Nationwide Pet Insurance Review

Pros Explained

• Comprehensive benefit options: Nationwide offers accident, accident and illness, and wellness plans so you can find the exact amount of coverage you need for your pet. 
• Coverage for a variety of family pets: In addition to dogs and cats, Nationwide provides coverage for more exotic pets like birds, turtles, and reptiles. 
• Bundling discount available: Discounts are available no matter what type of pet you insure—current Nationwide members receive a 5% discount on a new pet health insurance policy, and 10% off when insuring three or more pets.

Cons Explained

• Only one rider option: The only rider option is a wellness plan, which you can purchase independently or tack on to another plan. 
• Small reimbursement and annual limit caps: Nationwide only offers reimbursement levels of 50% and 70%, for the Whole Pet plans, which have a $10,000 annual limit; both Major Medical and Wellness plans have set reimbursement amounts, regardless of the cost of treatment.
• Wellness plans aren’t available in all states: Even though Nationwide offers a wellness plan, if you’re looking for this type of coverage your location may limit your options.
  

Introduction

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company can meet a lot of different consumer pet insurance needs, especially with pet owners who aren’t just looking for pet and dog coverage. It offers plans for pets like turtles, hedgehogs, and potbellied pigs, which most pet insurance companies don’t cover.

Company Overview

More than a million pets are currently protected by Nationwide pet insurance. While the Nationwide we know today was founded in 1982, this company has more than a 90-year history that began by providing small mutual auto insurance. In 2009, Nationwide acquired VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance), which was the first pet insurance company in the United States (founded in 1982).

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, this Fortune 100 company offers a wide range of insurance products and financial services, which makes it an ideal fit for anyone who likes to bundle their insurance policies. In addition to pet insurance, it offers auto, homeowners, life, and many other types of insurance policies.

While many pet insurance providers only offer coverage for dogs and cats, Nationwide allows you to purchase a policy for many types of animals, including:

• Amphibians
• Chameleons
• Chinchillas
• Ferrets
• Geckos
• Gerbils
• Goats
• Guinea pigs
• Hamsters
• Hedgehogs
• Iguanas
• Lizards
• Mice
• Opossums
• Potbelly pigs
• Rats
• Rabbits
• Snakes
• Sugar gliders
• Tortoises
• Turtles

Available Plans

Nationwide offers a wide variety of pet insurance plan options; you can pick from an injury plan (known as Major Medical), injury and illness (Whole Pet), and wellness (Wellness). You can receive care from any licensed vet in the world with a Nationwide pet insurance plan.

The following chart outlines the coverage differences between these plans.

Available Riders/Add-ons

Not sure which plan is right for you? If you want the best of both worlds and as much coverage as possible, you do have the option of adding wellness coverage as a rider to an existing plan. However, wellness plans are not available in all states.

Waiting Periods

Nationwide’s plans have the following waiting periods before coverage begins: 

• Whole Pet and Major Medical: A 14-day waiting period starts from the time your application is approved and payment is received. 
• Pet Wellness: Coverage begins after a 14-day waiting period.
• Cruciate ligament problems: Coverage for certain types of knee problems begins after 12 months in most states and the District of Columbia. In Maine, this coverage begins after a 30-day waiting period unless you apply for a waiver.

Cancellation Policy

If you decide to cancel your Nationwide pet insurance policy, you can do so at any time by notifying the company in writing (by fax or mail) or online at my.petinsurance.com. Your policy will be canceled as of the date the cancellation request is received.

If you decide to cancel within 10 days of your policy going into effect, Nationwide has a 100% money-back guarantee as long as you haven’t been reimbursed for any claims yet.

Plan Exclusions

Plan exclusions vary based on the plan you choose.

Whole Pet:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Grooming
• Cruciate ligament problems before the end of the waiting period
• Expenses not directly related to veterinary services
• Diseases preventable by vaccination
• Wellness, routine and preventive care
• Dental cleaning

Major Medical:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Congenital anomalies and developmental disorders
• Hereditary disorders
  
• Cruciate ligament problems before the end of the waiting period
• Wellness, routine, and preventative care

Pre-Existing Conditions

None of Nationwide’s pet insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions. Nationwide considers a pre-existing condition to be any illness or injury that your pet had before you obtained coverage. 

