Nationwide Pet Insurance Review
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Medical bills can get expensive for pet parents. While these costs can add up and catch people off guard, a pet insurance policy can minimize the financial burden of these expenses. Pet insurance can cover expensive treatments and preserve your wallet when your pet needs help. Nationwide Pet Insurance is one of the available choices for consumers who want an extra layer of financial protection and peace of mind.
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What is Nationwide Pet Insurance?
Nationwide has been writing insurance policies for almost 100 years. The firm originally started as a subsidiary of the Ohio Farm Bureau as an insurer for farm vehicles. Nationwide was previously known as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.
Since the insurer’s early beginnings, the insurance provider has expanded to write various insurance policies, including pet insurance. The company’s pet insurance policies can offer financial safeguards when you need to get your pet treated.
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
How does Nationwide Pet Insurance work?
Nationwide Pet Insurance policies allow you to visit any licensed veterinarian in the United States. That way, you won’t have to worry if your favorite veterinarian is a part of the insurance company’s plan or not.
Nationwide offers policyholders the option to cancel at any time, risk-free. You will receive coverage for a pet’s accidents, illnesses, wellness coverage, and other events highlighted below.
For dogs and cats, the insurer has three age categories:
- Puppies and kittens: 0-1 years old
- Adult dogs and cats: 2-7 years old
- Older dog or cat: 8+ years old
Older pets incur higher premiums for their insurance policies due to the heightened risk for insurers. Puppies and kittens also have higher premiums since they can get into more accidents. Adult dogs and cats tend to have the lowest premiums.
How much does Nationwide Pet Insurance cost?
Nationwide Pet Insurance costs vary based on several factors, such as your pet’s age, breed, the amount of insurance coverage you want, pre-existing conditions, and your pet’s health history.
Pet insurance is more expensive for dogs than it is for cats. However, it’s relatively affordable for most pets.
I tried to get a quote to see what the insurance policies would look like for a 5-year-old female Shih Tzu with the 18098 area code with the deductible options. The monthly cost for a $250 annual deductible and a 70% reimbursement deductible is $7.74/mo.
The annual maximum coverage for this policy is $5,000. Getting a policy with an unlimited annual max increases your total premium to $7.98/mo.
The monthly premium for the $5,000 annual max jumps to $14.37 if the Shih Tzu is 15 years old.
Cats have lower pet insurance premiums. I used a 5-year-old American Shorthair to demonstrate this trend. An insurance policy for this cat comes to $6.31 per month with a $5,000 annual max coverage.
The differences between premiums for the $5,000 limit and an unlimited plan are negligible ($6.31/mo vs. $6.49/mo). The premium for a 15-year-old American Shorthair jumps to $12.67/mo for the $5,000 max coverage.
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
Nationwide Pet Insurance features
Accident coverage
You can receive coverage for various accidents, including animal attacks, heatstroke, poisoning, broken bones, car accidents, and more.
Illness coverage
You can receive financial protection from costs involved with your pet’s illness. Ear infections, allergies, diabetes, cancer, and vomiting are some of the illnesses that are covered as a part of veterinary expenses.
Wellness
Any qualifying investments into your pet’s wellness plan will get partially reimbursed based on your policy. These expenses include annual physical exams, flea control, immunizations, health care, heartworm-related procedures, and others.
Always There Pet Care
You can use any veterinarian instead of wondering if your favorite provider is included in your policy. This gives owners more flexibility and allows them to pursue the closest and highest quality veterinarians.
Nationwide PetRXExpress
This feature allows policyholders to save money on pet medications.
Unlimited annual max coverage
Some plans have unlimited annual max coverage options. These plans only cost a few more dollars per year than the policies with a $5,000 annual maximum.
Annual policy review period
Pet owners can review their policies each year and make changes to their coverage and other parts of the policy. You aren’t locked into the current policy for the rest of your pet’s life. The policy may need an underwriting review for certain coverage or product upgrades.
Who is Nationwide Pet Insurance best for?
Pet owners who regularly go to veterinarians. The more often you visit the veterinarian with your pet, the more money you will save with a veterinary pet insurance policy. The return on this investment depends on how much veterinarian services you receive for your pet.
People who can keep up with the premium payments. This parameter is a requirement for any insurance policy. You must keep up with the insurance premiums, or else the policy will lapse. If you are nervous about how this policy will impact your monthly budget, you may want to wait for now. Picking up a side hustle can give you the extra funds to make premium payments and cover other expenses.
Pet owners who are nervous about covering an emergency expense. A lot can happen over the course of a few months. Your pet may require major medical attention or a veterinarian’s services for something else. If you aren’t sure how you could handle a surprise expense with out-of-pocket funds, an insurance policy can help.
Pet insurance policies have lower premiums than many policies. These insurance products also help you cover the unexpected. A pet insurance policy can financially protect you during an emergency so you can keep most of your funds for other expenses.
Who shouldn’t use Nationwide Pet Insurance?
Owners of pets with existing medical conditions. Most pet insurers, including Nationwide, will not cover pets that currently have medical conditions. However, Nationwide may be able to cover your pet if it has been cured of its pre-existing medical condition. Nationwide reviews each case to determine if your pet can be covered by a policy.
People who do not visit the veterinarian. Not everyone makes regular visits to the veterinarian. Some people prefer to keep the money and do a sufficient job of caring for their pets. However, this strategy can be risky, especially if your pet gets involved in an accident outside of your control.
