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Nationwide Pet Insurance Reviews ( 2024 Guide)

12/20/2023 10:51 AM
In our Nationwide Pet Insurance review, we gave the company a 4.9 out of 5.0 and the Most Inclusive Pet Insurance Provider award.

Nationwide pet insurance took over the Veterinary Pet Insurance brand in 2014. Before that, it was the underwriter for Veterinary Pet Insurance since 1982, making it the longest-running pet insurance company out there. However, experience doesn’t always equal quality. 

So, in this article, we are providing you with a thorough Nationwide pet insurance review to help you weigh the pros and cons of enrolling your pet with a pet insurance policy through Nationwide.  

Nationwide Pet Insurance Review: Overall Rating

4.1

The Bottom Line

Nationwide pet insurance is one of the oldest pet insurance providers, with over 90 years of experience. It is also one of the few pet insurance providers that offer pet insurance coverage for birds and exotic animals. In terms of coverage, we like that it offers a thorough plan in the form of its Whole Pet plan, which provides pets with coverage for accidents and illnesses and a 24/7 vet telehealth line.

Nationwide Pros & Cons

Pros Pays for vet exam fees Comprehensive coverage under its Whole Pet plan Plans cover holistic and alternative therapies Provides pet insurance for dogs, cats, birds, and exotic animals 5% discount for current Nationwide customers and multi-pet plans
Cons 12-month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions Poor customer reviews Poor track record for claim payouts

Nationwide Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage

Nationwide offers several pet insurance plans, including multiple accident and illness pet insurance plans and pet wellness plans. Its plans are also available for birds and exotic animals, which is not typical among its competitors. We like that Nationwide offers broad coverage and multiple types of discounts for its clients. 

Nationwide has many pet insurance plan options, including its Whole Pet plan, which offers extensive coverage and a $10,000 total annual benefit. However, Nationwide does have an upper age limit. You must sign your pet up before its 10th birthday to be insured with Nationwide. 

Here are the three main types of pet insurance plans that Nationwide pet insurance offers:

Major Medical 

Nationwide’s Major Medical pet insurance plan is an accident and illness plan that covers some hereditary conditions, cancer, digestive issues, infectious diseases and includes the use of a 24/7 vet help hotline. This plan does include coverage for dental care, including oral trauma, tooth extraction, root canals, and more. Many pet insurance providers do not provide dental coverage, so this is a significant benefit to pet parents looking for dental coverage for their pets

The Major Medical Plan has a $250 annual deductible with defined annual benefits per condition. This plan will not cover waste, grooming, boarding, taxes, routine care, cosmetic procedures, breeding, or pre-existing conditions. 

Whole Pet 

The Whole Pet plan is comprehensive and includes far more conditions than the Major Medical plan. Whole Pet covers conditions like accidents, illnesses, congenital conditions, cancer, hereditary diseases, hospitalization, surgeries, chronic conditions, X-rays, MRIs, diagnostic testing, and much more. Like the Major Medical Plan, this plan has a $250 annual deductible. It also has a 50 or 70 reimbursement level and a $10,000 annual benefit. 

Like all Nationwide plans, you’ll gain access to a 24/7 vet helpline. You can also use this plan at any licensed veterinarian. Nationwide calls this plan its nose-to-tail coverage, and it truly covers almost everything a pet parent could need coverage for. 

Wellness Plan

Nationwide’s wellness plan is called its Major Medical with Wellness plan, and it operates using a benefit schedule. In simpler terms, there is a maximum amount per condition that the company will pay, otherwise known as an allowance, for your pet’s primary diagnosis. Major medical conditions could include conditions like infections, intestinal problems, cardiovascular disorders, neurology problems, and more. However, this plan has many exclusions, including polycystic kidney disease and hip dysplasia. Many of this plan’s exclusions appear to be breed-specific conditions, so we recommend checking out what exclusions are common to your pet before signing up for this plan. 

The wellness portion of this plan is offered in two tiers and can provide you with ample coverage for various preventative care benefits. Both tiers include coverage for physical exams, vaccinations, behavior exams, fecal tests, deworming, nail trims, microchipping, and much more. These wellness plans have maximum annual benefits of $500 or $600, respectively, which is considerably more than most wellness plans on the pet insurance market. If you’re looking for comprehensive wellness coverage, Nationwide’s wellness plans are great options to consider. 

