Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hi everyone, welcome to Nationwide Pet Insurance. Now some of you might know that I have a chihuahua named Ralphie who was hit by a car about six or so months ago. That was terrible because not only was he in a ton of pain and injured, he also needed surgery, medication, and lots of follow-up visits to the vet, and all that cost more than I even want to think about.
At the time he wasn’t insured; we just adopted him, and I was a new pet owner, so I didn’t know much about how much it costs when your pets get sick or injured. But after that nasty financial shock, I’d call it, I realized that Nationwide Pet Insurance was a good idea, and I started comparing the options available out there.
Now my kids have a guinea pig, and they wanted to know if he was getting insured as well. Now don’t tell them, but I never really intended to insure the guinea pig; all he does is sit in his cage all day. And if he goes, we could probably just switch him out without them realizing it.
But because they asked just out of curiosity, I looked around for a company that insures other pets besides cats and dogs. And that’s how I found Nationwide Pet Insurance.
About Nationwide Pet Insurance
which is one of the only American pet insurers that covers a wider range of what Nationwide Pet Insurance call exotic pets, like snakes, goats, birds, lizards, and sometimes even mice. Nationwide Pet Insurance also cover cats and dogs, which are the pets most people insure, and they’ve been in the business for a very long time. So in this blog, I’ll be looking into what Nationwide Pet Insurance do, how it works,
I’ll also be looking into how much it costs to use them and how Nationwide compares to their competition. And by the way, like always, I found a discounted link, so if at any point you decide to use Nationwide Pet Insurance, you will get a bit of help if you use the link you won’t get by going straight to their website.
Nationwide Pet Insurance History
Now the first thing I always look into when I’m researching a company is a bit about their history and background. Nationwide Pet Insurance is a veteran in the insurance industry; they opened for business almost a hundred years ago as a small mutual auto insurer, and they were the first to cover pets in America. But now, according to their website, they process 3 million pet insurance claims per year, and aside from California, where there is a different underwriter, the National Casualty Company underwrites all their policies.
And as one of America’s biggest pet insurers, Nationwide Pet Insurance has three plans to cover accidents and injuries. Two of these pay out a percentage of your vet bills, and the third offers a set amount per condition or procedure regardless of how much you spend.
Nationwide Pet Insurance also have plans to encourage pet wellness, and they offer customized insurance for all kinds of animals, which they call exotic pets. and except for ones that are dangerous, endangered, or illegal to have as pets.
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Plans, Pricing, and Features
Now let’s look at their pricing plans and some of their special features.
Nationwide Pet Insurance offers separate coverage for accidents like broken bones or poisoning; illnesses like allergies, cancer, arthritis, and ear infections; and preventative care like vaccines, tick and flea treatments, and regular checkups. So in terms of dogs and cats, the price varies depending on your pet and the state you live in.
Once you tell them where you live, the breed of your pet, its age, and about any pre-existing conditions, you can choose a plan that fits your pet and your budget. You have the choice of accident and illness care with the option to add a wellness package for most plans. But your quote and options will mostly depend on what kind of pet you have and how old it is.
Before we get into the specifics, I’ll give you a general idea.
For dogs, plans start as low as 16 bucks a month, but the most popular plan costs about 47 bucks. When it comes to cats, the most popular plan comes in at around 22 bucks a month, but they do start at around five bucks a month. If you insure more than one pet, there’s an automatic 5% discount for the second one.
Modular Pet Insurance Plan
The most comprehensive coverage you can get is with a modular pet insurance plan, which is only for cats and dogs between the ages of 8 weeks and 8 years. Here you’re covered for illnesses and accidents, and you can choose a reimbursement rate of between 50% and up to 90% and set your maximum annual benefit from $5,000 up to unlimited. And you also get up to 250 bucks worth of deductible expenses every year.
Your dog or cat is covered for accidents. behavioral issues chemotherapy, chronic illnesses, and some hereditary conditions dental work, lab diagnostics, prescription medication, surgeries, and vet exams. Now, as you’d expect, they do exclude pre-existing conditions and things like boarding and grooming. And pricing starts at about 16 bucks per month, but that’s the lowest cost possible, and it really depends on what kind of pet you end up insuring.
Real Example with Ralphie
Ralphie, with 70% of eligible vet expenses reimbursed, has 250 bucks worth of annual deductibles in unlimited annual claims for accidents and illnesses. The monthly fee I was quoted was around $63; of that, $14 was for accidents.
And under this plan, if Ralphie had another broken leg, the vet bills would probably be somewhere around $2,300. But I wouldn’t be paying anything more than around $700.
Additional Plans and Options
Now you have to have accident coverage, but illness coverage is optional, and that came to around $48 with the option of adding congenital and hereditary diseases for another 10 bucks a month.
You also get the option of adding a wellness plan with set amounts reimbursed for preventative procedures like tasks, flea control, and vaccinations that keep your pet in good condition. To get wellness coverage worth 450 bucks a year, you pay 16 bucks a month, and for 800 bucks a year, you’d pay 32 bucks a month.
