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Nationwide Pet Insurance Review

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Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company with unparalleled financial stability and claims-paying ability that has recently ventured into the pet insurance marketplace.

The company stands out because they offer expanded coverage beyond just cats and dogs, as well as wellness plans that cover things like checkups and vaccinations.
 
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How is Nationwide rated?

Breakdown

5.0/5
Coverage
3.0/5
Cost
4.0/5
Extras

Overall Rating: 4.3 / 5 (Excellent)

Nationwide's Whole Pet with Wellness Plan is one of the most comprehensive on the market, and it will, as a result, cost you more than most standard pet insurance plans.

Nationwide is one of the few pet insurance providers that will extend coverage beyond dogs and cats, covering birds and all manner of other pets.

Truly unlimited coverage, however, is only offered if you choose the top tier plan.

Be aware that all plans besides Whole Pet with Wellness operate on a benefit schedule.

Nationwide Coverage

Coverage - 5 / 5

Nationwide's Whole Pet with Wellness plan is a great option for a complete pet insurance plan.

In addition to the normal accident and illness coverage, it also provides for yearly physical exams, vaccinations, and flea/heartworm prevention. It is, however, on the pricey side as a result. Its Major Medical plan is more in line cost and coverage-wise with the standard accident and illness plans offered by most companies.

You can also purchase the wellness plan on it's own, and it is relatively inexpensive. Finally, Nationwide recently released a more inexpensive Whole Pet plan without the wellness component.

This plan has many of the same characteristics of Whole Pet with Wellness, operates on a percentage reimbursement basis, but is subject to different annual caps.

It is interesting to note that Nationwide is the only company we are aware of that extends pet insurance beyond cats and dogs.

The company will cover most birds and a wide range of exotic pets.
Pets Covered
Dogs
Cats
Birds
Exotic Animals
Coverage Types
Medical
Wellness
Vet Selection
Unrestricted
Out-of-State Coverage
Yes
Commercial Pets Covered

Medical Conditions Covered

  • Accidental
  • Illness
  • Hereditary
  • Congenital
  • Cancer
  • Chronic
  • Accidental Dental
  • Dental Illness

Medical Treatments Covered

  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Prescription Medications
  • Emergency Care
  • Specialty Care
  • Alternative Care
  • Behavioral Therapy

Benefit Limits

Benefit Limits - 5 / 5

Both Nationwide models -- Whole Pet with 90% reimbursement, and all other plans with a benefit schedule -- offer unlimited annual maximums. The new Whole Pet plan without wellness, though, is subject to a $10,000 annual cap.

Additionally, you must remember that any plan but the Whole Pets are going to limit you by condition or procedure.

So even though technically there is no limit to the dollar amount they will spend on your pet in a year in total, there are limits on a condition and service basis with the lower two plans.
Benefit Limit Types
Unlimited

Reimbursement & Deductibles

Reimbursement - 5 / 5

Nationwide's top tier Whole Pet with Wellness, as well as the new Whole Pet (alone) plan, both reimburse 90% of the total vet bill.

However, Major Medical and Pet Wellness reimburse according to a benefits schedule.

These schedules cap payouts by condition or service. If you are going with one of these plans we suggest you scrutinize your policy carefully before purchase, as your pet's breed may be susceptible to certain conditions with low coverage limits in the plan.

Benefits schedules, and no choice in customizing the reimbursement percentage in the top tier plan, limit the flexibility of Nationwide's offerings.
Reimbursement Model
Actual Cost
Benefit Schedule
Minimum Percent Reimbursement
90%
Maximum Percent Reimbursement
90%

Deductibles - 5 / 5

Nationwide Whole Pet with Wellness offers one annual deductible of $100.

This is in some ways good because it is so low. But you will not have the flexibility of choosing higher deductibles should you want a lower monthly premium or should it somehow fit your needs in other ways.

Most of our top companies offer customizable deductibles.

The new Whole Pet without the wellness component, as well as the Major Medical plan, both have annual deductibles set at $250.
Deductible Type
Annual
Minimum Deductible Offered
$100
Maximum Deductible Offered
$250

Pricing: How much does Nationwide cost?

Cost - 3 / 5

Nationwide's plans are comprehensive, but you are going to pay the price. Their monthly premiums are a little on the high end as opposed to our other companies.

Starting Monthly Premiums

Dog: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male Golden Retriever in zip code 92683
$34.25
Cat: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male American Shorthair in zip code 92683
$18.84
Rate Details: Annual Deductible: $250, Benefits Cap: Annual & Unlimited, Reimbursement Model: Benefits Schedule
Available Discounts: 5% discount on current Nationwide member

Enrollment & Waiting Periods

Enrollment - 3 / 5

Like our other companies, Nationwide will enroll pets starting at 6 weeks. Unlike our other companies, Nationwide has a relatively lower age restriction with older pets at 10 years.

However, if the pet is enrolled before age 10, and the policy never lapses, they will be covered for the duration of their lives.

Waiting periods are industry standard at 14 days, although Wellness starts 24 hours after approval.
Min Enrollment Age
6 weeks
Max Enrollment Age
10 years
Accident Waiting Period
14 days
Illnesses Waiting Period
14 days
Free Look Period
10 days

Claims & Service

Extras - 4 / 5

Nationwide's claims procedure is standard for the pet insurance industry.

