Nationwide | Pet Insurance Review

We couldn't be happier with the coverage we have for both of our adopted mutts. We debated if pet insurance was worth it. I discussed it with my husband last fall when it was offered at my work. We decided to give it a go. Within the first 5 months of the year, we had already met our deductible for each dog due to heart worm and flea/tick meds. Now, when we have vet visits, the insurance covers 90%. So far, so good.

I love the Vet Helpline, it has been very helpful to me during a very difficult time with my pets. (primarily one of my cats). Overall, there are things about VPI Pet Insurance (I still call you this, not Nationwide) that I love. I can go to any vet, anywhere in the world and submit a claim at any time. These are the things that keep me here. What I am finding difficult is the sudden surge in cost after my pets turned 10 - even though they have been at VPI since they were 10 weeks old and I have a number of pets. The second, is it seems that I am getting less reimbursement for claims - for example, medication is not included but when my cat is over 10 years old, he actually does need regular medication. With the surge in cost, I'm now not so sure VPI is as good as it seems to be when my animals are really sick.

My only two issues with the insurance is the length of time it takes to be reimbursed and the fact it doesn’t cover hereditary issues.

As with any insurance, you buy it with the hope that you won't have any reason to use it. Unfortunately, my kitty Mika became very sick, and was eventually diagnosed with a chronic condition. This took tests, x-rays, ultrasounds and eventually a endoscopic biopsy with overnight hospitalization. It was such a comfort to know that I had the insurance, so I could just focus on getting Mika well. Nationwide was very helpful in processing my claim, and gave me significant coverage for all the diagnostic testing and her care. I am happy to say she is a happy, healthy kitty today. She continues to have chronic IBD, and Nationwide helps out each year with the cost of the monitoring related to this condition. They also provided great coverage when she needed an unexpected dental surgery. The few times I've had to call customer service, they've always been friendly and helpful, and seem concerned and caring about my pet. They've been very fair and reasonable with coverage. I have recommended this insurance to many of my friends with pets. My cat is very special to me, and it provides a lot of peace of mind for me to know that I have the insurance if I should ever need it again.

Nationwide has great pet insurance coverage options. As a first time dog owner, I recommend you act early to get coverage. Nationwide is pricey but my little pet is worth the cost and I'm happy I made the commitment. My only issue is processing. The processing time is very slow (more than 30-days for a claim payment), the website is not really user friendly and you really have to 'figure out the details' in order to get direct deposit for refunds. Over all Nationwide rates a high 8 in my books! Pet Insurance Review is right on regarding the claims processing. If you pick the right policy you'll get the right coverage ... do your own research and ask your vet if they have any recommendations for coverage based on your pet's breed. Having coverage provides real peace of mind! Remember, your fur baby is family.