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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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A
Allan E

4/15/2019
Like any insurance companies you only find out how good they are when you submit a claim. I have had Nationwide for over 10 years and recently had by dog evaluated for her rear legs crossing and falling down on her but. I took her to the Washington Veterinary Hospital In Pullman Wa were after testing, xrays and an MRI she was diagnosed with Intervertebral disk disease. The MRI estimate when we approved doing this for the diagnoses was around $1700 however when I submitted the final bill for reimbursement it showed the MRI cost as $607 and listed separately the Anesthesia and the hospital stay for the MRI performance. The claims department would only pay for the MRI machine cost and... Read More
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Barbara A

4/5/2019
Nationwide pet insurance is excellent! My dog has been covered with this pet insurance for 7 years with comprehensive coverage worth every penny for cost,
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wayne

4/3/2019
they do not want to pay, gave me the runaround for months , kept asking for more info, sent every bill i had but still that was not enough
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Kathy B

4/1/2019
They don't pay on items that you fully believed would be covered. Worse, far, far worse, is their "paperless" claim payment process with CHASE. Nightmare.
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Fran D

3/22/2019
I have been with this company since before it was Nationwide. Yes they are a little higher but they are covering 2 part plan for me . I was with the other pet company for 3 dogs prior . I have had no problems submitting claims and they know go through PayPal to your bank thru reimbursement in little time .So I have renewed for another year .
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Renee S

3/20/2019
Nationwide Pet Insurance takes over 30 days to decide on reimbursements. They take their time which most of the time is a NO, we will not pay. They just want those monthly payments without a pay out. My pet had surgery in December 2018 and it is March 2019 and they still have not made a decision. Not payout at all since we joined!!!!
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T
Tina

3/15/2019
They will drop you after years of coverage for tick born diseases. Cannot trust customer service to update charge information if expiration date has expired. Have to call can not do online. Called three times and the information was never updated on their end
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Mary K

3/15/2019
I have had insurance through this company for years. This year they increased my premium is 40%! Time for a change ...
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T
Toni

3/10/2019
Stay clear of this company they are horrible! They have crazy limits to some of their plans so I’m basically paying for no coverage. They are well know for trying to get out of paying for things by claiming a preexisting condition! Stay away!!
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Michele M

1/31/2019
I had my two dogs covered with nationwide for a few years. I had the 90% plan. I had my dogs checked out while they were being boarded a few months ago and sent in the claims which were about $40 each. A few weeks later, I got a notice saying that one dog was Denise’s because there wasn’t a diagnosis stated. Well, there was no diagnosis. It was a check up. I got nothing for the other dog. About 3 weeks ago, I got a notice that my payment declined and to call to update. I did. When I asked about the 2 claims I sent a few months ago, I was told that 1 dog was ok, but the other wouldn’t be paid at all because his policy had lapsed in July!!! How could that be, I asked, when you... Read More
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  • No enrollment or administrative fees
  • Accidents, illnesses & emergency care
  • Most claims are processed within 2 days
  • Flexible premium & deductible options

 

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