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Did you know that Nationwide sells pet insurance and its first customer was Lassie? We don’t know about you, but we think it’s pretty cool that Lassie’s pet parents loved her enough to get pet insurance. This first sale by Nationwide (formerly known as VPI) quickly grew into multiple sales throughout California and now the rest of the United States.
While researching Nationwide pet insurance, we found ourselves a little overwhelmed. (To learn how top-ranked pet insurance carriers work, visit our pet insurance reviews.) It displays benefits differently than other companies. For example, it lists specific illnesses that are or aren’t covered, which can be good if your dog’s breed is prone to a particular disease. After digging a little deeper, we unraveled the complexities to help you learn about this product.
Article Overview
Nationwide Pet Insurance
Pros
- Track claims in real-time online and submit them through your smartphone
- Unlimited claims for Major Medical and Whole Pet with Wellness plans
- One of the only pet health insurance companies to offer exotic pet insurance
- BBB rating: A+
Cons
- Wellness plans are not available in all states
- High number of complaints overall (finding negative reviews is not difficult)
- 12 month waiting period for CCL (ACL) surgery
- 14-day waiting period for Whole Pet with Wellness and Major Medical plans. 24-hour waiting period for Pet Wellness plan
- Nationwide BBB page has an alert about fraudulent checks
- Major Medical Plan has annual limits per condition
- $2 transaction fee for those who pay monthly
- Does not cover your pet if they travel outside the U.S. with you
Key Features
Get Free Pet Insurance Quotes
- Underwriter: Nationwide Casualty Company (Outside CA), Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA only)
- A.M. Best rating: A+ (both companies)
- No exam period
- No bilateral exclusions (a condition or disease that affects both sides of the body)
- Pays claims within 30-days after receipt of all documents (averages 5-15 days)
- Must submit claims within 90-days of treatment
- Submit your claim via fax, mail, email or the VitusVet mobile app (see below)
Pre-Existing Conditions
Defined by Nationwide as:
Any condition that began or was contracted, manifested, or incurred up to twelve months before the effective date of this policy or during any waiting period, whether or not the condition was discovered, diagnosed, or treated. A chronic condition is a pre-existing condition unless it began after the effective date of this policy.
Customer Service Hours
- Phone, email and live chat: 24/7
Waiting Periods
- 14 days: Whole Pet with Wellness and Major Medical plans
- 24 hours: Pet Wellness plan
- 12 months: Cruciate ligament events
What Are My Plan Options?
Nationwide has three different plan options:
- Whole Pet with Wellness
- Major Medical with Wellness
- Major Medical
The Whole Pet with Wellness plan is similar to other pet insurance companies in that it reimburses a percentage of what you paid the vet for treatment.
On the other hand, the Major Medical plans differ significantly from the competition because they use a benefit schedule for any given condition or treatment that outlines the maximum amount that you can ever expect as reimbursement, regardless of how much your vet charges you.
Benefit Schedule vs Usual Pet Insurance Repayment
Nationwide uses a benefit schedule to outline the maximum coverage amount that a pet parent should expect to be paid per incident when they make a claim. Visit the website to see an example of Nationwide’s benefit schedule for pet insurance.
This is different from other pet insurance companies where the claim repayment calculation is based on your vet’s receipt, and thus, the amount you actually paid your vet vs a figure reflected in the benefits schedule that may not cover what you paid.
What Does Nationwide Cover?
Nationwide doesn’t simply list what is and isn’t covered the same way other pet insurance companies do. Instead, it’s extremely specific with what’s included in your coverage. Below are some pages we suggest you read carefully since there could be exclusions.
Is Hip Dysplasia Covered?
Nationwide covers hip dysplasia after a 14-day waiting period, but it has the following exclusions.
