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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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Bernadette M

8/11/2017
I am very happy with nationwide. Payments are fast, EOB easy to read.
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Patti K

8/11/2017
Thank you Nationwide for your pet wellness plan. I cannot emphasize to you how wonderful it is to know I can take my beloved pets to the vet and not worry I will have to make choices not to treat due to cost. THANK YOU!!!!!!
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Toni S

8/11/2017
Never a smooth process when submitting claims for my pet through nationwide. I feel like nationwide is never on my side. I definitely plan on switching insurances at the end of the year.
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Patti K

8/11/2017
I cannot say enough how FANTASTIC Nationwide pet insurance with wellness is. Thank you Nationwide for offering this plan. I feel so good that I know I don't have to make a choice of not going to the vet because of expense.
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A
Ann G

8/11/2017
I'm sad that we have been denied coverage for Izzy's evaluation by a orthopedic specialist for her luxating patellas. When we signed up with you we had no confirmation of Izzy's luxating patellas. Of course, I would be lying not to say the reason we signed up was in case she would encounter expensive surgery down the road should an answer be given for her limping, but because no firm diagnosis was made, we thought the insurance would cover it. When we originally asked her vet he said he did not feel she had luxating patellas, but we asked that we have her evaluated anyway to make sure. It was done at our request, not that of our vet. Oh well. We probably will drop the insurance.
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J
Juli

8/11/2017
I am very disappointed in the overall handling of everything. When filing a claim they took the WHOLE 30 days to process and deny my claim. I would receive multiple letters stating they needed more information, which I gave them multiple times. They kept asking for the SAME information over and over again. When I would call the customer care line, because you can’t talk to the underwriters who are requesting this information, they were unable to answer any of my questions. The only information they had was the same information I could get on line. I made several calls and I was unable to get any answers. Nothing was updated on line, like it said it would be. I would receive letters saying... Read More
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C
cphashimoto

8/10/2017
reimbursements are prompt, which is great. all EOB documentation is clear, also great. the value of the plan, great as well. but the preexisting conditions are an issue for me - not because I think preexisting conditions should necessarily be covered, but because my dog was 3 months old when i got her and presented watery poop within a month of being mine. in that time i got insurance, but since she had that issue, they considered all "gastrointestinal" issues as exempt from coverage. really frustrating bc 6 months later she ate something bad, was vomiting and had to spend 2 nights at the vet while tests were run, etc, and it wasn't covered because of one watery poop incident early on.... Read More
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S
Shankar

8/10/2017
Fast claim processing,
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Mary J

8/10/2017
I have had this insurance since my dogs Mo & jo were pups. They're now over 8. Nationwide has always been there for them when they have had issues. Nationwide paid their claims and their customer service is excellent I have referred around 25 people their way and now are all insured with Nationwide. Thanks so much!
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Suzanne C

8/10/2017
Nationwide by far has exceeded my expectation. Every pet owner knows the expencw of well puppy shots. I'm stunned to receive not 1 but reimbursement checks from you with our 3 well puppy shot visit! Thank you Nationwide for giving us the comfort of knowing we can afford our vet care.
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