Nationwide Pet Insurance Review
What we like:
Exotic animals coverage available
| Monthly Premium | $19 – $35+ |
| Deductible | $100 – $250 |
| Benefit Limits | None |
| Coverage | Accident, illness, physical exams, vaccinations, and flea & heartworm prevention |
Many of us consider pets to be part of the family so we want to make sure they’re happy and healthy. This often means annual trips to the vet to make sure they’re in tip-top condition. Unfortunately, when pets become sick or injured, it can also mean unexpected trips to the vet and vet bills that can become quite expensive.
Pet insurance, like human health insurance, can help make pet care more affordable. Pet insurance can do this by helping to cover costs associated with new health problems or pet health emergencies and in some cases even wellness checks and vaccines. But, as with human insurance, you’ll incur some costs for pet insurance including for deductibles, and premiums.
Many pet insurers can help you manage your pet’s health expenses, so picking the right policy can be a challenge. To help you decide what coverage is right for you, check out our Nationwide Pet Insurance review to learn more about the products this insurer provides.
In this review:
- Benefits of Nationwide Pet Insurance
- Downsides of Nationwide Pet Insurance
- What Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Cover?
- How Much Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Cost?
- Where Is Nationwide Pet Insurance Available?
- Nationwide Pet Insurance Customer Service
Nationwide Pet Insurance Review
Starting in 1982, pet owners could insure their furry, feathered, or scaly friends with a policy from Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). Nationwide previously underwrote policies for this company before acquiring it outright in 2009.
By 2014, Nationwide dropped the VPI name and, in a play to leverage brand recognition, began selling Nationwide Pet Insurance to individuals and as a workplace benefit.
Today, the company offers insurance for dogs and cats as well as for bird and exotic pets. Customers can choose from three basic options for their insurance plan: Whole Pet with Wellness, Major Medical, and Pet Wellness, with each insurance plan offering a different level of coverage.
Benefits of Nationwide Pet Insurance
One of the primary benefits of Nationwide Pet Insurance is that it covers exotic pets, which is not an option with many other pet health insurance providers on the market. Nationwide also offers plans that cover wellness exams and vaccinations, while many insurers provide no coverage for wellness care.
Nationwide also stands apart because it offers unlimited coverage and allows customers to submit claims directly from their smartphone and track their claims in real time.
If you’re interested in a Nationwide pet insurance plan for your pet, you can apply online as an individual consumer or can apply for your pet insurance plan by calling a representative. However, Nationwide also works with businesses and some people find they can obtain pet insurance through their employer.
Downsides of Nationwide Pet Insurance
Despite the benefits of Nationwide Pet Insurance, there are some significant downfalls you should consider before choosing coverage from this provider.
When it comes to pet insurance reviews, Nationwide tends to underperform, leaving many unsatisfied customers. A number of complaints deal with denied claims, with Nationwide allegedly labeling them as pre-existing conditions despite the owner’s insistence otherwise. Customers also frequently point to high premiums, slow response time, and a long lag time when first getting covered.
Another downside to consider is the waiting period. Nationwide Pet insurance carries a 14-day waiting period, which means your pet is not covered for two weeks after approval and payment. If no-wait pet insurance is what you’re looking for, you may want to consider other providers.
What Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Cover?
Nationwide Pet Insurance policies, rates, and coverage options vary based on your pet and location so it’s important to visit the insurer’s website for a rate quote based on your specific pet.
It’s also important to look at what is not covered by pet insurance. If you do not have Nationwide’s top tier policy, wellness visits and vaccines won’t be included. Even on policies where routine care is covered, the policy may not cover the total costs of care. And, Nationwide Pet Insurance, like other providers, does not cover pre-existing conditions.
When exploring your coverage, you have three primary plan options, described below.
Whole Pet with Wellness
This plan covers:
- Accidents and illnesses
- Surgeries and hospitalization
- Chronic conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Prescriptions
- Flea/heartworm prevention
- Vaccinations
- Wellness exams
- Dental cleaning
The deductible is $250 annually and you’ll be reimbursed 90% of your costs after meeting the deductible.
Major Medical
This plan covers:
- Accidents and illness
- Surgeries and hospitalization
- Chronic conditions
- Some hereditary conditions (with a one-yearwaiting period)
- Prescriptions
The deductible is $250; after meeting the deductible, coverage is based on your benefits schedule and owners are responsible for fees that exceed those listed.
Wellness Coverage
This plan covers:
- Wellness exams and tests
- Vaccinations
- Heartworm and flea prevention
This plan has no deductible. Pets are covered for approximately $75 a year in each coverage area such as flea prevention or vaccinations.
How Much Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Cost?
The cost of a plan will depend on a variety of factors, including your pet type, breed, and age. The premium will also vary based on the type of plan you select. As such, if you’re considering Nationwide dog insurance or Nationwide cat insurance, it’s important to visit their site for an accurate quote. Further, if you’re looking for coverage for a bird or an exotic animal, you must contact the company directly by phone as it will not provide quotes for these pets online.
To give you an idea of pricing, if you have a medium size, mixed breed two-year-old dog and you live in Pennsylvania, you can expect plans ranging from $28 to $68 a month. If, however, you have a two-year-old Great Dane, your coverage would likely be priced between $46 and $117 a month with the Whole Pet policy accounting for the highest quote.
Customers can expect prices as low as $22 per month for the Wellness plan, $34 per month for the Major Medical Plan, and $64 per month for the Whole Pet with Wellness plan. There are no riders or add-ons available with Nationwide Pet Insurance policies.
>> Read More: Is pet insurance worth it?
Where Is Nationwide Pet Insurance Available?
Nationwide Pet Insurance is available in all fifty states.
Nationwide Pet Insurance Customer Service
Nationwide customer service has mixed reviews, with some customers offering positive feedback while others reporting an inconsistent or poor customer experience. This is particularly true when it comes to filing claims.
If you’d like to contact Nationwide Pet Insurance directly, you can do so by calling 800.872.7387 Monday – Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST or Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., EST. You can also contact Nationwide online by visiting the online customer service page.
Bottom Line
Nationwide Pet Insurance provides several plans for dogs, cats, small animals, and exotic pets and some plans even include wellness care, which is typically not offered by other insurance providers or is offered as an add-on only. This can be beneficial for pet owners looking for comprehensive coverage.
But is Nationwide Insurance worth the cost? Nationwide pet insurance reviews are often negative, with many customers pointing to specific issues submitting claims and being reimbursed for claims. As such, it’s important to do your research prior to completing an application and determine what is best for you and your pet.
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