Samples of Prices for Four Species/Breeds

The following numbers are based on Nationwide pet insurance’s major medical plan, covering accidents and illnesses. For our quote, we used a medium-sized, 4-year-old pet located in Ohio. 

Species/BreedSample Price for Medium Mixed Breed DogSample Price for Golden Retriever (Dog)Sample Price for Domestic Shorthair CatSample Price for Domestic Mediumhair Cat
Accident and Illness Plan$36.45/month$51.72/month$16.35/month$16.35/month
Accident and Illness Plan With Preventative Care$57.15/month$72.42/month$37.05/month$37.05/month
Accident and Illness Plan With Vet Fees and Physical Therapy Coverage$57.15/month$72.42/month$37.05/month$37.05/month

Deductibles

Nationwide pet insurance does not offer much in the way of customization for its deductibles. Currently, all of its plans have a set $250 annual deductible. Unfortunately, this doesn’t give pet owners very much control over their monthly premiums. If you’re looking to control your monthly premium more, we recommend looking into companies with greater customization options. 

Preventative Care Limits

If you’re considering a wellness plan with Nationwide, you’ll want to take a look at both of its preventative care plans: the Wellness Basic and the Wellness Plus. 

Here are the following annual limits for each of Nationwide’s wellness plans: 

Covered ItemAnnual Limit (Wellness Basic)Annual Limit (Wellness Plus)
Wellness Exam$60$60
Heartworm Test$35$35
Internal Parasite or Fecal Test$25$25
Blood work$50$75
Three Vaccines$50$75
Total$400$500

In addition to the above items, Nationwide includes coverage for behavior exams/treatments, deworming, nail trims, microchips, a health certificate, flea control or heartworm prevention, and one additional test. This additional test can be one of the following: 

According to MarketWatch, Nationwide’s wellness plans typically range from $60 to $100 per month (from secret shoppers). However, we are not able to find these numbers posted on Nationwide’s website. 

Coverage Exclusions

Like all pet insurance companies, Nationwide does not cover pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are any condition, illness, or injury that your pet has before its Nationwide pet insurance plan becomes active. For example, suppose your pet develops diabetes before it’s on an active pet insurance plan. In that case, your provider will not reimburse you for the costs of any diabetes-related treatments, even if diabetes would usually be covered on the plan. 

Other Nationwide pet insurance exclusions include non-veterinary fees, such as tax and waste disposal, boarding, grooming, cosmetic procedures, breeding, and more. Your plan also won’t cover wellness or preventive care costs unless you choose a plan with a wellness add-on. 

We also recommend taking a look at breed-specific conditions that you really want coverage for. For example, if you have a dog whose breed is prone to hip dysplasia or skin allergies, we recommend you check that the Nationwide plan you’re interested in covers that. If you have a puppy or kitten, you may want to consider a plan with wellness add-ons to make up for the typical preventative care exclusions. 

Plan Customizations

Nationwide pet insurance has three primary plans to choose from. However, Nationwide does not offer many plan customization options, unlike its competition. Currently, it does not provide any customization options for its deductibles, reimbursement percentages, annual limits, or more. Your only choice with Nationwide is between its plan types, but you have no options for customization within those plans. 

Discounts

Nationwide pet insurance offers multiple discounts. For starters, if you’re already a Nationwide Insurance client, you can receive a 5% discount off of your pet insurance plan for bundling your insurance with Nationwide. 

Nationwide also has a multi-pet discount of 5%, which is a major benefit to pet parents with multiple pets. We strongly recommend considering a company with a multi-pet discount if you’re insuring multiple pets, as this can save you hundreds of dollars easily. 

How do I file a claim with Nationwide?

To file a claim with Nationwide, simply log in to your online account and fill out the claim information to submit your pet insurance claim. You can also call the Nationwide claims phone number or contact your agent directly to file a claim. 

Nationwide State Availability

Nationwide pet insurance is available throughout all 50 states. There are no specific plan exclusions listed by state. However, it shares that certain plans may not be available in all states in the fine print on its website. Nationwide does not list which states this exclusion may apply to. 

Nationwide Pet Insurance Customer Reviews

Here at Quartz, we always value transparency above all else. Customer reviews are valuable for gathering information about a company and how it treats its current customers. However, we advise you to keep in mind that every pet insurance company has good and bad reviews. As of writing this article, Nationwide has a two-star review rating on Yelp, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but a 1.14-star out of 5-star rating from customers. 

