Nationwide Pet Insurance Review & Complaints: Pet Insurance (2024)

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Now operating under the Nationwide banner, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) is the oldest U.S.-based pet insurance company. They offer a variety of plans including wellness and insure pets beyond the usual cats and dogs.

As one of the biggest and best insurance companies in the country, Nationwide offers a wide array of coverage options. This Nationwide Pet Insurance review will cover everything you need to know, including how Nationwide pet insurance monthly premium options stack up and how to get Nationwide pet insurance quotes on premiums.

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What is Nationwide pet insurance?

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) was founded in 1980 with the cooperation of 750 veterinarians, creating the first pet health insurance plan to originate in the United States. Their first client was a famous animal– TV’s Lassie – and that cemented them in California. By 1985, the pet insurance provider had expanded across the country.

In 1998 the company introduced their wellness plan to cover things like annual vaccinations and dental care, again a first in the U.S. In 2000 they expanded from just cats and dogs to add coverage for rabbits, birds, reptiles, and exotic pets.

Nationwide Insurance purchased the company in 2008, but they did not officially change over to using that name until 2015 when the VPI name was retired. The company covers over a million pets in the U.S.

Nationwide’s product offerings are far more varied than those seen at other companies, with a range of accident and illness plans as well as wellness plans. They also cover far more types of animals than most pet insurance policy companies.

What products are offered?

Nationwide coverage includes both accident and illness with their Major Medical plan, a wellness plan called Pet Wellness, or a joint plan called Whole Pet. They also have an Avian and Exotic Pet plan that covers a long list of pets outside of cats and dogs, and a few other specific plans.

What is the major medical plan?

Nationwide’s accident and illness plan covers a wide range of conditions and can be purchased for cats and dogs.

What is Covered

The plan has broad coverage, and it includes many of the common services we have seen with other plans, including some things others do not automatically cover.

• Exams
• Diagnostic tests
• Surgery
• Hospitalization
• Prescription medications
• Chronic conditions
• Some hereditary conditions (with restrictions and some waiting periods)

Cruciate ligament injuries are covered, but with a 12-month waiting period. This plan does not cover some hereditary conditions at all, and others with specific waiting periods. Also excluded are:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Congenital abnormalities and developmental disorders
• Routine care
• Special Diets

Benefits

The Major Medical plan operates on a benefit schedule system rather than a percentage of the cost. That means there is a set amount that the plan will pay for any given service, and there is no additional coverage beyond that amount.

This plan also has a deductible, but it has no annual maximum limit.

What is the pet wellness plan?

This plan is a routine and preventative care plan that covers regular veterinary costs. This plan can be purchased independently of an accident and illness plan, which is relatively unusual in pet insurance.

What is Covered

The wellness plan pays for the regular care of a dog or cat, including:

• Vaccinations
• Flea and heartworm treatment
• Regular wellness tests and treatments

Benefits

This plan again operates on a benefit schedule. There are two levels of coverage; the first has a $400 annual maximum and the second a $500 annual maximum.

There are set limits for each covered service, and they are not covered beyond that amount even if you have not met your annual maximum.

What is the whole pet plan?

Whole Pet with Wellness is a combined major medical and routine care plan that provides far broader coverage than the Major Medical alone.

What is Covered

This plan covers an entire spectrum of veterinary costs, including all the items listed for both individual plans above. In addition, it expands hereditary conditions coverage and removes the waiting periods. It also adds coverage for things like:

• Special diet pet food
• Dental cleaning
• Nutritional supplements
• Spay or neuter
• Skin allergies

The main exclusion on this policy is pre-existing conditions. The Whole Pet plan will not pay for grooming or any non-medical charges, and behavioral training is also excluded.

Benefits

Unlike the other two plans, this plan operates on a percentage basis, paying the entire covered portion of your vet bill at 90%.

The plan has a $100 deductible that must be paid before coverage kicks in. There is no annual maximum.

Is there an avian and exotic pet plan?

This pet insurance coverage, covers a wide range of animals, from birds and lizards to hamsters and gerbils, to even goats. While most pet insurance covers just cats and dogs, the vast majority of pets can get covered under this plan. This plan cannot be purchased online.

This plan covers accident and illness; this includes exams, diagnostic tests, and most of the same items covered under the Major Medical plan.

We were unable to find details as to how benefits are handled on this plan.

What other plans are offered?

Nationwide has several other plans aside from the big ones; these include a cat-specific plan, and also plans for cats and dogs with per-incident deductibles and other options.

There are also accident-only and illness-only plans that can be purchased; Nationwide recommends calling for information on these plans.

Pricing for accident and illness plans depends on the annual coverage limit you choose, the deductible, the type of pet you have, the breed, and your pet’s age.

Are the rates affordable?

We ran a quote for a one-year-old mixed breed dog in California and received rates for all three of the main options.