Certain bone or joint conditions associated with (1) hip dysplasia, or any luxation or subluxation associated with hip dysplasia, (2) elbow dysplasia, (3) patellar luxation or subluxation, (4) osteochondritis dissecans, or (5) any fracture, luxation, or subluxation associated with aseptic necrosis of a femoral head, but we do provide limited additional coverage for specified ineligible conditions
Pricing Quotes
The cost of each policy is unique to your pet and depends on many variables, including your pet’s age, breed, location, health conditions and more. You can go directly to Nationwide’s site to get a better estimate of what your specific price would be. The sample quotes below are from December 2019.
| Breed | Labrador Retriever | English Cocker Spaniel | German Shepherd | Yorkshire Terrier | Mixed Breed Cat (Medium Hair) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 2 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Location | Iowa (50125) | Illinois (60604) | California (90001) | New York (10001) | Ohio (44101) |
| Whole Pet with Wellness (90% reimbursement, $250 deductible, unlimited annual benefit) | $85.45 | $221.16 | $111.86 | $139.01 | $36.98 |
| Major Medical with Wellness ($250 deductible, limited benefits per condition) | $46.82 | $113.74 | $66.32 | $92.37 | $31.03 |
| Major Medical ($250 deductible, limited benefits per condition) | $28.82 | $95.74 | $48.32 | $74.37 | $13.03 |
You can get personalized price quotes for your pet(s) from reputable companies when you fill out just 1 short form. Also visit our pet insurance quotes page to see how the cost of Nationwide stacks up against the competition.
Coupon Code
Customer Reviews
Positive Reviews
Nationwide is like any provider and if you read the fine print and the coverage for your pet you will be well informed as to what they do or do not cover. Then you will not be disappointed in your reimbursement. Butter has been cared for due to my policy and expect as dogs get older the policy may go up as care increases. In about 8 years my policy went for $54 to $94 per month. It was worth every penny from eye surgery to back issues to general wellness care. Yes I have to pay up front but grateful for the claims explanations and refunds on my top of the line plan. I recommend filing claims on line rather than faxing as once my claim was lost even though I had a received receipt from fax machine. I would not be without my insurance. Butter throives today thanks to their help. – Terry P., Yelp 11/25/2019
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 simply a precaution against a worst-case scenario. Unfortunately, the scenario came to fruition when my Shadow had to be rushed into surgery for a blockage in his small intestine. He was hospitalized for 3 nights and needed around the clock IV fluids. This was an expensive emergency! While I had to pay the 5k upfront, once I submitted my receipts for reimbursement the processing, approval, and payout time took place within a week. This is why I bought the insurance, for emergencies and I’m glad I did! It saved my wallet, my credit, and most importantly, my Shadowcat’s life! Thanks Nationwide!!! – Jolina, Consumer Affairs 5/22/2019
Negative Reviews
HUUUUUGE SCAM. OBAMACARE FOR PETS! Making claims is practically useless and when we wanted to hear the recordings of what THEY told us and to confirm, they told us we had to subpoena the recordings. Seriously don’t waste your money, it’s better not to have insurance at least you don’t get angry all the time. Switching to another insurance which is only 10 bucks more expensive per month with a $100 deductible instead of 250 and covers 90% on everything except vaccines FOR LIFE. They’re “true companions” (hint hint) when it comes to covering your pets and a real insurance company. We moved here from France and got scammed big time. – Sarah S., Yelp 11/8/2019
I pay to Nationwide over 150 monthly for the Whole Pet with Wellness with 90% reimbursement. My dog thank God is in a good health and once twice a year I take him to his vet for a normal check up like blood work or teeth cleaning BUT NATIONWIDE FIND ANY NONSENSE EXCUSE TO NOT REIMBURSE. THEY ARE GOOD ON JUST TAKING YOUR MONEY! – May, Consumer Affairs 12/8/2019
Need Exotic Pet Insurance?
Nationwide also offers pet insurance for exotic pets, including birds, rabbits, reptiles, rodents and more. The plan covers accidents and illnesses in addition to exams, lab fees, x-rays, hospitalization, prescriptions and more. This is the only pet insurance company we review that offers exotic pet insurance.