Plan Pricing

Pet insurance plans through Nationwide vary depending on your pet and coverage of choice, but they start at $35 per month. Nationwide's Whole Pet plan offers reimbursement levels of 50% or 70%, has a $10,000 annual coverage limit, and doesn’t have a lifetime cap on benefits. Major Medical plans reimburse a set amount for each condition, regardless of the cost of treatment.

You can get a quote online to see what your potential costs might be, but take note that the price of your plan can be influenced by factors like the type of pet you have and your location. With Nationwide the only deductible option is $250.

Wellness Plus coverage varies from $17 to $22 per month depending on where you live and the type of pet you are insuring.

Claims

Nationwide makes it fairly easy to file a pet insurance claim and offers a wide variety of methods to do so. You can submit a claim via desktop or mobile device by logging in to your Nationwide Pet Access Account page at my.petinsurance.com. You also have the option to submit a claim by mail, email, or fax.

Most claims are completed within 5 days (as long as you submit all necessary claim information), and Nationwide will alert you by phone or email to confirm the claim has been received and is processing.

If you have a Chase Payments account you can choose to be reimbursed for your claim by direct deposit. If you don’t want to go this route, Nationwide will arrange for an alternative payment method, which will most likely be a paper check.

Customer Service

For customer support of all kinds, from new enrollments to help for members, you can contact Nationwide by phone at (855) 525-1434.

The support line is open during the following hours: 

• Monday to Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m PST

You can also send an email through Nationwide's online form.

Third-Party Ratings

Nationwide performs well among third-party rating agencies. Nationwide received an A+ rating from AM Best, which indicates the company is very financially stable and likely to pay out its insurance claims. Nationwide has received no complaints about its pet insurance offerings through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

When asked by Investopedia why they decided to renew their plan, one Nationwide user said, “I have had pet insurance for 18 years. It gives me peace of mind that I can always do the best for my pets' health.”

Alternative Choices

Before you sign up for any pet insurance policy, shop around and collect some quotes to find one that can meet your pet’s needs and your budget. It can be helpful to keep the following elements in mind.

• Coverage limits
• Monthly premium
• Deductible options
• Covered treatments
• Treatment exclusions (such as dental)
• The ability to add wellness coverage
• Reimbursement percentages and limits
• Minimum and maximum cutoff ages

Competition

Final Verdict

Overall, Nationwide is a great option for someone looking for a more customizable pet insurance policy. You can choose between Major Medical or Whole Pet plans, and you can enhance a Major Medical plan with a wellness rider. If you have an exotic pet, this is one of the few insurers to offer coverage for a wide variety of animals, and yours may be included.

Get a Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What Percentage Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Cover?

How much Nationwide pet insurance will cover depends on the insurance plan you choose. The Whole Pet plan reimburses either 50% or 70%. For Major Medical plans, reimbursement is a set amount for each condition, regardless of what treatment costs.

Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Increase With Age?

Age is one of the factors considered in the quote for your pet insurance costs. As pets age, they are more likely to experience health problems. This increases their care expenses, which in turn increases the cost of pet insurance coverage for them. Nationwide states that as long as your pet is enrolled in coverage before age 10, and you don't let that coverage lapse, your pet will not be dropped from your insurance plan due to age.

How Much Is the Deductible for Nationwide Pet Insurance?

Nationwide's deductible for pet insurance is $250, regardless of the type of coverage you choose.

What Dogs Does Nationwide Not Cover?

Nationwide does not list any dog breeds that it refuses to cover. It does offer insurance coverage for several breeds that may be difficult to find insurance for, including Doberman Pinscher, pit bull, chow, presa canario, Rottweiler, and wolf hybrid. Depending on the breed of your dog, certain hereditary conditions may not be covered, and some breeds may be more expensive than others to insure.

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of pet insurance companies. We rated 25 providers and collected over 2,000 data points, including information about plan options, company features, and fees and limits, to ensure that our reviews help users make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs.

Our full pet insurance methodology, including our data collection process and weighted data points, is available for review.