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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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C
Cindy S

1/2/2020
I have the Whole Pet with Wellness for my 2.5 yo female lab. My pup required 2 Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgeries in her first 18 months. She blew out one knee and just as she was fully recovered blew out the other knee. Each time I filled out the proper forms with the receipts and was promptly reimbursed. Some months after recovering from the last surgery she came down with Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) requiring hospitalization. Again I was promptly reimbursed. The surgeries were not cheap costing several thousand dollars each. I have been so pleased with my experience with Nationwide that I recommend it to the many the new puppy owners I have encountered and... Read More
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C
Connie J

12/27/2019
On Christmas evening, I contacted the emergency Vet service of Nationwide and was impressed by the information passed along to me by Christy. I also was impressed when I received a follow-up call the next morning to see if my dog was improved. This was my first experience with this service of Nationwide, and I wasn't disappointed but rather pleased with them. While the rates seem high and the % of coverage isn't always that great, we've been with them for over 13 years (VPI to begin with), and have not found a reason to leave them, although they are expensive. C. Johnson
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Tom C

12/3/2019
They keep denying valid claims. Currently shopping for a replacement. My dog didn't have a name until the AKC approved it. Despite submitting a claim under the policy number, they rejected it because the name was different.
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Pam C

11/17/2019
Customer service does not exist. I could not get an explanation of denied claims. Insurance chooses their benefit code not vet and after I requested review of one claim they recategorized their payment of all claims to a formula with lesser payout. My dog has partial cruciate tear and now no other insurance company will take her with pre-existing injury. I do not recommend.
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B
Bob R

10/30/2019
62% premium increase at 10 years old. Not worth it!!!! VPI was so much better.
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L
Linda M

10/8/2019
I have to say that I have never had any real issues with what they have paid out on a claim. My big beef is that for my 11 yr old dog the premium has gone up 82% (from $716 to $1300) and for my 10 year old dog it has gone up 78% ($641 to $1100). This is with a multiple dog discount and military discount (10%). This is only for the Major medical coverage with a $250 deductable. That is almost more than my budget will allow - don't know what the cost will be for my soon to be 8 yr old dog but I'm expecting a similar quote. At this rate they are going to price themselves out of business for most people, especially those on a fixed budget. I know things have steadily gone up but I... Read More
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Sue L

10/3/2019
We are customers, filed claims months ago and keep paying every month and have heard nothing from your company,
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Ann U

6/3/2019
When they started out as DVM/VIP Pet Insurance they were wonderful. After they were taken over by Nationwide, costs have spiraled as reimbursement and coverage plummeted! All of my cats have been insured since 1991 with this company. I am now looking for another company to cover 6 ats, which with Nationwde costs me $229.46 per month. That is more than my Medicare! Per year, I pay out $2,753.52 Over the LIFETIME of the cats between 2007 to today, I have made only $2,681.21 in claims and was reimbursed $1,194.47 Doesn't that seem somewhat lopsided? Oh, and the deductible on two of them is $250, two $100 and the other two $50
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Joni R

5/22/2019
I have three pets covered with Nationwide and have been satisfied until today. At the time I enrolled my newest pet, I requested and thought I was getting the same plan I had on the other two--which would be the Whole Pet with Wellness plan. I submit my claims annually, so when I submitted the new pet's annual claim in the total amount of $1,335.10, all I got back was $394.00. When I called to find out why so many items were not covered, only THEN did I find out I had a major medical with a wellness rider that didn't cover much. The representative told me that no pet is eligible for the Whole Pet with Wellness Plan until they are one year old. Not only was I not told that when I... Read More
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Jolina M

5/22/2019
Nationwide Pet Insurance was the perfect addition to my work benefits. Once I enrolled, I designated the premium to be automatically taken out of my paycheck. Because my cat was already up to date with all his health and dental needs prior to me purchasing the "Whole Pet with Wellnesss" plan, it was simply a precaution against a worst-case scenario. Unfortunately, the scenario came to fruition when my Shadow had to be rushed into surgery for a blockage in his small intestine. He was hospitalized for 3 nights and need around the clock IV fluids. This was an expensive emergency! While I had to pay the 5k upfront, once I submitted my receipts for reimbursement the processing, approval, and... Read More
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Top Rated
Our Partner
  • No enrollment or administrative fees
  • Accidents, illnesses & emergency care
  • Most claims are processed within 2 days
  • Flexible premium & deductible options

 

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