“My pet has been covered by Nationwide for many years and they have become familiar with what seems to be a complicated medical condition that she has. They do a thorough review and reimburse fairly and timely. I’ve only had to call to get guidance on my claim once and the rep was very helpful. I love the online features. I’m very pleased with this insurance coverage. It has allowed me to ensure that my pet gets the best of care for many years. My pet is elderly now but she is healthy and happy thanks to the care I’m able to get for her.” – Gail P., Yelp

“Terrible! Avoid at all costs. They do not cover anything. Emergency use is subject to them connecting dots to non-existent pre-existing conditions. I should have read the reviews before signing up. The negative reviews are 100% accurate. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY AVOID!!!!” – Carole K., Yelp

“Some time ago I said I would reserve judgment on Nationwide Pet Insurance, formerly VPI. All I can say is that they have done right by us and our two Boxer mix dogs since we rescued each of them in 2015 and 2018. Both have Whole Pet with Wellness, which if you can afford it, I recommend. Everything has been covered at the 90% level including a very expensive TPLO for cruciate ligament rupture on my boy. The trick I THINK, is that like us, people need to insure their dogs from the moment they come into their lives, as puppies, or whenever that happens, just like people.  When you do that, everything seems to be covered with no problems. We’re pretty damn happy with Nationwide.” – Randy S., Yelp

Nationwide vs. Competitors

When choosing a pet insurance company, it’s vital that you compare it to other pet insurance companies to see what will best fit your pet insurance needs. So, how does Nationwide weigh up against the competition? The following table will give you a comprehensive overview of Nationwide pet insurance and its many competitors. We recommend considering which of the following factors are most important to you. Then, you can begin narrowing down your choices. 

Best For Star Rating Monthly Cost Link
Spot Spot Most Inclusive
$22-$80 Compare Quotes
Lemonade Lemonade Most Affordable
$16–$30 Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance ASPCA Pet Insurance Most Experienced
$18–$44 Compare Quotes
Fetch Pet Insurance Fetch Pet Insurance Most Comprehensive Coverage
$22-$38 Compare Quotes
Embrace Embrace Best for Discounts Offered
$23-$85 Compare Quotes
Healthy Paws Healthy Paws Best for Chronic Conditions
$24–$54 Compare Quotes
Figo Figo Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
$25-$54 Compare Quotes
Spot
Logo Spot
Best For Most Inclusive
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$80
Compare Quotes
Lemonade
Logo Lemonade
Best For Most Affordable
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $16–$30
Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance
Logo ASPCA Pet Insurance
Best For Most Experienced
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $18–$44
Compare Quotes
Fetch Pet Insurance
Logo Fetch Pet Insurance
Best For Most Comprehensive Coverage
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$38
Compare Quotes
Embrace
Logo Embrace
Best For Best for Discounts Offered
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $23-$85
Compare Quotes
Healthy Paws
Logo Healthy Paws
Best For Best for Chronic Conditions
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $24–$54
Compare Quotes
Figo
Logo Figo
Best For Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $25-$54
Compare Quotes
Company
Monthly Cost
Star Rating
Best For
Age Max
Waiting Period
$22-$80
Most Inclusive
None
14 days
$16–$30
Most Affordable
14
14 days for illness, 48 hours for accidents
$18–$44
Most Experienced
None
15 days
$22-$38
Most Comprehensive Coverage
$23-$85
Best for Discounts Offered
14
14 days for illness, 48 hours for accidents
$24–$54
Best for Chronic Conditions
14
15 days
$25-$54
Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
None
14 days for illness, 1 day for accidents

About Nationwide

Nationwide is a huge company that offers many types of insurance, including car insurance, life insurance, home insurance, and pet insurance. It has over 90 years of experience in the insurance industry and is one of the world’s most extensive insurance and financial service companies. 

In 1926, Nationwide was known as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and it sold its first policy. It quickly expanded into other states in 1928, including Maryland, Delaware, Vermont, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Following this, Nationwide Insurance began expanding by establishing other insurance branches, including fire insurance, life insurance, commercial insurance, and pet insurance. Nationwide was even the first major insurer to launch an app for iPhone users. This app allows members to submit claims with photos, find insurance agents, and receive quotes. 