Nationwide’s exotic pet insurance plans have per-incident benefit schedules, similar to its dog insurance policy. Exotic plans average $9 per month, but the price can vary based on your pet and their needs. Common claims submitted for exotic pets include feather issues and skin/shell disorders.
Why Do I Need Pet Insurance?
Check out our video explaining why we think it would be wise to get pet insurance for your furry companion.
How Do We Rate Nationwide Pet Insurance?
From what we’ve uncovered, we feel that Nationwide strong-arms you into purchasing the Whole Pet with Wellness plan because it’s the only package that offers both prevention and illness coverage.
The lower packages are reasonably priced for the amount of coverage you get, but we’re not sure they cover enough to justify having pet insurance at all. And the price for the Whole Pet with Wellness plan is pretty high. We think there are better options available. To learn about your other choices, take a look at our pet insurance comparison.
Are you considering getting pet insurance from Nationwide?
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HATED Nationwide’s coverage policy! My dog ate some poisonous mushrooms (false morels) that grew in my yard from wood chips spread the previous year. Their limit for plant poisoning was a measly $700, so I ended up paying $2,310. I knew they had limits on coverage, but since there is no way of knowing what these limits are until you file the claim, I assumed Nationwide was fair. But $700 is nothing for a poisoning when you have to take a dog to emergency, and then receive treatment. Had I gone with Healthy Paws or Trupanion, there would not have been any limit. I will NEVER recommend Nationwide to anyone.
I am reading all the negative reviews but have to admit that I have had no problems. I insured Ike after paying over $5000 for a TPLO after he blew his CCL in his left knee. I have to py for anything involving that leg as well as allergies that are prexisting. But they are paying 90 % on everything else including Nexguard and Heart guard; a couple of minor accidents;his immunizations and office visits etc. I did receive a large increase in payment when due but since my major goal is to protect in case he needs major surgery in the future, its an e pense I am willing to take.
Scam scam I paid $130 for the antibiotic of my dog and Nationwide insurance paid $0.04 cents
I pay $70 monthly
This is a scam!!
Nationwide pet insurance is the worst pet insurance provider I’ve had experience with. I went with Nationwide pet insurance as this was offered by my employer and cheaper than what I was paying for Healthy Paws. Changing pet insurance was a huge mistake as Nationwide has done everything they can to avoid paying my dog’s emergency claim. I’ve made numerous phone calls trying to get movement on my claim processing over the past month and every time I call there is another excuse why the claim is not being processed. I will be voicing my issues to our president & CEO as this was a poor choice of insurance providers.
Biggest scam in the world avoid them at all cost!
I purchased insurance through Nationwide when I got my dog at 13 weeks old. I was told that when I had the plan for a year I could upgrade to Whole Pet with Wellness. I tried to do so today and was denied because my dog has allergies. Seriously– denied because he has allergies. I wanted to upgrade the plan to get a higher coverage for potential joint issues, since he is a large dog. Ridiculous policy. I’m looking for a different plan.
DO NOT USE NATIONWIDE KNOWN AS PETINSURANCE.COM
I have been insured through Nationwide since 2011 for one pet, and since 2013 for my second pet. I have been paying around $750 since 2011 until 2013, and then $1500 since 2013. I purchased the most comprehensive insurance since I got both of my dogs at 12 weeks old.
The company was originally known as VPI Pet Insurance, but sometime during my time it changed or was bought by Nationwide.
Last year, I was notified that my automatic payment did not go through, due to a change in my debit card details / expiry date.
I went into their portal to update my card, and when I hit submit (on both policies) it deducted the remaining payments for the year.
I rang their customer service hotline, and was told there was nothing Nationwide would do. I did not want $1,600 coming out of my bank when both policies were up for renewal. I was told that I would be posted a renewal notification and can revert back to monthly payments then.
This year, I got a notification from my vet that my dogs were due vaccinations. This prompted me to go online to check my policies. I was surprised to learn that one of my dog’s policies had lapsed.
I called Nationwide, and they created a new policy, even though I offered to backdate the couple of months monthly premiums.
Within a few weeks, my dog fractured his leg. I submitted my claim and the claim was denied.
