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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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Gina R

5/3/2017
I love my pet insurance through nationwide! When I'm at the vet and hear them talking to new pet owners about pet insurance, I butt my little nose right in and yell out nationwide. I have 2 puppies and well since I got them back in Sept, ive been to the vet every month with shots, ear aches, growths, neutering. What a relief to know I get 90% back. Nationwide processes the check so fast and about a week after I submit the paper work, I have a check back. I will continue to recommend nationwide to everyone!
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Anita M

5/3/2017
Sometimes you wonder if it is really worth the monthly fee of pet insurance....until something happens. It is worth every penny. We have more than gotten back what we pay in each month. It is a piece of mind for our little buddy and we thank you for the opportunity to have pet insurance.
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Chris

5/3/2017
Great claim turnaround time! Thank you Nationwide for helping us keep our pets healthy.
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Carolyn m

5/3/2017
Thank you for taking care of my Bailey's care, it has been a rough 2 months for her, I have had this insurance since she was 6 months old, and you have always been therefor us. Thank you
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Juliet L

5/2/2017
My puppy has unfortunately been very sick this year and I'm not sure if I would have been able to offer him the quality and amount of care that he got, if I didn't have Nationwide Pet Insurance. My puppy needed specialist treatments, many return visits to my regular vet and several expensive medications, all of which was covered under my policy plan, including specialized food that my vet gave me as part of a food allergy test. Also the ability to submit claims through email, which I only recently discovered, has greatly speed up the time for claim returns and since I do not have a fax machine it makes it much more convenient as well.
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Kathleen

5/2/2017
We recently signed up for Nationwide Pet Insurance and have been nothing but pleased with our subsequent experience. We brought our puppy in for a planned neuter and gastropexy (yes, expensive !). That surgery along with a couple of unplanned follow up visits shortly thereafter to deal with an infection definitely hit my wallet hard. At the risk of sounding cynical, I crossed my fingers as I submitted the first invoice and waited for some sort of delaying tactic or reason why the claim couldn't be paid. But, Nationwide lives up to it's marketing. The ease of submitting my claims along with their prompt payment proves that it's not just hype. It is a pleasure to deal with Nationwide... Read More
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Maria S

5/2/2017
This is the best decision I made purchasing nationwide insurance for my dogs.. I only wish I knew years ago !!
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Shelly H

5/2/2017
Best investment I could imagine for my furbaby! The claims process is simple and I love that I can focus on caring for my sweet pup rather than worrying so much about the bill
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Stacey L

5/2/2017
I was very pleased with the speed that my claim was taken care of. Knowing that I did not have to keep a large bill on my credit card allowed me to focus on my dog's recovery. I had the piece of mind that I could afford her surgery.
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Kim G

5/2/2017
I am not pleased and will be filing the appropriate complaint with the DOI. How dare you deny medications needed to appropriately treat Styxx while he was in hospital for 2.5 days, and after his discharge. His policy says one thing, the EOB says something else. I don't expect his food & treat supplies to be covered; but medications prescribed to treat his injury & illness is something entirely different!! In terms if paying claims...again, terrible. When I receive an EOB emailed to me on the 18th, the implication is that check was mailed on the 18th...not 4-6 laters. If my employer didn't offer pet insurance as a benefit I would not have chosen Nationwide, and now I am stuck. I don't even... Read More
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