Then there’s the major medical plan for cats and dogs that are younger than 9 years old. It includes accidents and illnesses with the option to add wellness, but it pays out differently with annual amounts predefined for each condition or situation. And that amount is what you get no matter how much you spend.
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Pet Protection and Exotic Pets
Major Medical Insurance and Wellness Coverage
Major medical insurance and wellness, as well as accident and illness coverage, start at 43 bucks a month without wellness procedures included. The lowest amount you can pay is 25 bucks. Both options include $250 in deductibles. And this plan, unlike all others, excludes pre-existing conditions. This is the best for pets that don’t have hereditary congenital conditions, as it only covers a few of those.
Best Policy for Pets with Hereditary Conditions
If your pet is born with a condition or is expected to develop problems, say you have a dog that’s a breed known to develop hip dysplasia, then the policy to choose is the one called whole pet. because this plan includes coverage for accidents and illnesses plus many more hereditary and congenital conditions.
Whole Pet Plan Details
Although it includes more conditions than the major medical plan, you don’t have the option of adding a wellness plan. Yearly benefits are set at $10,000, and it starts at 34 bucks a month with a reimbursement rate of 50%. And for a rate of 70%, you can expect to pay a minimum of 46 bucks a month. And my pet protection is a plan that applies to dogs and cats but is also available for birds, reptiles, and other pets.
Employer-Based Pet Protection Plan
This plan is only available through registered employers, so it’s worth checking if your company is listed. Because pricing starts at five bucks that’s deducted directly from your paycheck for exotic animals with 50% reimbursement and $7 per paycheck for dogs and cats, also with a 50% reimbursement.
Exotic Pet Insurance Options
To insure an exotic pet directly, you have to contact Nationwide Pet Insurance toll-free number to arrange a policy. But I can tell you that these plans start at around 9 bucks per month, and their most popular exotic pet plan costs around 20 bucks a month. All policyholders can submit claims from their phones, and you have access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline. Plus, all Nationwide members have access to a service called Pet Rx Express, which gives you discounted prices for prescription medications at all Sam’s Clubs and Walmart Pharmacies across the country.
Free Look Period and Refund Policy
Also, if your state has a free look period, you have the right to examine a policy, and if for some reason you decide to cancel it, provided you’re within the time limit, you can get your money back. but only if you haven’t already made a claim.
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Competitors
So how does Nationwide Pet Insurance compare to others in the pet insurance game? Well, like I write earlier, it’s the first insurer to cover pets in America, so you know it isn’t a fly-by-night company. And I saw mostly good reviews on Trustpilot, where Nationwide Pet Insurance scored four out of five stars, which is pretty good from Trustpilot.
Trupanion vs. Nationwide
The other two companies I looked at were Trupanion and Healthy Paws. So let’s see how they stack up in a quick comparison. Trupanion has a single plan with unlimited coverage and a 90% reimbursement rate, while Nationwide Pet Insurance offers a variety of options to choose from. Nationwide Pet Insurance has an annual deductible policy. Trupanion offers lifetime deductibles per condition in most states, and this could save you money if your pet has a chronic illness.
But Nationwide Pet Insurance includes alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic treatments in its whole pet plan, whereas you have to pay extra for those at Trupanion. And Trupanion doesn’t extend coverage to all the preventative treatments you find in Nationwide’s Wellness plans.
Healthy Paws vs. Nationwide
So another option is Healthy Paws. They also have a single plan without any annual or lifetime limits, but Healthy Paws doesn’t give you a range of plans to choose from or the ability to add wellness coverage to your policy. Healthy Paws says that they process claims in two business days, which is much faster than Nationwide, which generally takes five and sometimes up to 30 days to process.
What Nationwide Pet Insurance Covers That Others Don’t
Now both Nationwide Pet Insurance and its whole pet plan and Healthy Paws include hereditary or congenital conditions, prescription medications, and alternative treatments. But Healthy Paws excludes some dental care, behavioral therapies, and prescription diets, which Nationwide does include. So for wellness and pets that need special food or specific diets, you’re probably better off with Nationwide.
Why Nationwide Stands Out
And what I think really sets Nationwide apart is that they offer affordable pet insurance through employers and that they provide coverage for more exotic pets. So if I wanted to, I could insure my kid’s guinea pig. But he’s a healthy little guy who never really leaves his cage, so I won’t be doing that. But it is nice to know that there’s someone out there to cover all the unusual quote unquote pets and their health needs.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation for Nationwide Pet Insurance
What are the pros and cons of using Nationwide Pet Insurance? To start with, they’re a reputable company with a long history in pet insurance. From all my research, it seems like they deliver exactly what they say they do. Yes, some pre-existing conditions are not covered, but there’s a lot of information about exclusions on their website. So you just need to get properly informed before you sign up.
Keep Your Pets Healthy Beyond Insurance
While choosing the right pet insurance, like Nationwide, Trupanion, or Healthy Paws, is important, it’s just one piece of your pet’s health journey. Supporting your pet’s daily wellness with the right care at home matters too.
If you’re looking to keep your pets healthier and happier naturally, check out our latest post on the best over-the-counter medicines for pets. It’s a practical guide that helps you understand safe, effective options you can use alongside your pet insurance to handle minor health issues confidently at home.