They said there was a 12-month waiting period for new policies, something that was not discussed with me at the time of renewal. The fact I had been a loyal customer since 2011 mattered for nothing. I would never have renewed this policy had I known it would be another 12 months effectively paying premiums without coverage.
My advice is that you shop around. Since leaving Nationwide (petinsurance.com) I discovered that there are better and cheaper pet insurance companies, that offer immediate insurance starting straight away.
I tried using Nationwide Pet Insurance and have been very disappointed in their service and coverage. Submitted 6 claims for two dogs totaling over $5,000 and was only reimbursed $30! I contacted them to request they review the claims which turned into a back and forth between myself, my veterinarian and Nationwide. For over two months every time I would contact them they would say they needed all medical records, or had attempted to contact my veterinarian and that my vet’s office hadn’t returned their calls. I contacted my vet’s office, signed the medical release forms and was even copied on the emails to Nationwide with all my dog’s medical records. Even after this, they said they still hadn’t received them, so I again sent over all the medical records. Their next stall tactic was to say that there was a 7 month gap where my dog hadn’t seen the vet! My dog was only one year old and didn’t have any serious medical issues so she wasn’t going to the vet on a weekly basis which I tried to explain. I finally reached my end when the representative spoke rudely to me during this call and talked to me like I was stupid or didn’t understand the issue. I was told I would have to create a letter explaining why there was a 7 month gap for my dog going to the vet, which I find completely unnecessary. All my other claims were denied due to me receiving a “discount”, being “congenital” or saying they needed more information/records. I even paid for the additional pet wellness for one of my dog’s based on it’s partial coverage of spay. Once I submitted, what did Nationwide say? Denied “we will not pay for diagnosis or treatment of any condition resulting from or associated with breeding or pregnancy, including spaying or neutering.” Isn’t this the point of spaying, to prevent breeding and pregnancy? This was a complete waste of money and time and seems they make every effort to find a reason not to pay out a claim. My medical insurance is easier to deal with. Even when I called to cancel, they half heartedly tried to convince me to keep the policy and I explained how I didn’t appreciate how the representative spoke with me yet they never apologized or tried to make things right. They only asked me to give it more time for them to process the final remaining claim! Why would I want to wait longer, only to be denied again? I felt they only wanted to stall so they could get more money from me to keep coverage while they figured out a reason to deny another claim. Don’t waste your time or money with this company.
I am dealing with the same crap from this company. I have sent in all info twice, the vet has and still dragging their feet. I asked them why didn’t they want all dog history when I signed up? they said it cause now I had a major claim (broken tail).
the people are on the phone are basically robots .
I have had Nationwide since my German Shepherd was 6 months old. She will be 3 in July. I have never had a problem with them. I have the complete wellness plan and it has given me peace of mind regarding my girl’s health. However, I just received word that my premiums are going up 52%!! That’s a lot. Not sure what we’re going to do.
I wish I could give a lower rating. I’ve been trying weeks and weeks and weeks for my dog to get insured by these people and a few days ago, she got lethargic and had to be taken to the vet and they found out she had IMPA. If Nationwide would’ve called me saying they needed more documents instead of me consistently calling to see if it went up, she would’ve been insured on the 1st of March. They’re making up documentation from my vet as well saying my dog had a certain problem in February when she never did. I’ve had to pay for multiple things because the insurance didn’t go through because they “didn’t have” the documentation. It’s taken weeks for them to figure this documentation thing out and now they said they can’t enroll her due to a “pre existing” condition which was a lie. It has been very frustrating and awful customer service. Nothing got resolved. No apologies or anything from them either. Would NEVER recommend.
I called before I signed up for a plan for my three pets to make sure that the plan I was signing up for covered wellness visits, vaccines and dental cleanings. I was told it did. I am a veterinary nurse and just found out I have paid over $700 for coverage of accidents and emergencies. It covers absolutely NONE of the preventative care I needed. They are a complete scam. I have an extremely ill family member and had explained I wanted to get all my pets wellness up to date before moving back to my country to care for my loved one. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO USE FOR EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT COVERAGE. Now they insist I never called and refuse to refund my money.
