Nationwide Dog Insurance Review

Shopping for dog insurance can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. It’s like other types of insurance. Plans cover different things, and you have to shop around to find one that includes your needs and fits into your budget. You can make the right decision with our help.


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Let’s take a look at Nationwide insurance, a company with an extensive reputation and lots of reach. It’s traditional insurance, and you may even have the option of choosing it as an employer benefit. Is it the right one for you? Let’s find out.

Brand Overview

Nationwide Pet Insurance is offered by the same group that offers other types of insurance. Nationwide has been around since 1925 and is one of the largest providers of insurance in the United States, not only of pet insurance but other types as well.

Nationwide is backed by a series of funders who ensure that your needs are met in a timely manner. The insurance company itself has an A+ rating from S&P, Moody’s, and AM Best. In addition, they’ve received an A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau.

Nationwide offers pet insurance plans through individuals and in some employer-benefit fashions as well. As you consider them for your pet’s needs, be sure to check with your HR department to find out if your employer offers pet insurance as an employment perk.

2023 Nationwide Pet Insurance Review

Nationwide is well known for insurance, but here’s how it all breaks down when it comes to your pet. It’s more traditional insurance, so it serves your dog or cat well in the event of an emergency or significant event.

Pros:

  • major medical coverage and wellness can be separate
  • percentage-based and fixed cost reimbursement
  • employer sponsored benefit compatible

Cons:

  • no coverage for pre-existing conditions
  • quote needed for real cost

What do customers like about Nationwide?

“Nationwide Pet Insurance was the perfect addition to my work benefits. Once I enrolled, I designated the premium to be automatically taken out of my paycheck. Because my cat was already up to date with all his health and dental needs prior to me purchasing the “Whole Pet with Wellness” plan, it was merely a precaution against a worst-case scenario.”Jolina (Consumer Affairs)

“We only did the basic plan since I was just getting the puppy, and it almost completely covered the first year costs for vaccinations, vet visits, and puppy services. Plus, if your vet works well with them, the office would send the claims to VPI for me, so I really didn’t have to do anything but accept the claim offer in my email.

I’ll definitely be upgrading it to the full coverage (including any surgery/medical services) next year.” MooseCadets (Reddit)

“So insurance allows us to smooth out and budget for our pet healthcare costs while also giving us the ability to afford major, major care when it is needed.”MDA Account (Reddit)

What do customers dislike about Nationwide?

“This has been one of the WORST companies to do insurance with. When it was VPI Pet Insurance, it covered so much more and since Nationwide, coverage sucks. I filed a claim for my new puppy, and they took forever to process it and then tried to list the illness as “pre-existing” even though it happened on the 3rd visit and not in the first visit.”Javier O (Consumer Advocate)

“I paid in for more than a year on my animals, and they never paid a penny. They will come back by saying that the illness or injury was pre existing. “Robin L. (Consumer Advocate)

How Does Nationwide Pet Insurance Work?

Nationwide is a standard insurance type where you pay a premium and receive reimbursement back for your dog or cat’s treatments. They offer catastrophic plans for if your pet has a significant emergency and wellness plans for preventative care.

Their most popular plan includes 90% reimbursement for many services and treatments, including preventative care. There are no age restrictions, and plans begin about 14 days after the first premium is received.

Beginning the insurance process as an individual starts with getting a quote. Once you speak to an agent either on the phone or online, you can choose the type of plan that you’d like to start your dog or cat on and receive the initial quote. The easiest way to obtain this is to fill out a short questionnaire on their site and provide answers about your dog or cat.

If you have employer-offered insurance, you can also sign up through the website, but you’ll choose the employer-sponsored plan. Again, you’ll get your recommendation and find out your costs as well as how to pay the premium.

Nationwide offers dog, cat, and exotic pet insurance that covers catastrophic events and has caps on the amount paid out per year. Major Medical plans handle those emergencies you worry about through a reimbursement system.

When you go to your veterinarian for emergencies or for major procedures, Nationwide offers a reimbursement plan that allows you to see whichever doctor you prefer without having to worry about whether that doctor will take pet insurance.

