Nationwide Pet Insurance

Published: 7/30/2021

Pet insurance can be a lifesaver when it comes to unexpected illnesses and accidents with your pets. But finding the right company can be challenging. Of the many pet insurance companies in America, Nationwide Pet Insurance is one of the most popular. We've covered the ins and outs of this company’s policies so you can make the right choice for your pet and your wallet. Keep reading for a thorough and unbiased review of Nationwide Pet Insurance.

The cost of Nationwide Pet Insurance depends on many factors, including the pet’s species, age, size, breed, and location, as well as the plan chosen, add-ons, and your reimbursement level.

For instance, a 5-year-old medium-sized mixed breed would have an annual deductible of $250 for the Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness, and the Whole Pet Plans. 

The monthly premium would be around $38 for the Major Medical plan without wellness coverage. For the Major Medical with wellness coverage, the monthly premium would go up to $56 a month. The monthly cost for the Whole Pet Plan, Nationwide’s most comprehensive pet insurance policy, would be $87 for 90% coverage, $69 for 70% coverage, and $52 for 50% coverage.

Related: How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

There are several ways to submit a claim to Nationwide Pet Insurance. The quickest way to submit a pet insurance claim is to log on to your Nationwide Pet Access Account with a computer or mobile device. Keep in mind that you’ll need to take pictures of the vet paperwork to submit the claim.

Make sure when taking the photo that you have adequate lighting and that the picture is clear. The entire paper should be within the camera frame. You’ll also need to provide a copy of the itemized invoice from the vet when submitting a claim.  

Nationwide also accepts claims via mail, email, and fax, though these methods are a little more involved. First, you’ll need to access and print off the claim form from your Nationwide Pet Access Account page. Next, you’ll have to fill out the form, referencing information from your vet print-out.

Instructions for submitting your claim using your preferred method:

Email:  submitmyclaim@petinsurance.com.

Fax: 714-989-5600

Mail:
Nationwide Claims Department
P. O. Box 2344
Brea, CA
92822-2344

Do be aware that Nationwide pet insurance only accepts PDF, DOC, JPG, TIFF, or BMP files under 10 megabytes. Nationwide also advises customers to remove their email signatures before submitting claims via email. 

It usually takes around a month for claims to process after Nationwide receives all the necessary information. Nationwide will contact you either by phone or email once the claim is in their system. You can also check claim status in your Pet Access Account.

Nationwide Pet Insurance will reimburse for qualifying services at any vet or emergency clinic, depending on the plan and coverage level. The company has 5 main plans: the Whole Pet Plan, My Pet Protection Plan, the Major Medical Plan, the Avian & Exotic Pet Plan, and the Pet Wellness Plan. The Pet Wellness Plan is available a la carte or as an add-on to another plan. 

The Major Medical with Wellness and the Whole Pet with Wellness are Nationwide’s most comprehensive pet insurance policies, reimbursing up to 90% of vet bills for qualifying services. Both of these plans cover accidents, illnesses, cancer, and access to their veterinary helpline.

The wellness add-on also covers preventative care like:

• flea and tick treatment
• vaccines
• bloodwork
• fecal testing
• dental cleanings
• urinalysis.
  

In addition, The Major Medical plan will reimburse for in-office exams, in-patient stays, testing, and prescriptions for qualifying conditions. 

The difference between the Major Medical and the Whole Pet Plan is the Whole Pet plan will cover most hereditary and congenital conditions, whereas the Major Medical plan only covers some. The Major Medical Plan will only cover a portion of some conditions, whereas the Whole Pet Plan will cover the full 90% (if that is your selected reimbursement percentage). 

As the name suggests, the Avian & Exotic Pet Plan will cover services rendered to exotic pet species like birds, reptiles, ferrets, and rabbits. This plan will reimburse for eligible services related to accidents, illnesses, and injuries like bone breaks, tumors, and infections.

Keep in mind, Nationwide Pet Insurance will not pay upfront but rather reimburses policyholders after the claim is processed. Nationwide Pet insurance will not cover pets over 10 years old. 

Applying for Nationwide Pet Insurance is quite simple. First, go to the Nationwide website and select “start your research." Then, you’ll be redirected to a page where you’ll enter information about your pet’s species, breed, age, and location.

From there, you’ll receive several quotes for the applicable plans. After selecting your plan, you’ll answer a few more questions about your pet, then proceed to the billing questions. After setting up your bill pay information, you’re set. 

Applying for the Avian & Exotic Plan is a little different and cannot be done online. To set up a plan for any species other than a cat or dog, you’ll need to call 1-800-874-0651.

Like most pet insurance carriers, Nationwide does have waiting periods for most illnesses and accidents, though the length of time can vary from plan to plan.

For instance, wellness benefits start the day after enrollment, but accident and illness coverage for the Whole Pet and Major Medical plans start after 2 weeks. The 2-week waiting period does have one exception for the Major Medical plan and that is for cruciate ligaments. The Major Medical Plan will only cover cruciate ligaments after 12 months of continuous coverage. The Whole Pet Plan, however, will cover cruciate ligaments after 14 days.

The rating for Nationwide Pet Insurance on Consumer Affairs is below average, and the reviews are mixed.

Positive reviews praise Nationwide Pet Insurance for having excellent customer service and reliably reimbursing for their pet’s medical services.

Negative reviews state that Nationwide would frequently deny claims and dismiss them as pre-existing conditions. It’s important to remember that each claim is dealt with individually and depends on the pet’s medical history.

Many things factor into whether or not a pet insurance plan is suitable for your pet. Income, pet health, coverage levels, and number of pets often play a role in deciding which plan is right for your situation.

Nationwide may be a good choice for pet parents who have multiple pets since the insurer offers a multi-pet discount. Nationwide is also a good candidate for families with exotic pets since they cover animals that most insurance plans do not. That being said, Nationwide may not be the right choice for pet parents of older dogs since the premiums tend to get higher with age.

Are you looking to compare pet health insurance plans? Check out our pet insurance comparison tool! Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like Nationwide.