This is not insurance. It’s a fee for a service. Insurance by definition has a risk for the insurance company. They assume no risk in the plans they offer. They have a fee schedule that barely pays for anything.
Our dog was on the brink of death and was admitted to a veterinary clinic and thankfully survived. The bill was over $10,000 for all the care and life saving care he received from the incredible vets at at Blue Pearl in Waltham MA.
Nationwide/VPI offered a settlement of $1,700 per their fee schedule which is based on outpatient treatment. They hire such stupid people who can’t tell the difference between inpatient and outpatient.
So we’re going to court to fight them. You’ll see it all on Facebook and Twitter.
We are experiencing the same thing. There should be a class action lawsuit against this company! We are also contacting a lawyer.
PLEASE let me know if you have had success in the class action issue. Aside from all of my difficulty, I have seen so many of these crazy reviews about this useless company.
All of these positive reviews can’t be correct. I had Nationwide Pet insurance for 13 years origially through VPI. They paid almost nothing on major claims. When my dog eventually got cancer and needed emergency life saving surgery they covered 10% of the $8,000 cost. Their maximum for spleen cancer is $800. None of the future chemo treatments were covered due to the maximum. To add insult to injury they would send me reimbursment checks for 2 cents. I got this insurance so I wouldn’t have to factor cost into end of life decisions. This insurance is a scam. They increase rates and cover almost nothing. There is no feasible way this policy could ever be worth the money and worse you won’t know it until its too late.
I agree with the previous comments. We joined when VPI provided the coverage, and they did pretty well. When Nationwide took it over, we kept it going because it was endorsed by my employer. Premiums rose and payments dropped, but we kept it because of the promised of 90% accident/injury coverage. This year, the nightmare scenario happened – our 7 lb Yorkie was attacked by a pit bull mix, and needed surgery for a perforated abdominal wall. Thank God she came through – but a $4,000.00 vet bill was covered at $1500. The Nationwide rep explained that A) we should have been able to anticipate this from the payment schedule they provided (have YOU seen it?) and B) if we pay double the current premium (about $2,000 per year) we might actually get something approximating the coverage we were promised. Worthless and dishonest!
Don’t join. They cover nothing. Even at death they opt out. Not even euthinization which you would think would be a humane way to go but noooo they would rather let your pet bleed out than pay for it
Complete rip off. I have been paying into the policy for over 12 years. They have more than doubled the premiums but when he needed a life saving surgery they covered only 20%.
No point in having insurance if they don’t pay legitimate claims when you need it most
Nationwide pet insurance is a complete scam. Don’t waste your money, save it for the actual vet bills.
Nationwide pet insurance was offered through my employer so I bought the policy. My dogs were healthy but when one of them had gotten sick it was ridiculous to get reimbursed. My vets office faxed three claims with medical detailed information.
Nationwide continued to ask repeatedly for medical records which had been faxed three times by my veterinarian hospital. It went on for two months then I just decided to Cancel and they continue to deduct from my check . I called and asked why I was told because it’s a fee for canceling the plan early. This company does not care about animals just how much money they can get from clients. Don’t waste your money and time it’s not worth it.
I can’t find any evidence that they will cover a dog under their Whole Pet with Wellness plan. I have a cat under that plan and it is fantastic – she has zero pre-existing conditions because she started as a kitten. They reimburse 90% over my deductible and it’s great. But why can’t we pay for dogs to be covered the same way?? Their major medical + pet wellness plan for dogs is a JOKE with so many exclusions and so many ways to deny coverage (if your dog is diagnosed with, say, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, that is usually considered an INHERITED form of myopathy with is on their exclusion list!!). They also have a benefit schedule that’s ridiculous. NOT IMPRESSED with their coverage for dogs!!!