Like other companies, you must first pay the vet directly, download Nationwide's claim form, and submit the form with all paid invoices. You can submit via mail, fax or email.
Advertised Response Time
14 days
Claim Form
Mail
Email
Fax

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
https://www.petinsurance.com/
Headquarters Address
One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, OH, 43215
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2344, Brea, CA, 92822
Year Founded
1981
What We’re Hearing From Our Readers
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Customer Comments

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Laura

2/8/2018
DO NOT FALL FOR PURCHASING THIS INSURANCE! I l had used their wellness policy for a couple of years and then upgraded my policy last year to the Whole Pet with Wellness so that I could rest assured that my fur baby was completely covered. I was sold on this policy my the mere fact that it included dental where other companies did not. Unfortunately I discovered that the dental coverage offering is just a big lie. Basically if you take you pup in for their first routine dental cleaning they are not going to cover it because if there is any tarter it is considered a pre-existing condition!!! I just spent $900 at the vet only to find out the hard way that none of it was covered!!!!! My vet,... Read More
223 People found this helpful.
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Javier O

4/27/2018
This has been one of the WORST companies to do insurance with. When it was VPI Pet Insurance it covered so much more and since Nationwide, coverage sucks. I filed a claim for my new puppy and they took forever to process it and then tried to list the illness as "pre-existing" even though it happened on the 3rd visit and not in the first visit. I will look for a better company. Nationwide steals your money and doesn't care about you or your pet.
207 People found this helpful.
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Robin L

2/14/2018
By Rob Don't be fooled by this company because no matter what you submit it will be denied. I paid in for more than a year on my animals and they never paid a penny. They will come back by saying that the ilness or injury was pre existing. They will collect your money and you will not ever get a claim paid. Nationwide is never going to be by your side. They do not care about you or your animals. That is why they are so rich.
176 People found this helpful.
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Rob C

4/24/2018
Don't fall for this company. They say they cover Congenital and Hereditary conditions, they do not. We took our puppy to the vet because we noticed him limping from the time we got him. The vet did some tests and came back telling us that he had patellar luxation and given the shallowness of the trochlear groove and his age, he was born with it. Well, because we took him before the policy was in effect, NW said oh, no that's not a congenital condition, it's preexisting and we won't cover it. So in reality Congenital and Hereditary conditions are not truly covered. I will never recommend NW to anyone for care of their pets.
142 People found this helpful.
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Milton B

6/7/2018
WASTE OF MONEY - DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT! The vets they keep on staff will find a reason to deny any claim you make as pre-existing. A small amount of tarter noted on a past medical exam will make dental needs a pre-existing condition. Read the reviews as they will delay telling you they aren't going to cover your claim by 90-180 days and if you are lucky they will pay a small amount. (Examples are $80 on a $3k bill). They continually lied to us during enrollment on what would be covered and then during the claim process they continued the lies. We are pet owners with over 30 years experience with dogs and cats and I promise you that if you purchase this and have a claim you will get... Read More
135 People found this helpful.
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S
Sharon K

6/18/2018
I have recommended Nationwide pet insurance to most of my friends and at lest 4 of them bought this insurance. I now have a letter that they are looking to raise the rate by 57.8%!! I have 2 dogs/2 policies. I don't think I will be able to afford this type of increase!
118 People found this helpful.
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B
Brian

6/6/2018
Nationwide is the worst people I have ever dealt with! I purchased their coverage through my employer as it became available this year. Well it just so happens that our 4 month old pup decided to roll off the bed and hurt her leg 3 weeks after our policy went active. Long story short with a trip to vet and surgery center for her procedure. We filed the claim with nationwide and waited 4 weeks for their response. Then they wanted us to furnish them with records from vet. 2 weeks later they wanted records from surgeon. 2 weeks again we received their letter stating they were going to take up to 60 days to review. Well almost 90 days later we still haven’t heard from them so my wife called... Read More
112 People found this helpful.
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Jason

5/28/2018
This company is horrible. Nationwide is a freakin' joke. As some have mentioned, when it was VPI (before Nationwide purchased it), it was awesome. VPI would actually catch additional covered items when I would submit a claim and pay for them as part of the claim submission. Nationwide went out of their way to try and say almost everything was pre-existing. I have cancelled my policy with them and will be purchasing one from a better company. Nationwide blows.
100 People found this helpful.
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Laurie M

6/14/2018
I have Nationwide insurance and have had for about 4-5 years, get my dogs annual vet appt and no claims except what is preventative with yearly visits that they cover a percentage. No claims but insurance started out ok but has gone up drastically and not sure it is worth it anymore.
91 People found this helpful.
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Rita C

2/9/2018
We like the comprehensive coverage, Vet Helpline, ability to see any vet. We do not like the difficulty submitting claims and lack of communication when a claim we have submitted has been unreadable. I have usually submitted claims by email and though some of them have not been readable, I have not received any notice of this. I have had to go into our account and pull up the claim history to see the notice that the photo I sent of the receipt was not readable. I only received an email saying the claim has been received. In addition, the FAX number has never worked-there is no answer when I FAX. Please fix these two areas and I will be able to award 5 stars. Thanks!
58 People found this helpful.
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