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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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Bobbie C

3/1/2018
DON"T !!!!!. I have been with you (the company you purchased from() since 2002. Over that time our premiums went up from 19.99 to 50 over a period from 2002 to 2014 when our pup died. Now with our newest dog premium have been $79.99 a month and i get a renewal today and my premiums have gone up $50!!!! a month. YIKES my husband and I are disabled veterans and this is unbelievable. Over the years when it was the other company and this company we have told dozens and dozens of people about your insurance. And this is what we get in return ! Finally got through and they said they undercharged last year and due to the fact my dog turned TWO years old it caused the increase!! HUH!!!!!!!
32 People found this helpful.
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J
julir

12/9/2016
will be short and to the point. Please write another article on Nationwide Pet Insurance and warn people not to use this insurance. I am a breeder and have all of my dogs covered by this insurance. Once my term ends, I will terminate all business with them. I used to love this insurance but now....they claim everything to be pre-existing. Did you ever see the movie The Rainmaker with Matt Damon. That's what this is like. My puppy had Giardia....he was fine on the 16th and got his vaccines. On the 27th he had diahrhea and went back to the vet and was diagnosed with Giardia....which has an incubation period of 3 to 10 days. His insurance was effective on the 14th of the month... Read More
31 People found this helpful.
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P
paolalorenzi

3/9/2017
Horrible, Horrible Horrible! What more to say!! I paid for the policy plus cancer rider extra policy for 12 years; then my baby got Malignant Melanoma which is considered by Nationwide a skin disease only. It was impossible to get reimbursed as my dog had the melanoma on her jaw, not her skin. Furthermore, to file a claim takes a Ph.D. or higher degree. Diagnostic codes must be submitted!! Put your money in a saving account a save yourself the anguish of dealing with this company. They don't care!!
30 People found this helpful.
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C
cecilia k

12/5/2016
Insulting return of $200 for a $1,600 claim. This is after paying 11 years of pet insurance
27 People found this helpful.
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Randeep S

2/28/2018
I joined Nationwide as of July 2017 based on the nationwide brand. I have submitted my first ever claims for my pet Sully and it's taken them over 2 months to get all sort of medical history for a Viral bump that needed surgical removal. The customer care is a hit or miss with ranging from polite to rude and defensive depending on who you get. Unnecessary documentation and medical history which should be asked for during enrollment isn't off course to facilitate the revenues coming in but the customer is made to jump through hoops to get the claims paid. I wouldn't recommend them.
25 People found this helpful.
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M
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
21 People found this helpful.
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C
Christopher D

10/18/2016
Denied every single claim for over 1 year. Call EVERYTHING a pre-existing condition. Haven't paid out one thin dime. Where's Obamacare for dogs? Total waste of money and borderline fraud. Switching to Trupanion, recommended by my vet (who had nothing but bad things to say about Nationwide). Nationwide is not on my side, nor my dog's.
20 People found this helpful.
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W
W

6/18/2018
The customer service representative lied to me, so I could buy a policy. I initially wanted insurance for my dogs neutering. I looked at many different pet insurance. I decided to go with Nationwide. I called and got the best coverage. When I submitted my policy TWICE! I didn’t get reimbursed, based on several excuses! When I called two months later, another customer rep told me, my dog had to be 1 year before I could get him neutered. My dog was 10 months when I got the insurance, but the first rep never told me that. They just want your money. Going to the vet and paying out of pocket would be more beneficial than paying this company!
17 People found this helpful.
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S
Susan T

12/21/2016
I have had 3 pets insured with this company for the last 12 years. One dog just passed away from a sudden internal bleed caused by unknown tumors that ruptured in her abdomen. They initially denied the claim until they received the last 6 weeks of vet bills although this was an emergency situation. It then took them 2 months to reimburse only 62% as they didn't cover many of the treatments my vet saw as necessary. My second dog had a bladder infection, caused by a resistant bacteria. She also has been diagnosed with a recessed vulva and as such I have been told that due this congenital issue that was diagnosed after she was covered by them (she has been covered since 13 weeks old), no... Read More
17 People found this helpful.
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H
Heidi M

7/10/2018
Nationwide Pet insurance has been extremely incompetent. The customer service representatives are rude and I get a different explanation of what is required each time I call. My dog had surgery for a condition that was not pre-existing and it took 3 months and 8 phone calls to get a denial. I was repeatedly told that they required notes from primary vet and hospital where my dog had surgery, which I faxed over myself, however they repeatedly stated they never received. I finally asked to speak to a supervisor who was very nice and helpful, and she stated that somehow the notes I faxed never made it to underwriting. She expedited to underwriting and my claim was denied because they... Read More
15 People found this helpful.
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Top Rated
  • 25% discount on all in-office medical care 
  • Pet wellness plans available
  • No age restrictions
  • Covers pre-existing and hereditary conditions
  • Discounts available immediately on sign-up
  • A+ BBB accredited company
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