide pet insurance is a legitimate provider and one of the largest and oldest pet insurance companies.

Does Nationwide cover pet exams?

Yes, Nationwide pet insurance covers wellness exams under certain plans. Routine checkups and preventive care may be covered depending on the specific policy you choose.

How we rated Nationwide pet insurance

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best pet insurance. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Nationwide to several pet insurance companies, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating, recapped below.

Product	Rating
Nationwide pet insurance	3.7/5