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Nationwide Pet Insurance Review
By Susan Doktor MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Nationwide is a multi-faceted insurer that offers a wide range of policies. But it’s known as the oldest pet insurance provider that insured the first dog ever — the famous Lassie — in 1982, then under Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).
Today Nationwide offers pet owners a wide range of pet health insurance policy choices, including coverage for exotic animals. Let’s look at what Nationwide offers and see whether the company has what you want in a pet insurance plan.
Table of contents:
- Nationwide pet insurance overview
- Nationwide’s services
- Nationwide’s credentials
- Nationwide’s accessibility
- Nationwide’s customer satisfaction
- Nationwide vs. the competition
- How we evaluated Nationwide pet insurance
- Nationwide pet insurance FAQs
- Summary of the Miami Herald’s Nationwide review
Nationwide pet insurance overview
- Three plans to choose from
- Plans cover accidents and illnesses
- Add-on or standalone wellness coverage available
- Bundling and multi-pet discounts available
- Policies for birds and exotic pets available
- No option to lower your premiums by choosing a higher deductible
- Limited customization choices
- No online quotes available for exotic pets
Nationwide pet insurance plans offer the basic coverage options pet owners need to help defray a wide range of veterinary costs. You can choose a combination accident and illness plan or add preventative care (wellness) coverage for an additional fee. You can also purchase wellness coverage separately.
Within those basic categories, Nationwide also allows you some opportunities to customize coverage to reflect your pet’s needs and your budget parameters. Nationwide earned a spot on our ranking of the best pet insurance companies in the U.S. for best industry experience.
Nationwide’s services
Nationwide offers a choice of three core plans for cats and dogs: Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness and Whole Pet. Nationwide is also the only insurer to offer policies for birds and exotic animals. Here’s a breakdown of the coverage, including what’s covered and excluded.
What it offers
The table below shows the difference in pet insurance coverage with each Nationwide plan. Following that, we’ve included a description of each policy type.
| Plan | Major Medical with Wellness | Major Medical | Whole Pet |
| Accidents | Y | Y | Y |
| Illnesses | Y | Y | Y |
| Wellness exams & tests | Y | N | N |
| Prescription medicines | Y | Y | Y |
| Hereditary conditions | Some | Some | Some |
| Congenital conditions | Some | Some | Some |
| Vaccinations | Y | N | N |
| Heartworm tests and prevention | Y | N | N |
| Hospitalization and surgeries | Y | Y | Y |
Major Medical
Major Medical covers accidents and illnesses, including cancer and some hereditary conditions. The plan comes with separate limits on specific conditions, not just an annual coverage limit. It features a low $250 annual deductible.
Some common hereditary conditions are excluded, including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation and cataracts in younger dogs. Additionally, it’s only available to pets that enroll under the age of 10.
Major Medical with Wellness
This plan offers the same accident and illness coverage as the aforementioned Major Medical plan but also includes wellness coverage. Additional services covered include preventative care (like vaccinations), routine blood work, heartworm prevention, wellness exams and other routine care your pet needs.
Like the Major Medical option, it has a $250 annual deductible and defined annual benefits per condition. Also, there is an age limit: you must enroll your pets before they turn 10.
You can also purchase a wellness plan on its own without accident and illness coverage.
Whole Pet
The Whole Pet plan offers more customization than the Major Medical plan and a different reimbursement type. It covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral exams and more.
It has the same exclusions as Major Medical. These exclusions are more numerous when compared with some competitive plans. Whole Pet coverage differs from Major Medical coverage in one significant way: coverage limits are imposed annually and not apportioned by condition.
Like other Nationwide pet insurance policies, Nationwide Whole Pet plans have a $250 deductible. You can also choose your level of reimbursement: 50% or 70%. Choosing a lower reimbursement level will decrease your monthly premiums.
Avian and Exotic Pet Coverage
If you share your home with iguanas, parrots or amphibians, your pet insurance options are limited in today’s marketplace. Nationwide is the only insurer that offers coverage for these animals.
You can purchase a plan for your leathery or feathery friend from Nationwide that offers accident and illness protection. There are some exclusions — it won’t cover pre-existing conditions, exam fees or the cost of prescription food or supplements, for example.
Nationwide exotic pets coverage comes with a $250 deductible, and you can choose a reimbursement level of up to 90%. Unfortunately, you can’t get a quote or apply for exotic pet coverage online. Instead, you’ll need to call the company directly.
What it doesn’t offer
Nationwide doesn’t offer as many coverage options or opportunities to customize your plan as other insurers do. All of its plans come with the same $250 deductible.
In addition, Nationwide does not offer a choice of coverage limits. The Whole Pet plan has an annual limit of $10,000; the Major Medical plan limits are per condition. Unlimited coverage plans are not available.
Nationwide also limits coverage on congenital and hereditary conditions, but this varies by plan. It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.
Nationwide pet insurance costs
Nationwide determines your pet insurance cost according to multiple criteria but claims that plans start at $35 per month. Factors that affect your cost include your pet’s age, breed, location and health history. Policy costs also depend on certain choices you make for coverage, deductible and reimbursement rate. If you choose a 50% reimbursement schedule, your plan will cost less than a plan with 70% reimbursement on claims.
We requested a quote from Nationwide for a one-year-old male golden retriever living in a Midwestern city. We list the quotes for the different plans in the table below. These include a $250 deductible per year, and the Whole Pet plan includes a $10,000 annual coverage limit and 50% reimbursement rate.
