Many or all of the companies featured compensate us. Compensation and research may determine where and how companies appear. Learn more
  1. Home
  2. Pet Insurance
  3. Nationwide Review

Nationwide Pet Insurance Review

2,370 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
Our content is free because we may earn a commission when you click or make a purchase using our site. Learn more.
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.
 
View Top 10 List

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
Are you a customer of Nationwide Pet Insurance?
Submit a comment and tell other people about your experience!
Our Comment GuidelinesTips for Writing Effective Comments
Minimum 12 words.
 No maximum length.
* What's Your Rating?
To make this comment as helpful as possible for our community, please provide at least 2 sentences.

Customer Comments

Loading Reviews ...
L
Lauren G

5/20/2019
I got whole pet with wellness. They have paid claims appropriately and efficiently, BUT, in the last two years the premium has increased 48%! (774 at enrollment, to 1151 at 2 years old) - and that is without my dog having any issues (just vaccines and getting neutered). Do not let them rope you in, if your dog develops a pre-existing condition, you will be stuck with this policy and the rate increases.
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

C
Concerned C

5/15/2019
I was a customer of Nationwide's Pet Insurance program for a number of years. My dog got sick in 2017 and needed x-rays and ultrasounds, and the vet could not diagnosis her accurately, so no diagnosis was given. Nationwide's underwriters deemed her condition which resolved itself, as pre-existing and stamped my policy with such verbiage, all claims made after for ANYTHING were denied. I attempted to appeal this numerous times and had to let my dog suffer when she needed tests run to figure out what illness she had due to not being able to afford the treatment since Nationwide wasn't going to reimburse me, despite being a loyal and paying customer for many years. Their underwriters... Read More
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

Bryan K

5/15/2019
Absolute crap of a company. Submitted a claim for my cats passing and they said that $248 of it was covered under the plan. Such a coincidence that my deductible was $250. Other than that - nothing was covered claiming "pre-existing" conditions. Absolutely none of the pre-existing conditions that were listed upon initial review of coverage were the reason for my cats passing. Complete garbage.
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

M
Melanie S

5/14/2019
I have been an owner for all of my pets since 2000 and pay my premiums every month without delay. Recently I submitted claims for my current pet and was denied 1 years worth of vet bills for well care vacinnations because the vet saw my pet 1 day earlier than the prior year. Nationwide denied the submission because it fell within the same year and gave me some BS response of an audit. This is such a bunch of hoooey. For this reason I will be seeking alternate insurance. I feel I have been a loyal customer and they have totally stabbed me in the back.
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

Johanes H

5/11/2019
America's most untrusted pet insurer* This should be the new slogan. I am new to this insurance and yet I have tasted all the unlimited time for processing our new claim. And the result is decline or incomplete. Like I am getting subsidized Medicare or Obamacare insurance. I am paying the most expensive premium they offer and yet they treated me like I am getting a welfare or food stamps for my dog. I will canceled this as soon as I am done with putting the review on the yelp.
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

David O

5/1/2019
Wow, all of the negative reviews seem so odd. I have never had an issue with them approving a claim. Only once did they deny a claim because there was no diagnosis. I called the vet, asked them for a formal word for the diagnosis, wrote it on the form Nationwide provided and emailed it back. They paid within days. I will never go without pet insurance again, and will likely stay with Nationwide (provided things stay the same).
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

Beth T

4/30/2019
Horrible! I have 3 dogs and 1 cat, all that has insurance with Nationwide. They are all healthy and has had insurance since they were puppies and a kitten. The ONE time I needed the insurance to help cover a $5200 anal gland removal surgery for my dog, they give me $430. Pretty much the amount I pay for one year for one dogs, stating I am the cap for my yearly reimbursement. Might as well save the $480 I pay them per pet or better yet find another insurance for all 4 of my pets. You just lost a customer.
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

K
Kathryn

4/30/2019
This company is completely unethical, my dog started having seizures one month ago and they denied this claim because they stated it was a pre-existing condition. My pet has never been diagnosed or treated for seizures in the past. Nationwide claims that they received medical records from a vet hospital that my dog was at one time for a swollen eye and in those records the vet stated that my dog has seizures every 2 years. I did not provide those medical records from that vet and that vet did not treat my pet for seizures. I do not know why that is stated in the medical records, but I can't even confirm the statement because Nationwide refused to give me the medical records with that... Read More
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

C
Catherine S

4/20/2019
My overall experience with Nationwide Pet Insurance has not been a positive experience. We have had a poor return on most claims over the course of 8 years. On our last claim which was an emergency procedure we were given an over the phone quote of almost half of the procedure ($3,200 on a $7,000 estimate for the procedure). We were only reimbursed $2,100 dollars. Phone calls to 6 personnel in the Nationwide Company only proved to be very frustrating. Their standard line was we cannot do anything else. This was not the first experience of this kind and it was not a preexisting condition. Given the age of our pet, we are "stuck" with Nationwide but I would seriously recommend NOT... Read More
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

Alyssa S

4/16/2019
I literally only lost money by signing up for this. DO NOT GET THIS PET INSURANCE. The terms of my agreement FLAT OUT STATED that a spay would be covered and I paid $500 for the spay, sent all pay statements and vet notes and NEVER SAW A DIME. I wasn't able to put zero stars or else I'd take away the half I'm being forced to give it.
Was this comment helpful?
HelpfulNot Helpful

Top Rated
Our Partner
  • No enrollment or administrative fees
  • Accidents, illnesses & emergency care
  • Most claims are processed within 2 days
  • Flexible premium & deductible options

 

READ FULL REVIEW >
VIEW RATES

Related to Pet Insurance

Top Articles
Suggested Comparisons