The basic Wellness plan came out to $17.75 a month with a $400 annual maximum.

The Major Medical plan was quoted with a $250 deductible and came back at $33.22 a month.

Finally, the Whole Pet plan was quoted with a $100 deductible at a rate of $57.66 a month. Not only is the Whole Pet Plan the clear winner in terms of value with Nationwide, but it is also one of the best values we have seen anywhere for a plan that includes very comprehensive coverage and includes routine care. Many companies charge around that same amount for the accident and illness coverage alone, without wellness coverage.

We then ran the same quotes for a one-year-old cat. The rates returned for the same coverage were $11.40 a month for wellness alone, $17.90 a month for major medical alone, and $31.06 a month for Whole Pet.

Again, Whole Pet is the clear winner in terms of value.

A look at the sample claims on the Nationwide website shows Whole Pet to be the better option for accident and illness coverage, with the percentage system covering a lot more than the scheduled benefit’s system.

Any pet insurance cover provides a service that’s not measured as a dollar amount giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won’t be facing expensive vet bills all on your own.

The cost of veterinary care can add up very quickly, especially as your dog ages or if he/she has a chronic illness.

Nationwide does offer a 5% discount for insuring multiple pets.

How do I enroll my pet?

Nationwide accepts pets under 10 years of age for new enrollment, and the main plans can be purchased directly on the website by creating a login. This is the youngest age limit we have seen from any insurer and may be part of the reason they can keep rates lower.

All other plans can be purchased by calling the toll-free number.

The website does not indicate whether a medical exam is needed prior to enrollment. It is likely that they will request medical records at some point, however, to determine what conditions might be pre-existing. Many companies do this at the time of the first claim.

Nationwide Pet Insurance Claims Process

Ease of Filing a Claim

Nationwide Pet Insurance offers multiple ways to file a claim, including online and through their mobile app. While you cannot submit a claim on their website, their app is designed to accept claims and provide access to policy information.

Average Claim Processing Time

The average claim processing time with Nationwide Pet Insurance can vary depending on the nature of the claim and the supporting documentation provided. It is advisable to contact Nationwide for specific information on claim processing times.

Customer Feedback on Claim Resolutions and Payouts

Customer feedback on claim resolutions and payouts can be mixed, with some policyholders reporting positive experiences, while others express concerns about denied claims, especially for pre-existing conditions. It’s important to thoroughly review your policy and understand the coverage limitations to avoid potential issues.

Nationwide Pet Insurance Digital and Technological Features

Mobile App Features and Functionality

Nationwide Pet Insurance offers a mobile app that allows policyholders to manage their accounts, file claims, and access policy information on the go. The app’s features include claim submission, tracking, and policy management.

Online Account Management Capabilities

Policyholders can manage their Nationwide Pet Insurance accounts online through the company’s website. This includes updating personal information, reviewing policy details, and accessing important documents.

Digital Tools and Resources

Nationwide Pet Insurance provides digital tools and resources to help pet owners make informed decisions about their coverage. These may include educational resources, FAQs, and online calculators to estimate premiums and coverage options.

Are the reviews and ratings positive?

While the old VPI Better Business Bureau (BBB) page is still up, it no longer handles complaints about the company since the official name change. The Nationwide BBB page has an A+ rating, with 342 complaints in the past three years. This page does not have much in terms of direct bearing on the pet insurance branch of the company since those complaints include all of Nationwide’s business across the country. That means auto insurance, home insurance, and other complaints are mixed in, and as a massive company, we would expect to see higher numbers in that area.

Consumer Affairs does have reviews that center specifically on pet insurance. There are 265 reviews, with 55 in the past year. Of those 55, 49 are one-star ratings. A look through the complaints shows a lot of claim denials for pre-existing conditions, where the policyholder felt this was not accurate. This type of claim is always difficult to judge without all the information from both sides.

There are 485 reviews of Nationwide Pet Insurance on Yelp. Once again, we see many complaints of denied claims. The overall rating is two stars, and the vast majority of reviews are one star. Mixed among the negative reviews are highly positive reviews citing an excellent experience and fast claims payment.

Nationwide has an impressively low NAIC complaint index, meaning that its customers were less likely to complain about service than customers of an average insurer of the same size. Nationwide also has an A+ AM Best financial strength rating, indicating it is on strong financial footing.

J.D. Power scored Nationwide with an above-average rating for overall claims satisfaction.

While the number of complaints looks high at first glance, Nationwide Pet Insurance insures over a million pets – that makes the actual complaint volume relatively low.

What’s the bottom line?

Nationwide Pet Insurance offers a very comprehensive package policy at a reasonable price, with the rare opportunity to combine accident and illness insurance with wellness coverage. As with all such policies, it is important to read all the fine print of the policy and have a clear understanding of what constitutes a pre-existing condition. With a long history, good products, and good pricing, Nationwide Pet Insurance looks to be a good choice.

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