Nationwide Pet Insurance Review 2024 (Official)
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Coverage Options
Annual Deductible
$100, $250, or $500
Reimbursement Rate
50% - 100%
Annual Coverage Limit
Whole Pet Plan: $5,000 or unlimited
Major Medical Plan: Per-Condition Basis
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Nationwide has been a staple in the insurance industry for several decades — but does that mean it's the best pet insurance option for your furry friend? While most Nationwide Pet Insurance reviews are generally positive, it's important to know that this provider is much less flexible than its competitors. Keep reading to determine whether it's the right fit for your needs.
Pros
- Covers dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets
- Fast claim processing
- Year-long window to file claims
- Option for unlimited annual payouts
- Ability to expand policy benefits
- Covers diagnostic exam fees
- Provides coverage for the death of a pet
- Wellness plans can be purchased with or without a policy
- Offers Vet Telehealth service
Cons
- Policies contain provisions limiting coverage of certain benefits
- Payouts are made based on a pre-set benefit schedule
- Cannot customize deductible, reimbursement rate, or coverage limits
- Wellness plans are not available in all 50 states
- Illness coverage unavailable for pets over age 6
Nationwide celebrated 40 years in the pet insurance industry in 2022. Originally founded by a group of veterinarians under the name of Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), they were the first company to issue a pet insurance policy in the United States to the canine TV star "Lassie" in 1982. Four decades later, Nationwide Pet Insurance has become a popular provider due, in part, to its comprehensive coverage, close ties to the veterinary community, and employer-sponsored plans.
What's Covered
- Accidents and illnesses
- Orthopedic conditions
- Cancer treatment
- Alternative therapies
- Diagnostic exam fees
- Tooth extractions (due to accidents)
- Prescription medication, vitamins, supplements, and diets
- Behavioral modification and obedience training
- End-of-life care, euthanasia, cremation or burial cost, and replacement benefit
- Lost pet advertising and reward
- Boarding fees due to owner hospitalization
- Curable pre-existing conditions (after 6 months without symptoms)
What's Not Covered
- Doesn't cover hereditary or congenital issues
- Doesn’t cover behavioral modification or obedience training
- Doesn’t cover pregnancy-related complications
- Doesn’t provide canceled vacation fee reimbursement
- Longer waiting period for coverage of orthopedic and bilateral conditions than other competitors
- Nationwide wellness plan isn’t available in every state
- Pre-existing conditions
Optional Policy Add-Ons
Wellness Plan
Nationwide Pet Insurance offers a wellness plan that can be added to its Accident & Illness coverage or purchased separately. The wellness plan covers the following:
- Annual physical exams
- Vaccinations
- Microchipping
- Fecal tests
- Heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives
- Deworming
- Health screens
- Spaying and neutering
Pawlicy Advisor Tip: We recommend adding routine care for pets under age two due to the high number of wellness visits at this age. Older pets may not save money with a routine care add-on. Learn more: Are Wellness Plans Worth It ?
Waiting Periods
When you sign up for pet insurance, you must wait a mandatory period before your coverage becomes effective and you become eligible to claim reimbursement. These waiting periods vary by insurance provider.
The timeframe for Nationwide waiting periods depends on the type of incident you need coverage for:
- Accidents: 14 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Wellness: 1 day
- Orthopedic conditions (including hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and intervertebral disc disease): 365 days
- Cruciate ligament injuries: up to 365 days
*Waiting periods may vary depending by on the state in which you are insured.
Find the best pet insurance for YOUR pet
How it Works
Nationwide Pet Insurance works by reimbursing 50 to 90% of your vet bill when a pet gets sick or injured unexpectedly. Once your deductible is met, Nationwide will pay your insurance claim at the policy's pre-set reimbursement rate up to the pre-defined benefit amount.
1. Visit any licensed vet, specialist, or emergency hospital you'd like with no network restrictions.
2. Pay for the veterinary services provided during your visit upfront at the time of your appointment.
3. File a pet insurance claim with Nationwide through your online account, or via email, mail, or fax.
4. Get reimbursed for a percentage of eligible veterinary expenses based on your selected coverage.
LEARN MORE : Pet Insurance & How It Works: A Pet Parent's Guide
How to File a Nationwide Pet Insurance Claim
- Window to File: within 365 days of the date of treatment (Nationwide recommends filing within 90 days)
- Filing Requirements: itemized invoice, details about the visit to the veterinarian, filled out claim form
- Average Claim Reimbursement: most claims are reimbursed within 4 days
- Reimbursement Methods: check or direct deposit
Nationwide Pet Insurance Cost
The cost of Nationwide starts at $25 per month, but your location, pet type, pet age, breed, and selected coverage will impact the price of your plan. Getting a quote is the only way to know how much the premium rate would be for your specific pet.
Lowest Price for dogs:
$25 / mo
Lowest Price for cats:
$25 / mo
Sample Prices
Nationwide Pet Insurance cost estimates are based on a sample policy featuring a $500 deductible, an 80% reimbursement rate, and a $5,000 annual coverage limit generated for pets that were adopted within the past year living in Dallas, TX.
