Nationwide Pet Insurance Review
Nationwide Pet Insurance helps you pay for healthcare for dogs, cats, birds, and exotic animals. Though the company does stand out for its wellness coverage, consumers should be aware of alleged issues with claim reimbursement.
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Key points:
- Nationwide provides pet insurance for cats, dogs, birds, and exotic animals.
- There are three policies to choose from, including the option for wellness coverage.
What we like:
vethelpline® available to all members
| Age limits | Pets over 10 years old can’t enroll |
| Deductible | $100 or $250 |
| Reimbursement | Up to 90% |
| Benefit limit | $10,000 or unlimited |
Many of us consider pets to be part of the family, so we want to make sure they’re happy and healthy. Unfortunately, when pets become sick or injured, it can also mean unexpected trips to the vet and vet bills that can become quite expensive.
Pet insurance, like human health insurance, can help make pet care more affordable by helping to cover costs associated with new health problems or pet health emergencies. Nationwide Pet Insurance is one possible source of coverage.
This Nationwide Pet Insurance review will cover what Nationwide offers and help you decide if it’s right for you.
In this review:
- Nationwide Pet Insurance: Costs & coverage
- Pros & cons of Nationwide Pet Insurance
- How to get a Nationwide Pet Insurance policy
- Nationwide Pet Insurance customer service
- Where to find Nationwide alternatives
Nationwide Pet Insurance: Costs & coverage
| Major Medical (with or without wellness coverage) | Whole Pet With Wellness | |
| Monthly premiums | Starting at $22 | Starting at $64 |
| Minimum deductible | $250 | $250 |
| Maximum reimbursement | Not disclosed | 90% |
| Eligible pets | Cats & dogs; birds & exotic pets may be eligible. | Cats & dogs; birds & exotic pets may be eligible. |
| View rates | View rates |
Nationwide offers insurance for dogs and cats, as well as for birds and exotic pets on a case-by-case basis. Customers can choose from three basic options for their insurance plan: Whole Pet with Wellness, Major Medical, and Pet Wellness.
What does Nationwide Pet Insurance cover?
Nationwide Pet Insurance policies, rates, and coverage options vary based on your pet and location, so it’s important to visit the insurer’s website for a rate quote based on your specific pet.
It’s also important to look at what is not covered by pet insurance. If you do not have Nationwide’s top-tier policy, wellness visits and vaccines won’t be included.
Even on policies where routine care is covered, the policy may not cover the total costs of care. Also, Nationwide Pet Insurance, like other providers, does not cover pre-existing conditions.
When exploring your coverage, you have three primary plan options, described below.
Whole Pet with Wellness
This plan covers:
- Accidents and illnesses
- Surgeries and hospitalization
- Chronic conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Prescriptions
- Flea/heartworm prevention
- Vaccinations
- Wellness exams
- Dental cleaning
The deductible is $250 annually and you’ll be reimbursed 90% of your costs after meeting the deductible.
Major Medical with Wellness
This plan covers:
- Accidents and illness
- Surgeries and hospitalization
- Chronic conditions
- Some hereditary conditions (with a one-year waiting period)
- Prescriptions
- Cancer
- Wellness exams and tests
- Vaccinations
- Heartworm and flea prevention
The deductible is $250; after meeting the deductible, coverage is based on your benefits schedule and owners are responsible for fees that exceed those listed.
Major Medical
This plan covers:
- Accidents and illness
- Some hereditary conditions
- Cancer
This plan has the same $250 deductible, but for a lower monthly premium.
How much does Nationwide Pet Insurance cost?
The cost of a plan will depend on a variety of factors, including your pet type, breed, and age. The premium will also vary based on the type of plan you select.
As such, if you’re considering Nationwide dog insurance or Nationwide cat insurance, it’s important to visit their site for an accurate quote. Further, if you’re looking for coverage for a bird or an exotic animal, you must contact the company directly by phone.
To give you an idea of pricing, if you have a medium size, mixed breed two-year-old dog and you live in Pennsylvania, you can expect plans ranging from $28 to $68 a month. If, however, you have a two-year-old Great Dane, your coverage would likely be priced between $46 and $117.
Customers can expect prices as low as $22 per month for the Wellness plan, $34 per month for the Major Medical Plan, and $64 per month for the Whole Pet with Wellness plan. There are no riders or add-ons available with Nationwide Pet Insurance policies.
>> Read More: Wellness plans vs. pet insurance
Pros & cons of Nationwide Pet Insurance
Pros
- Coverage for exotic pets, which is not an option with many other pet health insurance providers on the market.
- Plans that cover wellness exams and vaccinations, while many insurers provide no coverage for wellness care.
- Unlimited coverage is available.
- Customers can submit claims directly from their smartphone and track their claims in real time.
- You can get a policy online or over the phone, but Nationwide also works with businesses and some people find they can obtain pet insurance through their employer.
Cons
- Nationwide has received a number of complaints that deal with denied claims, where Nationwide allegedly labeled them as pre-existing conditions despite the owner’s insistence otherwise. Customers also frequently point to high premiums and slow response times.
- Another downside to consider is the waiting period. Nationwide Pet insurance carries a 14-day waiting period, which means your pet is not covered for two weeks after approval and payment. This is not uncommon, but some providers offer pet insurance with shorter waiting periods.
How to get a Nationwide Pet Insurance policy
Getting a policy is easy. Just visit the insurer’s website and enter some basic information about yourself and your pet, including:
- Your location
- Your pet’s name
- Your pet’s species and breed
- Your pet’s age
After providing this information, you’ll be offered three tiers of coverage, based on the three plans outlined above. The premiums you’re offered will vary based on your pet and location. You may also be able to adjust your reimbursement amount to change your premium.
After choosing a policy, you will have to provide additional information, such as:
- Whether your pet has been spayed or neutered
- Past injuries and illnesses
- Preventative care your pet has already received
- The vet you currently use
After answering all questions, you can submit your payment information and your policy will begin. However, you need to allow any eligible waiting periods to pass for certain areas of coverage to take effect.
Note: If you’re insuring a cat or dog, follow the steps above. If you’d like to insure a bird or other exotic pet, call Nationwide at 1-800-874-0651 to get covered.
Where is Nationwide Pet Insurance available?
Nationwide Pet Insurance is available in all fifty states.
Nationwide Pet Insurance customer service
Nationwide customer service has mixed reviews, with some customers offering positive feedback while others reporting an inconsistent or poor customer experience. This is particularly true when it comes to filing claims.
If you’d like to contact Nationwide Pet Insurance directly, you can do so by calling 1-800-872-7387 Monday—Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST or Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., EST.
Where to find Nationwide alternatives
Nationwide Pet Insurance provides several plans for dogs, cats, small animals, and exotic pets and some plans even include wellness care, which is typically not offered by other insurance providers or is offered as an add-on only.
This can be beneficial for pet owners looking for comprehensive coverage.
But is Nationwide Insurance worth the cost? Nationwide pet insurance reviews are often negative, with many customers pointing to specific issues submitting claims and being reimbursed for claims.
As such, it’s important to do your research prior to completing an application and determine what is best for you and your pet. You can compare Nationwide to other options in our guide to the best pet insurance or find a review of another company in this list.
How we rated Nationwide
Nationwide Pet Insurance received a rating of 3.9 out of 5. We rate pet insurance companies based on a variety of data points including coverage, cost, customer ratings, benefit limits, exclusions, and more.
You can learn more about our methodology here.
Ready to find out if a Nationwide policy is right for your pet? Check your rates on its website.
Premium (Monthly)
Depends on plan
Deductible
As low as $250
Reimbursement
Up to 90%