Your pet gets the care it needs, and you submit your claim for reimbursement. The claims process is relatively straightforward and usually quick to happen, provided you have all the right documentation.

Customers can also participate in the Wellness programs that allow preventative treatments to be covered as well.

There are two types of Wellness coverage:

  • Basic – offers a $400 yearly benefit and includes things like two physical exams ($25 per visit), deworming, vaccinations, microchip, and health services at a reduced cost.
  • Wellness Plus – offers a $500 yearly benefit and includes preventative care at a reduced cost with a larger cap than the Basic plan.

Exotic Pet Insurance plans cover a variety of animals that might come into your care. Some breeds include:

  • amphibians
  • chinchillas
  • goats
  • Guinea pigs
  • potbellied pits
  • snakes

Because Nationwide allows you to choose either Major Medical or Wellness or combine them into a comprehensive plan, it can help you save money by only purchasing plans that fit in with your lifestyle. Many insurance plans require that you have Major Medical to purchase a wellness plan, so this is an excellent benefit.

The reimbursement system for both plans is a little different. With Major medical, your reimbursement is capped at a certain amount based on the procedure. This makes it easier to shop around for services based on the cost at the chosen veterinarian.

The Wellness plans provide reimbursement at a percentage of the treatment cost. This accounts for different types of preventative services and gives you the chance to stay with the veterinarian you’ve already chosen.

Nationwide Pricing Details

You’ll need to get a quote to have any plans from Nationwide, so it’s difficult to be exact about the price. A lot of it will depend on your employer’s benefit option and what plan(s) you’re purchasing. Let’s take a look at some ways that it breaks down.

How much does it cost per month for their best plan?

It is difficult to tell because you must get a specific quote for your individual pet. Employer plans also depend on how your Employer has structured the details of your benefit. You can purchase major medical policies separate from Pet Wellness plans, and so all these things must be considered in your monthly premium.

The best option is to call Nationwide and discuss all the details before you make your decisions. Your Nationwide agent can help you build your plan and give you a quote for your monthly premium. Average premiums are around $70 per month for the comprehensive plan, but this could go up or down depending on your circumstances.

Are there any coupons, deals or incentives to sign up?

Nationwide sometimes works with your employer to offer a deal or incentive for signing up. Otherwise, there aren’t many deals in place for getting you to sign. Talk to your local branch for local incentives, however.

What’s the deductible? Is it annual or per visit?

Typical deductibles for many of the coverage plans are $100 per year. You’ll need to get a full quote based on your individual pet and needs before deciding officially.

Do you have to pay a co-pay, or are claims covered 100%?

Co-pays are 10% of your cost and are payable immediately for most plans. Double check the details with your agent for the most up to date deductibles and co-pays.

Will the rates go up over time?

Rates shouldn’t go up but may change depending on the health and age of your pet. When you call to get your specific quote, your Nationwide agent will fill you in on the details and get you your estimated monthly premium.

Nationwide Coverage Details

Here’s what you need to know about typical Nationwide Wellness plans. You can choose either Major Medical or Wellness, or combine them into a single plan for comprehensive coverage. This allows you to tailor your coverage to your pet’s unique circumstances and your own budgetary needs.

Does it cover regular vet office visits and routine check-ups or only unexpected emergencies?

When you purchase primary medical coverage, only emergencies and catastrophic events are covered. If you decide to get the Wellness option, your preventative care options are also included. Combining the two could be the best option if you know you’ll need coverage for these preventative care visits.

Does it cover dental and teeth cleaning?

Basic dental cleaning isn’t covered, but catastrophic dental surgeries and difficulties are part of the major medical plan. You’ll need to speak with an agent for pre-existing conditions with dental issues.

Does it cover hip dysplasia?

Major medical covers a variety of hereditary conditions, including hip dysplasia, eye disorders, and blood disorders. As long as your pet isn’t already diagnosed with one of these conditions, you’re covered should your pet develop them. Check with your plan’s details to find out precisely what is included and what isn’t.