In 1982, Nationwide acquired Veterinary Pet Insurance and began offering pet insurance to the United States for the first time. Today, it has expanded into financial services, such as mutual funds, retirement plans, and specialty health services, along with its large number of insurance services. One of the pros of choosing Nationwide for your pet insurance is that if you’re a current Nationwide member for any of its other services, you can receive 5% off of your pet insurance, which quickly adds up. 

Another positive about Nationwide today is that it focuses heavily on education, which it accomplishes by creating a pet newsletter with vet perspectives and creating downloadable infographics with helpful information, such as toxic plants to pets. This helps educate pet parents on different problems that can be easily avoided for our pets. Overall, Nationwide is a vast company with extensive knowledge and experience in the pet insurance industry. Many of its services can be bundled for a better deal, which is something we love, along with Nationwide being one of the very few companies that offer exotic pet insurance to animals like birds and rabbits. 

Our Final Thoughts on Nationwide Pet Insurance

Nationwide pet insurance offers pet parents a comprehensive accident and illness plan through its Whole Pet insurance plan. However, it is lacking when it comes to customization because you cannot customize your annual deductible, reimbursement percentage, or annual limit. Nationwide also doesn’t offer an accident-only plan, which many pet insurance providers offer at a discounted rate. 

However, Nationwide makes up for some of this by offering pet insurance to exotic animals and birds, which almost no pet insurance providers currently cover. Nationwide also has multiple discounts available for bundling insurance or signing up multiple pets for insurance, which is a significant benefit. Overall, we like that Nationwide has thorough accident and illness coverage and two tiers of wellness plans with considerable annual benefits. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of Nationwide‘s pet insurance?

One of Nationwide’s biggest advantages is that it offers exotic pet insurance plans, which very few providers do. We also like that it provides multiple wellness and accident and illness plans, so that pet parents have a variety of plans they can choose from. Nationwide plans can also cover holistic and alternative therapies, which is a significant benefit to pet parents. In addition, we like that its wellness plans have high annual limits that are considerably larger than most wellness plans on the market. This helps ensure that your pet won’t run out of coverage for its preventative care throughout the year. 

Does Nationwide offer exotic pet insurance?

Yes! Nationwide is one of the few pet insurance providers that offer exotic pet insurance. This includes animals like birds and rabbits. 

Can I use Nationwide pet insurance at any veterinarian?

Yes. You can use Nationwide pet insurance at any licensed veterinarian in the United States, including veterinary specialists, clinics, and animal hospitals. Unlike human health insurance, which requires a provider to be “in network,” pet insurance can typically be used at any veterinary clinic. Simply submit your claim after your pet receives treatment for an eligible condition, and Nationwide will process the claim and reimburse you based on your policy details. 

Should I still get pet insurance even if my pet has pre-existing conditions?

Yes. While it’s ideal that your pet does not have any pre-existing conditions before you sign it up for pet insurance, pet insurance is still a crucial investment even if it already has developed illnesses. Your pet can still receive coverage for accidents, routine care, and other treatments for different diseases or conditions it may develop once on the policy. As a result, you can still save a lot of money by having your pet enrolled with a pet insurance plan. We recommend signing your pet up for pet insurance as soon as you get it to avoid it having more pre-existing conditions. 

What are the disadvantages of Nationwide pet insurance?

From our research, Nationwide pet insurance seems to be more expensive on average. However, you’re receiving very comprehensive accident and illness coverage for your pet. 

Still, this may be a con for you, depending on your current budget and situation. We also don’t love that Nationwide has many poor customer reviews and a lower claim payout percentage than other companies. It also has a lengthy 12-month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions, which can be a problem for parents with pets prone to cruciate ligament problems.

Our Rating Methodology

To determine the best pet insurance providers, we conduct a detailed analysis of 38 different pet insurance companies operating in the United States and Canada. We put data from each provider through the same rigorous test, examining how each company performs in key areas that are relevant to pet owners. Our seven criteria are then weighted to produce a total score.

  • Price: 20%
  • Coverage: 20%
  • Customer service: 15%
  • Reliability: 15%
  • Choice: 10%
  • Plan features: 10%
  • Transparency: 10% 

The best pet insurance providers offer coverage for a wide range of conditions at an affordable price. They also feature flexible customer service, a long reputation of excellence, transparent policies and the ability to customize your pet insurance plan to your individual needs. You can read more details about our ratings and review methodology here.