Pros and cons
Pros
- You can select policies with unlimited coverage.
- Pet insurance premiums tend to be reasonable, especially when compared with other policies.
- Get coverage for accidents, illness, and wellness services.
- Reduce your veterinary bills.
- Use any vet in the country.
- Receive unlimited 24/7 virtual pet care with VetHelpline.
- Save money on pet medications with Nationwide PetRxExpress.
- The insurer has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is accredited.
Cons
- No coverage for pets with existing medical conditions.
- The premium is an extra expense that you may not need.
- You still have to pay a portion of each veterinary bill, which can impact your ROI from the policy.
- Nationwide has a 1.14 out of 5-star rating on Better Business Bureau from over 300 reviews. However, most insurance companies have bad ratings.
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
Nationwide vs. competitors
The best pet insurance policy can make it financially feasible to give your pet the care that it needs. Nationwide Pet Insurance is one available option, but you can also choose from other pet insurance companies.
Veterinarian Coverage | Coverage Limit | Coverage for existing medical conditions | |
Nationwide Pet Insurance | U.S. or abroad | $5,000 or unlimited, depending on the plan | No |
U.S. or Canada | Several choices that range from $2,500 to unlimited | No | |
ASPCA Pet Insurance | U.S. or Canada | Several choices that range from $3,000 to unlimited | No |
U.S. only | $5,000 to $100,000 | No |
Spot Pet Insurance
Spot Pet Insurance lets policyholders work with any veterinarian in America or Canada and covers up to 90% cash back on vet bills. The insurer also offers a 24/7 Pet Telehealth Helpline and several discount opportunities.
For instance, you can get a 10% discount on your premiums if you insure multiple pets with the insurer. You can choose policies that cover accidents only, preventative care, or accident & illness. This flexibility can help you save money on premiums by only getting the coverage that you seek.
Insurance policies are as low as $9/mo for cats and as low as $15/mo for dogs. Consumers can choose from policies with annual coverage limits and no annual coverage limits. You can also find plans with no per-incident caps or lifetime caps.
Like most insurers, Spot Pet Insurance does not offer policies for pets with existing conditions. However, the insurer will insure the pet if the illness or injury has been cured. Furthermore, the pet must not exhibit any symptoms for 180 days after the cure. Spot Pet Insurance does not cover injuries to knees or ligaments if the pet previously incurred an injury to that part of the body before the policy started.
ASPCA Pet Insurance
ASPCA has been helping animals since 1866. The company has a vast history and also has an insurance segment for pet owners who want extra protection for their furry friends.
ASPCA lets policyholders visit any licensed vet in the U.S. and Canada and offers a 10% multi-pet discount for each additional pet.
The company’s most expensive plan is its Complete Coverage Plan. This plan covers accidents, illnesses, dental diseases, hereditary conditions, behavioral issues, and alternative therapies. Accident-only coverage is an alternative plan that is more affordable but doesn’t have as much coverage. You can also add Preventative Care Coverage to your policy for additional financial security.
You can receive up to 90% cash back for your pet’s veterinarian bills. Annual coverage limits range from $5,000 to unlimited, depending on the plan that you choose.
Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade Pet Insurance is a new insurance company that has been around since 2015. The insurer offers a hassle-free digital experience that is powered by artificial intelligence. The company also offers faster claim payments than most of the competition.
Lemonade offers coverage for tests, procedures, medication, essential care, accidents, and other events. This insurance policy is better for U.S. residents since you can only use veterinarians in the United States.
Lemonade has quicker waiting periods. The insurance policy kicks in within two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and six months for ligament injuries. The waiting period for each of these protections is only one day if you also opt for the company’s preventative package.
Consumers can modify their policies within the first 14 days of receiving it. You can also adjust your policy during the annual renewal. If you request any changes, the underwriting team will review them and let you know if the new terms are approved.
FAQs
How much coverage should I get for my pet?
The amount of coverage you need depends on your budget. Not everyone can afford the higher premiums that come with more coverage. You should also consider how much you can afford to pay if your pet needs medical attention. A pet insurance policy can save you a lot of money or result in lost money. However, a good policy may help you feel reassured that you have help if something happens.
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance gives you extra financial protection in case something happens to your pet. Premiums are an extra monthly expense, but it may be better to add it to your budget than have to worry about paying the full price for your pet’s medical bills if necessary.
When is the best time to buy pet insurance?
Most insurers recommend that you enroll your pet in an insurance policy as soon as possible. While this decision results in the insurer making money right away, it also offers a safeguard. If an insured pet develops a medical condition, it will become very difficult to get a good pet insurance policy.
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
The bottom line
You never know when your pet may need medical attention. An accident can happen at any moment, but a pet insurance policy can minimize the financial impact.
You can get up to 90% cash back from your vet bills with most insurance policies. That type of financial blanket can help you focus on caring for your pet instead of worrying about getting into debt or needing a side hustle to make ends meet.
Nationwide Pet Insurance is one of the available options for pet owners. Exploring various insurance policies will help you decide which coverage and terms are right for your pet and finances.
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Writer
Marc Guberti is a business freelance writer who specializes in personal finance, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. His award-winning book "Content Marketing Secrets" teaches readers how to create, promote and optimize content for growth and revenue. Marc also hosts the "Breakthrough Success Podcast," where listeners learn how to master content marketing and get more clients.
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