Breed of Pet | 6 Months Old | 3 Years Old | 10 Years Old |
|---|---|---|---|
French Bulldog | $75 | $82 | $134 |
Labrador Retriever | $52 | $57 | $92 |
Domestic Shorthair Cat | $21 | $21 | $28 |
Pawlicy Advisor Tip: All pet insurance policies are subject to price increases annually. Pawlicy Advisor crunches the numbers to calculate the lifetime price of a policy, then makes recommendations that will save you money over your pet's lifetime.
Discounts & Ways to Save
- Get a multi-pet discount at 5% off your premium rate for each additional pet insured
Customer Service
Nationwide Pet Insurance reviews reflect positive experiences with their customer service team.
Monday - Friday: 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT
Saturday: 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PT
Member Care: 1-800-540-2016
New Enrollments: 1-800-872-7387
Email: Submit form
Enrollment Requirements
- Minimum age at enrollment : 8 weeks
- Medical Review : Nationwide requires a medical history review. A physical examination may be required to pay out claims.
- Valid United States address : Your pet must reside with you at the primary address you provide to the insurance provider
Money-Back Guarantee
Nationwide Pet Insurance offers a money-back guarantee, also known as a 30-day free look period, during which time you can terminate your policy at no charge. This policy is only applicable if you have not received a payout for a claim, and you may only take advantage of the 30-day free look during the first term of your policy, within 30 days of its effective date.
How to Cancel Nationwide Pet Insurance
You can cancel Nationwide Pet Insurance at any time by phone or mail and receive a refund for any premium paid beyond your last date of coverage.
Here is the language used in the Nationwide cancellation policy:
Cancellation by Return of Policy
You must deliver or mail your policy to us, and tell us that you want to cancel your policy, within 30 days of your policy effective date as shown on your Declarations Page. If we have not paid any claims nor advised you in writing that a claim will be paid under your policy, your policy will be considered void from the beginning and you and we will be in the same position as if a policy or contract had been not been issued. In this case, we will refund you all premiums you have paid us under your policy and charge you no additional premium under your policy. We will refund premiums you have paid within 30 days from the date that you notify us of this cancellation.
Expert Insights
Is Nationwide Pet Insurance good?
"Being the first and largest provider of pet health insurance in the United States, Nationwide has a strong reputation within the industry and certainly deserves a look if you’re shopping for pet insurance.
The company is the perfect choice if you need insurance for birds and exotic pets. Their Avian and Exotic Pets Plan covers animals such as guinea pigs, reptiles, amphibians, turtles, and more. Coverage details and pricing vary depending on the species and medical history of the exotic pet."
Nationwide also provides coverage where other pet insurance companies don’t. With Nationwide’s Whole Pet with Wellness plan, you can cover everything from flea and tick preventatives to orthopedic conditions. You can even get coverage for alternative therapies and extras like lost pet advertising.
The biggest downside to Nationwide Pet Insurance is that you have to wait a considerable amount of time to get coverage for orthopedic and bilateral conditions. Other pet insurance providers cover these conditions more quickly. You may not be able to get a wellness plan from Nationwide in every state, either.
Nationwide Pet Insurance Reviews
3.9
255 Consumer Reviews
Best Pet Insurance for the Money
While this insurance isn't horrible, there are better options out there. Claims are paid pretty quickly however the option to pay the vet directly would be preferred. In addition, the plans that are based on a certain condition (the one I have had for 10 years) have not had an increase in benefit amount despite the annual premiums continuing to go up every year. An example is, In today's vet medicine a CT scan all in will range from $3000 - $3500 in my market and the plan only pays up to $995 a year assuming you haven't already had other imaging done for your pet. They cap out the diagnosis in addition to the benefit type. I would much rather have a plan that pays 70% - 90% directly to the provider.
Consistently great service
We've been using Nationwide for 20 years and have been very happy. Customer service is always friendly and helpful and coverage is competitive. You won't be disappointed if you give them a try.
Is Nationwide Pet Insurance right for you?
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More From Pawlicy Advisor
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? Here's a Vet’s Perspective
- Learn How To Compare & Find the Right Pet Insurance For Your Furry Family Members
- Have More Than One Pet? Save on Pet Insurance with Multi-Pet Discounts
- When Is Pet Insurance a Great Decision?
- Everything You Need to Know About Filing a Pet Insurance Claim
We are the pet insurance experts. The Pawlicy Advisor team analyzes the top pet insurance companies and the fine print in their policy details to provide you with an objective breakdown of the insurance provider, the plans they offer, and how they compare.
Kari Steere is a licensed P&C insurance agent in all 50 states and has focused entirely on pet insurance since 2019. When she's not helping pet owners find the perfect plan on Pawlicy Advisor , she runs a ranch in Oregon and rehabilitates any animals that come across her path.
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