Nationwide Pet Insurance

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

I am looking for opinions concerning the integrity of Nationwide Pet Insurance ONLY. My husband's employer is going to start offering this, and we have to make a decision about it in October. Currently, we set aside $200 a month in a savings account to pay for all vet trips, shots, meds, surgeries, etc. our two dogs need (9 and 6 years old respectively). So far, that has worked for us, but I do know that any kind of a serious/major surgery could possibly cost thousands and thousands of dollars. I've read a few reviews online, and so far, it doesn't seem like that great of a company but am interested in hearing other opinions. I am wanting to know if claims are honored and paid promptly. Many of the online reviews I read said that they deny claims left and right claiming that almost everything is a pre-existing condition. TIA!

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

@Ainhisg It would depend on what the insurance costs and what if covers. You are spending #200 a month now ....would any of the services that you are paying for be covered under the insurance. You wouldn't be able to make a decision regarding purchasing the insurance without that information.

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

Had pet insurance once - company cancelled policy when dog became a "Senior". Put extra $ in a sock for emergencies.

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@Ainhisg It would depend on what the insurance costs and what if covers. You are spending #200 a month now ....would any of the services that you are paying for be covered under the insurance. You wouldn't be able to make a decision regarding purchasing the insurance without that information.

Thank you for your response. We aren't spending $200 a month. We set aside in a savings account $200 per month so that we have money put back to pay for all vet care/meds/etc. when it occurs. I will edit my post to reflect that I am wanting to know about the integrity of the company...if claims are honored and paid promptly. Many of the online reviews I read said that they deny claims left and right claiming that almost everything is a pre-existing condition.

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

@Ainhisg Oh no.....sounds as if you are better off with your savings account. I hope you receive response from posters that might have direct experience with the company. However, if you are reading lots of negative reviews and coverage is questionable, I'd be hesitant to purchase.

Stevie Nix · ‎03-09-2010

I carried Nationwide insurance on my dog for about a year. They would not cover urine tests because my dog had previously been diagnosed with kidney issues. They did pay for vet visits and annual shots. I was paying about $80 a month for my 8 year old dog. I never recouped that in paid claims. When renewal time came they increased the premium about $30 a month, so I cancelled. I do not recommend them.

PS - Very slow in responding to claims and would deny if they didn't like how you filled out the form, causing further delays.

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

That's what I thought @phoenixbrd . Thank you!

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

@Stevie Nix , okay...that's exactly the theme of many reviews I read online. Of course, I realize that most people don't take the time to leave reviews if everything is good, but I found the same complaints over and over...just what you said...wording had to be exact, they claimed everything was a pre-existing condition, etc. Thank you! We will check it over when more information becomes available on it, but my husband and I are of the opinion that we will most likely pass.

Foxxee · ‎10-03-2014

Is your husband's employer going to pay for the premiums throughout the dog's life or is it offering reduced premiums? What does this policy cover? If you decided to take it, make sure it covers cancer and what is the percentage refund.

I used Nationwide for 16 years until my dog died two years ago, mainly because it was the only insurance plan available at the time under the name of VPI. It was sold to Nationwide. Nationwide has been a reputable company in business for many years. They paid all of my claims within a month and stuck with me until my dog's death...even paying for her cremation. But, I had one serious complaint, the reason I no longer use it.

I had a premium policy with cancer coverage. But, it only paid $5,000 of my $12,000 expense for cancer treatment. I called the company before I decided to get the treatment. I was given a runaround, saying each procedure during the treatment was a separate cost. They would not give me a list of all their itemized payout for the type of cancer she had.

Besides the low payout, I was so annoyed because they only paid for the radiation treatment $300 when an immune injection was given at the same time. But paid for the immune injection $500 if it was given separately. I questioned that, but all you hear it's their policy. I would have been paid for both $800 had I scheduled them on different days. Very deceptive.

Up until that time I was happy with this company. My dog also had hypothyroidism and kidney disease in her older years of which they paid about 80%.

It is the largest pet insurer. I'm using a different one now, but only for 2 years. My dogs haven't had anything serious, so I can't recommend it because I don't know if it's good or not.

You have a 9 y/o dog who will begin showing aging issues. If you have been saving $200 a month since a pup, that might be the way to go considering the cost of premiums, but either one of them getting cancer could wipe out your savings. It's a tough decision, but cancer is increasing in dogs.

My premium started out low, but was paying $105 a month the last two years of her life. Premiums began to rise at age 7.

Things might have changed at Nationwide since then staying competitive. There are some pet insurers that pay out 90%.

1Snickers · ‎03-19-2016

I have Nationwide on my 5 year old dog but cancelled it on my 15 year old. I wouldn’t do any major surgeries on him or cancer treatments at his age. The premiums go up very high with age.