These prices don’t include Nationwide’s 5% multi-pet discount, which is available if you insure more than one pet through the company.
| Plan | Major Medical | Major Medical with Wellness | Whole Pet |
| Quoted cost | $36.40 | $59.13 | $53.91 |
Nationwide pet insurance waiting periods
Many pet insurance plans have waiting periods — the amount of time after you purchase a policy before you can file a claim and start receiving reimbursement.
Nationwide’s waiting period for its Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness and Whole Pet plans is 14 days after receiving payment. However, the Whole Pet plan has no waiting period for hereditary conditions. Standalone wellness plans only have a 24-hour waiting period.
Nationwide’s credentials
Every pet owner wants assurance that they’re dealing with a reputable company when they purchase pet insurance. Here’s some information about Nationwide’s credentials.
Licenses and registrations
Nationwide is licensed through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a federal organization that tracks consumer complaints and addresses ethical issues among insurance companies.
Awards and certifications
Nationwide has amassed many awards since its founding in 1926. Fortune Magazine lists the company in its top 100 Best Places to Work, Best Workplaces for Millennials and Best Companies for Diversity. People Magazine counts Nationwide in its Top 50 Companies that Care.
For the past three years, market research firm DALBAR has recognized Nationwide for customer experience excellence. Other organizations have also acknowledged the company, including the advisory organization Uptime Institute and the job recruiting platform Handshake.
Regulatory or legal actions
Our search of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) records revealed several complaints against the larger Nationwide corporation. However, most involved the company’s mortgage and credit card products.
Nationwide’s accessibility
Availability
Nationwide provides pet insurance coverage across the U.S., but not all plans are available in every state. Bear in mind that your location will influence the cost of your coverage. Premiums vary based on veterinary care access in your area and the average cost of care.
User experience
Nationwide’s website makes it easy to get a quote quickly. But the site is shy on the policy details that allow customers to compare options. While many pet insurers publish sample policies on their websites, Nationwide doesn’t.
Notably missing is the ability to apply for an exotic pet policy online — you’ll need to call the company to do that.
Limitations
Although Nationwide stands out for offering coverage for exotic pets, the company won’t insure all animals. Venomous animals, animals that require ownership permits and hybrid species that combine wild and domestic animals are not eligible for coverage.
Nationwide also imposes certain age restrictions on its policies, with some types of coverage only available to pets enrolled in a plan from the age of 5 (for dogs) or 10 (for cats).
Nationwide’s customer satisfaction
What do customers have to say about their experiences? We looked into the company’s online reputation by reading multiple reviews of its pet insurance product and checking third-party ratings.
Third-party ratings
Nationwide Insurance is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and earns an A+ rating from the organization. Nationwide pet insurance is reviewed independently on the review platform Trustpilot — it earns a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars as of December 2022.
Customer complaints
All insurance companies receive complaints from customers, and Nationwide is no exception. Pet insurance is an investment, and people reasonably expect a lot out of their coverage. But they don’t always understand all of the benefits and exclusions of their policies.
Most of the complaints we’ve read about Nationwide pet insurance have to do with denied claims. Many are due to insurance companies refusing to pay claims for pre-existing and excluded conditions such as cruciate ligament injuries. So be sure to understand how an insurer defines pre-existing conditions and inquire about other exclusions before purchasing a policy.
Nationwide vs. the competition
Compared to other pet insurance companies, Nationwide offers a reasonable deductible and high coverage limit but doesn’t have many choices. The Whole Pet plan option includes a $10,000 annual coverage limit, and the Major Medical plan has benefit caps per condition. Other companies also offer higher reimbursement rates than Nationwide.
See how Nationwide compares to other pet insurance companies in the table below.
| Company | Nationwide | Healthy Paws | ASPCA | Trupanion |
| Annual coverage limits | $10,000 | Unlimited | $3,000 to $10,000 | $5,000 to unlimited |
| Deductible amount | $250 | $100 to $500 | $100 to $500 | $0 to $700 |
| Reimbursement | 50%, 70% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% |
How we evaluated Nationwide pet insurance
We evaluated Nationwide pet insurance according to the following criteria:
- Breadth of plan options
- Premiums and available discounts
- Annual coverage limits
- Deductible choices
- Policy exclusions
- Wellness benefits when offered
- Customer service features
- Online customer reviews
- Ratings from consumer organizations
Nationwide pet insurance FAQs
Does Nationwide pet insurance have a dental policy?
Pet dental coverage depends on the plan you choose. Your policy may cover such dental disease expenses as tooth abscesses, root canals, and periodontal disease. The company's Major Medical with wellness plan even covers dental cleanings with no waiting period.
Does Nationwide pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Like most pet insurance companies, Nationwide excludes pre-existing conditions. But a condition may be considered new if your pet has not received treatment for it in the six months before policy enrollment.
How do deductibles work for Nationwide pet insurance?
Nationwide plans all come with a $250 deductible. The company doesn't offer choices when it comes to deductibles.
How can I get a discount on Nationwide pet insurance?
Nationwide offers a discount of 5% when you enroll more than one pet in a plan. Each pet is covered under its own policy, so pet owners can choose different coverage for different pets. There is also a 5% discount when you bundle your pet insurance policy with another type of Nationwide insurance, such as home or auto insurance.
If you are purchasing Nationwide pet insurance through your employer, you may also qualify for discounted rates.
Summary of Miami Herald’s Nationwide review
Nationwide offers three core pet insurance plans to help cover the cost of vet bills. It stands out from its competitors for offering exotic pet insurance, so the company is worth looking into if you own a reptile, amphibian, or bird. Nationwide offers a choice of accident and illness plans as well as wellness coverage add-ons or standalone policies.
You may not get as many choices when selecting a Nationwide plan — for example, all plans come with the same $250 deductible — but its plans are relatively affordable, and the company has a positive reputation.
