{"id":335695,"date":"2025-11-07T20:34:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T01:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?page_id=335695"},"modified":"2025-11-07T20:34:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T01:34:18","slug":"nationwide-pet-insurance-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/pet\/nationwide-pet-insurance-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationwide Pet Insurance Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

Nationwide Pet Insurance<\/a> has offered pet coverage since 1982<\/a> and has policies in force across all 50 states. In mid-2024, Nationwide paused new pet-insurance enrollments and later announced a non-renewal program affecting roughly 100,000 pet policies due to rising veterinary costs (Reuters<\/a>; Bloomberg<\/a>). Financially, Nationwide remains strong: AM Best affirms core Nationwide companies at A+ (Superior) with a Long\u2011Term ICR of \u2018aa\u2011\u2019 and a Stable outlook, and assesses balance\u2011sheet strength as \u201cstrongest\u201d (AM Best<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nationwide\u2019s portfolio has long included wellness coverage (routine exams, vaccines, dental cleanings, parasite prevention). These predictable costs differ from accident-and-illness risks, and ongoing veterinary-services inflation is shaping premiums and availability. The U.S. Consumer Price Index shows elevated price increases for veterinary services (BLS<\/a>). While Nationwide isn\u2019t quoting new policies during the sales pause, current market context from independent sources indicates average monthly accident-and-illness premiums around the mid-$50s for dogs and low-$30s for cats (NAPHIA<\/a>; Forbes Advisor<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you have a bird or exotic pet<\/a>, Nationwide remains a standout because it is widely cited as the only major U.S. insurer offering avian\/exotic-pet insurance at national scale (Forbes Advisor<\/a>; USA TODAY Blueprint<\/a>). Note that the 2024 sales pause may also limit new exotic enrollments; verify current status on Nationwide\u2019s page or with an agent (Bloomberg<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/th>Cons<\/th><\/tr>
  • Avian & exotic pet coverage available (unique among major U.S. insurers)<\/li>
  • Well-established insurance provider<\/li>
  • AM Best A+ (Superior) financial strength; Long\u2011Term ICR \u2018aa\u2011\u2019; Outlook Stable<\/li><\/td>
  • New enrollments paused; Nationwide announced ~100,000 pet-policy non\u2011renewals in 2024<\/li>
  • Benefit structures vary by plan (benefit schedule vs. percentage reimbursement)<\/li>
  • Recent sentiment pressured amid 2024 actions; see BBB\/Trustpilot\/ConsumerAffairs and the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Pet Insurance Study<\/a><\/li><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

    The Pet Insurance Factors We Analyzed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Pricing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    New Nationwide quotes and enrollments are paused (Reuters<\/a>), but premiums for existing policyholders still vary by pet age\/breed\/ZIP and plan type. Nationwide has historically offered several plan families you may still see as a renewing customer: legacy plan types<\/a> like Whole Pet (with wellness included), Major Medical (benefit schedule), and a more customizable \u201cModular\u201d option introduced after 2020 (configurable annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement levels), as summarized by independent reviewers (Forbes Advisor<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Structure matters for price: Whole Pet historically uses percentage reimbursement (often up to about 90%), Major Medical pays via a benefit schedule, and Modular plans let you select combinations of annual limit (e.g., $5k, $10k, or unlimited in some states), deductible (commonly ~$100\u2013$1,000), and reimbursement (about 50%\u201390%) (Forbes Advisor<\/a>). During the current sales pause, use the What\u2019s Covered<\/a> tool to review per\u2011condition allowances or reimbursement details by plan. For market context (not Nationwide quotes), industry data show average accident\u2011and\u2011illness premiums around the mid\u2011$50s for dogs and low\u2011$30s for cats, with notable variation by pet and location (NAPHIA<\/a>), and inflation in vet services continues to pressure renewals (BLS CPI<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Customer experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Online quoting for new Nationwide policies is paused, and online quotes for birds\/exotics have historically required a call. For claims, Nationwide supports 24\/7 reporting and status tracking via web, mobile app, and phone (Nationwide Claims Center<\/a>). Some pet policyholders have previously submitted claims through the VitusVet veterinary records app<\/a>. Nationwide does not publish a standard \u201caverage claim processing time\u201d; turnaround depends on claim type, documentation, and plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Current satisfaction signals should be interpreted in light of 2024 portfolio actions. Independent benchmarks like the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Pet Insurance Study<\/a> emphasize that price and claims communication are major drivers industry\u2011wide. For brand\u2011specific indicators, consult Nationwide\u2019s profiles on the Better Business Bureau (BBB)<\/a>, Trustpilot<\/a>, and ConsumerAffairs<\/a>, which display rolling star averages, review volumes, and complaint counts; these metrics saw heightened activity following the mid\u20112024 non\u2011renewal announcements (Bloomberg<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coverage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Nationwide\u2019s portfolio for existing customers includes Pet Wellness (routine\/preventive), Major Medical (accident & illness via a benefit schedule), Whole Pet (accident & illness plus wellness in one plan), and a Modular plan (configurable annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement) as summarized in independent reviews (Forbes Advisor<\/a>). The What\u2019s Covered<\/a> tool shows plan-by-plan allowances for common conditions and services. For non\u2011dog\/cat species, Nationwide also offers a separate avian\/exotic program (Nationwide<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Preventive\/wellness benefits can smooth out routine expenses but differ from the core purpose of insurance (unexpected accident\/illness). The AVMA<\/a> advises reviewing policy forms carefully for covered services, exclusions (e.g., preexisting conditions), and add\u2011ons like exam\u2011fee or prescription coverage to decide whether a wellness rider adds value for your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Waiting periods and orthopedic\/ligament rules vary by plan and state. Independent reviews note that illness\/accident waiting periods and longer waits for cruciate\/orthopedic conditions may apply on some Nationwide forms; verify your specific effective dates and exclusions in the policy packet (Forbes Advisor<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

    Nationwide Pet Insurance Overview: Financial Strength, Availability, and History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Nationwide Pet Insurance is underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company<\/a> in California and by National Casualty Company<\/a> in all other states. AM Best affirms Nationwide\u2019s core companies at A+ (Superior) with a Long\u2011Term ICR of \u2018aa\u2011\u2019 and a Stable outlook, and describes balance\u2011sheet strength as \u201cstrongest\u201d (AM Best<\/a>). Nationwide has been offering insurance since 1925 and began offering pet insurance in 1982. Given the company\u2019s strong ratings and long operating history, financial stability is a relative strength, though availability has been constrained by the 2024 sales pause and non\u2011renewals (Reuters<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n