DO NOT FALL FOR PURCHASING THIS INSURANCE! I l had used their wellness policy for a couple of years and then upgraded my policy last year to the Whole Pet with Wellness so that I could rest assured that my fur baby was completely covered. I was sold on this policy my the mere fact that it included dental where other companies did not. Unfortunately I discovered that the dental coverage offering is just a big lie. Basically if you take you pup in for their first routine dental cleaning they are not going to cover it because if there is any tarter it is considered a pre-existing condition!!! I just spent $900 at the vet only to find out the hard way that none of it was covered!! My vet, who also had this insurance, was appalled because she said ALL dogs have tarter! Needless to say, I believe neither of us will be using this fraudulent insurance company any more!!! Don’t be fooled!
I finally cancelled our Nationwide pet insurance because it never covered anything. No matter what I put in for in the way of coverage, it was denied because one time – before I took out the policy our dog had an operation. What I found out over several years that no matter what our dog was operated on the claim was denied because in whatever way the company could come up with, it was somehow related to the pre-existing condition. That condition, folks, never goes away, and is used no matter the relationship to deny future claims. This is why obamacare got rid of pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies, especially Nationwide, use them to deny any future claims. Don’t waste your money buying a policy from Nationwide. Nationwide is bad for you!! I learned the hard way and hope I can save you from the same disappointment.
We are VERY pleased with Nationwide They have been paying very quickly on our claims. Their new electronic payments make it even faster – and no lost/misplaced checks. We have an older dog on an older policy so our reimbursements for her are based on a schedule but have generally been good and quite timely. She had a pre-existing condition but because she went a long time without a flare up they actually reimbursed us for her most recent treatment after we submitted her records to show the time span. We were very pleased. Our almost 2-year old cat is on the newer policy and they’ve paid well on it, also. Of course, she hasn’t needed very much so it SEEMS a bit expensive but since we’re in it for the long haul we expect it to pay off eventually. The only complaint we have is that prescription foods are not covered now. (We heard they did cover them at one time.) Nationwide was wonderful when our previous dog died after complications from Kennel Cough. (He’d been vaccinated against it but the Kennel Cough strain was bad that year). Their payments for the treatment and tests were good and, again, very timely. That same year we also lost our young cat due to several factors including renal disease and cardiovascular shock. These were all covered minus the deductible which was a great help and comfort. We also appreciated the notes of sympathy we received on their passings.
We paid for a superior dog plan with a cancer rider. For15 years we paid and every year. The premiums increased. Our beloved Westie became ill at the age of 13. At first it was thought his cough was due to bronchitis. Frisky had cancer! Nationwide was not on his side. Every time the Vet gave them additional information Nationwide requested more. Bottom line, we were not reimbursed as stated on the contract. Nationwide made thousands of dollars from us and did nothing to help out dog. Please be very careful before you enter into a contract with Nationwide Pet Insurance. Nationwide is only on their side! Watch out on social media for remembering Frisky!
Stephanie, we had the same exact problem with our pet. We got reimbursed practically no money. And for years we faithfully paid them a premium every month. So sorry to hear about your pet. Nationwide is heartless.
Very unsatisfied with the responses to submitted claims. Everything we submit request additional information or medical records. Everything is on a medical receipt and includes an itemized receipt. We have no “additional” medical information, as Hitchcock is a rescue dog that we adopted in October 2016. Each and every bit of medical records we have have been submitted.
We are seriously reavaluatig whether the cost of this insurance is worth the cost. They sell themselves to us, then all we get for our money are more requests for more information. Trust me, we do not hold back any information and if the expenses come from our vets office and are itemized, they are legit. My husband and I both work at major teaching institutions and you can trust that we have discussed this issue with many colleagues who agree that our experience has been very negative.
We have carried Nationwide Pet Insurance for several years. We are not happy with the constant review of each and every charges and the constant request for additional information. You do not feel as if a partner in the care of our family pet, but an adversary. Our claims are thorough and complete and all requests have been met with information, yet we are still barraged with additional requests.
