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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
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Customer Comments

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Patricia V

12/30/2015
This insurance covered my very first dog Lil Lulu. I had excellent coverage. Fast forward to my current dogs... My 9-year old is as healthy as can she can be, no junk treats, no vet visits in 2015--nevertheless, her monthly fee of $50+ was increased to $72 with exclusions! Look at their FB page "Piper and Patches, The Good, The Bad and The Pissy" and tell me if my dogs are sickly. Enough corporate abuse! I'll transfer her health insurance to another pet insurance where they respect her intelligence, good old age and healthy habits. Stand up to corporations!
3 People found this helpful.
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Sendy

12/16/2015
I have had these people for over 4 or 5 years and they are a bunch of RIP OFFS! Every time I submitted a claim they would say I have exhausted my policy....yet my other claims were denied as well...SERIOUSLY! Then the one time I had to take my cat to the vet emergency I ended up with a $2000 bill so I asked them to submit the claim for me to see if I had a better chance of receiving some reimbursement....and guess what....I did....A LOUSY $50! I cancelled them and am now moving on to a much better company THAT ACTUALLY CARES!
3 People found this helpful.
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B
Bonnie

6/27/2015
I had bumper to bumper coverage for my girls...(so I thought) I took the baby in to check on her baby teeth that had not come out (what do I know about what is expected or not with puppies?) .The explanation was that I had used up my years allotment. She was 9 months old. Really?? I paid huge amount for her because the excuse was that she will have to be spayed, etc. Same with Gracie that is now 4years. They make it difficult each and every time. I cancelled them yesterday. I was working for them, they were not working for me.
3 People found this helpful.
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JOhn

5/26/2015
I am very disappointed with VPI. We have paid them $600+ per year for insurance for our Ozzie (Schnoodle) and have submitted several claims all of which resulted in a very very disappointment reimbursement. The most recent was an extensive surgery with four days of hospitalization. The bills for surgery and hospitalization totaled more than $9,000. VPI only paid about 17% of the total. They are a total rip off. There are much better options.
3 People found this helpful.
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Beth W

5/19/2015
Do not get VPI. Paid my premiums. My dog got cancer. I was traumatized. Thanks to VPI, I WAS TRAUMATIZED AGAIN. They claimed it was pre existing. It was not. Vet agreed. Does not matter. They have denied every claim that any of my friends have filed. This is old school insurance. They take your premiums and call everything pre existing. Pathetic.
3 People found this helpful.
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AnnieA

5/1/2015
This used to be good insurance, it isn't anymore. After 24 years of having this insurance with the additional cost of a cancer rider for my all my dogs. When my Golden died in 2014 they would not pay the claim. Getting money from this insurance has now become like pulling teeth! If my other dogs weren't seniors I would move them to another insurance
3 People found this helpful.
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E
E.Hall

4/20/2015
You're better off using care credit or working with your veterinarian on cost than VIP. My canine policy was canceled due to a pre-existing condition. We obtained our dog through friends and as good owners we wanted to make sure he was healthy. We noticed unusual issues after having him for some time, but a definitive diagnosis was never given until after he was covered under VIP. He was diagnosed with Cushings Disease. His increased urination and thirst while we're symptoms this was not a definitive diagnosis. These symptoms could be a number of metabolic conditions or according to my vet psychological. We really did not know. In the health world coding signs and symptoms are not a... Read More
3 People found this helpful.
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D
David S

3/19/2015
I had the best coverage for my dog Sassparilla that VPI provided.But when Sassparilla needed I surgery for cataracts they would not cover it or the treatment after.Because it was hereditary.What insurance company does that? After a few years she was diagnosed with glaucoma and they would not cover that or the treatment for it.Which are eye drops that are expensive.Four types of eye drops for her eyes.They would not cover any eye doctor exams as well.after paying her insurance for 8 years and not receiving any support from them.I dropped the insurance so I could try and pay the bills instead.I have a $4000.00 dollar debt that I am still trying to payoff as well as keep up with her... Read More
3 People found this helpful.
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Carla P

2/27/2015
They make a bunch of excuses to not reimburse you the correct amount. I do not recommend them. Waist of money. I submitted a $300.00 bill for yearly vaccines and exams they only paid $80.00 and I maxed out my allowances for this kind of exams. She had not had anything done in the pas year and I just renewed the policy. How can it be exhausted???
3 People found this helpful.
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an21019

12/25/2019
Worse pet insurance ever !!!! When I first got my puppy I added her to the plan. They asked me why I had taken her to vet which was on the next day of getting her. I told them she had a bit of diarrhea and vomited possibly to the car ride from coming home with me. She was fine there after. Then I took her in when she got her second bout with diarrhea due to change in diet. They did NOT COVER the visit because diarrhea and vomiting was now listed as a pre exiting condition. Be careful what you say !!! Too bad for them I now have 5 dogs and 2 cats.
2 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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