Does it cover spaying and neutering?

Wellness covers standard procedures, including spaying and neutering. It’s essential to handle these things for your pet, and Nationwide can help ensure that it happens without throwing your finances for a loop.

Does it cover pre-existing conditions?

Nationwide doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. If your pet has a condition that could be cured completely, Nationwide might consider covering your pet again if there has been no sign of the disease for a certain period of time.

To get that kind of coverage, you’ll have to have your veterinarian sign off on a check-up that the disease is curable and that your pet has been free of symptoms for a certain waiting period.

Does it cover cancer?

It does cover a new cancer diagnosis, but not if your pet already has a pre-existing condition. Once your pet has a clean bill of health to begin the insurance plan, the plan will cover any new diagnoses.

Does it cover prescription medications?

Whole pet and major medical will cover a portion of prescriptions. The basic wellness option doesn’t cover prescriptions. Double check with your agent to make sure that prescriptions are covered and which ones are on the list.

What else does it cover?

It will cover quite a long list of things that could happen with your pet. Both emergency and standard procedures are covered with a combination of major medical and wellness plus.

Some of the many services also covered are:

  • poisonings
  • sprain
  • diabetes
  • acupuncture
  • laser therapy
  • ultrasounds
  • CT Scans
  • allergies
  • arthritis

What else does it NOT cover?

Really the only thing a comprehensive Wellness Plus Major Medical package wouldn’t cover is a pre-existing condition. Everything else is eligible for reimbursements up to a certain amount per year.

Are there any restrictions on breed-specific conditions or age?

There are no restrictions for age or breed, but your pet will be ineligible for coverage with pre-existing conditions.

Is there a waiting period? How soon can I start using the insurance after I sign up?

You’ll need to receive a quote from your agent whether you’re working with your employer’s plan or an individual one. After 14 days, your premium begins to kick into effect with whichever option you’ve chosen.

Is it easy to cancel if I change my mind?

If you decide to cancel, it’s not complicated. It’s a lot like canceling your personal insurance. You’ll still be on the hook for any fees already accrued, but it should be pretty simple to get it done. Once you cancel your plan, any issues or procedures that happen will not be eligible for coverage, and you won’t be able to get back on a plan for a certain period of time.

How does Nationwide compare to other pet insurance companies?

Nationwide is slightly more expensive than some insurance options out there, but overall it covers a comparable amount of services and procedures while remaining within the budgets of most users. It offers both wellness and emergency insurance, which is a nice benefit, and you can use your own veterinarian.

Would you recommend this pet insurance company for dogs?

You can use a veterinarian that you trust because Nationwide uses a reimbursement system. It’s a good option if you don’t have funds lying around to pay for a catastrophe or if you have a subsidized plan through your insurance broker.

What about coverage for other animals?

Nationwide offers a wide range of plans for different animals, including more exotic pets. If you’ve been denied in the past for your pet, Nationwide most likely has a policy that can consider your exotic pet’s unique needs. Contact an agent today to find the right plan for your needs.

Do they offer coverage for cats?

Nationwide has an extensive insurance plan for handling the needs of cats. They operate like the plans for dogs with the option to purchase only Major Medical or Wellness or combining the two into a single plan for better results. It can be tough to choose an insurance plan for your cat, and there are a lot of factors to consider, but Nationwide’s plans are comprehensive for cats as well.

Do they offer coverage for horses, birds, reptiles, and other exotic animals?

Yes, their services extend to include a wide range of exotic and alternative animals besides dogs and cats. Nationwide is one of the largest insurance providers in the nation, and their pet plans reflect that expertise. When you call to begin your policy, whether individual or employer-provided, they can outline what your options are.

Nationwide provides a traditional style of insurance to cover your pet’s emergency needs and procedures that can be difficult to cover out of pocket. Their reimbursement strategy allows you to use the veterinarian of your choice.

Combining wellness and Major Medical gives you comprehensive coverage for your best pal and ensures that your pet’s health and wellbeing are always in consideration.

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