Kelli.. I agree with you, as my experience is the same. Started with Nationwide Nov. 2016. Will give them two more weeks to honor my claims. If no results, it is wiser to self insure. I will end it with Nationwide.
Nationwide is a rip-off. Their premiums are high and they reimburse you practically no money. Please read all the fine print on their policies. They are very deceiving. Purchase your pet insurance with someone else.
I purchased pet insurance for our dog (AKC Registered Doberman with 4 blue ribbons) who is a pure breed and just about perfect dog. We purchased this insurance knowing in the future he may have hip or joint issues. Or heaven forbid he get into an accident or eat poison or whatever issues could arise. So we adopted our dog on 4/16/2016 from a reputable breeder and she shows all of her dogs. On 4/21 we bought the pet insurance and on 4/25 our account was debited the money. We had to attest that there were no per-existing conditions on our pup. We even sent every medical record from the previous owners vet. He was eating Fromm Dog Kibbles (really good food) and we continued with the Fromm brand, just changed the type of kibbles he was eating. On 4/26 he was getting a rash all over his body and was getting pustules on his hind legs. I called the vet and we got him in. The vet was not 100% sure if it was the food or environmental allergies. (We live in Central Florida and this year was a bad year for dog allergies supposedly.) So I knew our insurance would not cover this, but I thought it was important to have him looked at and I will just pay out of pocket. The vet said she was not 100% sure but there have been a lot of dogs coming in the last few weeks with allergies. So I told her I thought it may be the food since we changed it a week ago. She went ahead and started him on prednisone and an antibiotic. I left out of there paying $185.00 (got his physical since it was his first visit). No biggie, I did not send that in to the insurance as I knew he was not covered. His rash went away as we went to another food. Fast forward to July 2016, we noticed he had skin bumps starting on his belly and a growth (tumor) on his right side of his rib cage. The vet did some scrapping and found the bumps to be either allergies or bug bites (he is on flee and heart worm meds as well, that I did not send it to the insurance company). So they put him on another drug and said he will be fine in a few days. Come to find out the growth was a benign tumor and needed to be removed as he would not leave it alone and kept licking and scratching it. So we had it removed. I sent forward the paperwork with all of the vet notes, just to be told they will not pay as this is a PRE EXISTING condition. WHAT? So I called and escalated to a manager (Alesia) and she said since we took him in before the insurance policy date started, the diagnosis of “allergies” was documented and they will not pay for per-existing conditions. I attempted to argue the point that it was food allergies and they told me it was allergies, so all allergies fall under that. I was completely shocked. After being in medicine for 20 years, I had never heard of that garbage. So at the end of the day, we have shelled out $892.12 for vet bills (tumor removed and spayed as well) and have received only $72.39 in return. They will NOT reimburse us for the others. I know I can get legal representation and fight this and get it ALL back but will end up spending $5k to get $800 back is not logical. They are banking on this I am sure. I am going to post this on EVERY FORUM out there for others to be cautious of this rip off scam. DO NOT BUY PET INSURANCE FROM NATIONWIDE! You have been warned!
Stephen, this is a great review. People really need to know how Nationwide works. My poor dog needed surgery and I thought he was covered for $7,000 per year. Well, because I did not read all the fine print in their policy, it turns out the $7,000 has to be SPLIT BETWEEN 150 different illnesses. So for a surgery that cost $4,300, Nationwide will only reimburse me $155. YOU HAVE TO READ THE FINE PRINT IN NATIONWIDE’S POLICY. I was so blindsided by this. So paying a $60 per month premium for years got me absolutely nowhere. STAY AWAY FROM NATIONWIDE. The managers also told me (in other words) to go screw myself. So sad.
Terrible insurance Nationwide raised my dogs rates from $66 to $110 per month with no claims other than yearly visits. So in other words my three year old cocker spaniel didn’t even have anything wrong with her. I had heard from others they did this but didn’t cancel until they did it to me. NOW my dog is older and I cannot get other insurance with higher rates. Please people do yourself a favor and do NOT use Nationwide. I know what I am talking about too since I worked in the insurance industry for 24 years.