Nationwide
Only Major Carrier Covering Birds and Exotic Pets
Nationwide is the oldest pet insurance carrier in the United States — its policies were originally sold under the name Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), founded in 1982 and rebranded after Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company acquired the business. Today Nationwide stands out for two reasons: it is one of the only major carriers willing to insure exotic pets like birds and reptiles, and it is underwritten by one of the largest insurance companies in the country. The flip side is that Nationwide's rate increases since the VPI portfolio migration have triggered widespread complaints, and its claim reimbursement model trails newer competitors on speed and policy flexibility.
Nationwide Pet Insurance Overview
Policies are issued by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and National Casualty Company in all other states — both subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. According to NAPHIA industry data, Nationwide is one of the largest pet insurance providers in North America by enrolled pets. Older policyholders may still see VPI branding on legacy paperwork; those plans were converted to Nationwide-branded policies after 2018, though some original VPI benefit-schedule plans remain in force on a closed-block basis. Nationwide also underwrites Petco-branded pet insurance sold through Petco retail locations.
Coverage Options and Plans
Nationwide currently sells three primary plan tiers for dogs and cats, plus a separate exotic-pet plan that covers birds, reptiles, and small mammals.
- Whole Pet — Comprehensive accident and illness coverage including hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions, with a 90% reimbursement rate after the annual deductible.
- Whole Pet with Wellness — Adds routine-care reimbursement for vaccines, dental cleanings, flea and tick prevention, and annual exams on top of full accident and illness coverage.
- Major Medical — A lower-cost alternative that uses a benefit schedule (capped reimbursements per condition) rather than percentage-of-cost coverage. Available in select states only.
- Avian and Exotic Pet — Coverage for birds, reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, and other small mammals. This is one of the few exotic-pet policies sold by a major U.S. insurer and represents a unique reason to choose Nationwide.
What's Covered
The Whole Pet plan covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions, chronic conditions, dental illness, behavioral therapy when prescribed by a licensed veterinarian, prescription medications, surgery, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic. Adding the Wellness rider extends coverage to vaccinations, annual exams, dental cleanings, flea and heartworm prevention, microchipping, and routine bloodwork, all subject to per-procedure annual limits.
What's Not Covered
Like all major pet insurers, Nationwide does not cover pre-existing conditions — any illness or injury diagnosed or showing symptoms before the policy effective date or during waiting periods. Other standard exclusions include cosmetic procedures (ear cropping, tail docking, declawing), breeding and pregnancy costs, organ transplants, experimental treatments, and bilateral conditions where the opposite side was previously affected. Standard waiting periods apply: 14 days for illness, 24 hours for accidents on the Whole Pet plan, and 12 months for cruciate ligament injuries — that cruciate waiting period is longer than several competitors and worth noting if you have a large-breed dog.
Sample Monthly Rates
Nationwide premiums vary by pet age, breed, ZIP code, plan type, deductible, and selected reimbursement rate. The illustrative monthly premiums below reflect typical Whole Pet quotes for a healthy pet in a mid-cost ZIP code; actual quotes may differ.
Nationwide vs. Top Competitors
Nationwide's biggest differentiator versus Spot Pet Insurance, Embrace Pet Insurance, ASPCA Pet Insurance, and Lemonade Pet Insurance is exotic-pet coverage and the financial backing of a multi-line national insurer. Where Nationwide loses ground is on premium predictability — the company has executed multiple double-digit rate increases since 2023 — and on policy flexibility. Embrace's diminishing Healthy Pet Deductible and Lemonade's instant claim payouts both outperform Nationwide on the customer experience side, even though Nationwide's coverage scope is comparable.
How to File a Claim
Nationwide uses a reimbursement model — pet owners pay the vet directly at the time of service, then submit an itemized invoice and medical records through the Nationwide mobile app, web portal, fax, or mail. Claims can be filed up to 90 days after the date of service. Reimbursements are typically processed within 30 days, although the company's published target is 30 days and many users on Trustpilot report longer cycles when supporting medical records are missing. There is no direct-pay or network-vet program — any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. is accepted, but cardholders should expect to front the cost of treatment.
Customer Reviews and Complaints
Trustpilot and BBB reviews paint a mixed picture. The most consistent complaints — and the source of much of the chatter that fuels the "what is going on with Nationwide pet insurance" search query — fall into three buckets: significant premium increases at policy renewal (some longtime VPI policyholders have reported 30-60% jumps), claim denials tied to pre-existing condition determinations, and slow turnaround on initial claims that require additional medical records. On the positive side, the underwriting strength of Nationwide Mutual makes solvency a non-issue, and customers with exotic pets routinely cite the breadth of covered species as a reason they tolerate the customer-service friction.
Is Nationwide Pet Insurance Worth It?
Nationwide is the right call for owners of exotic pets — birds, reptiles, ferrets, rabbits — because no other major carrier offers the same breadth of coverage. It is also a reasonable pick for owners of older dogs and cats who value the financial stability of a large multi-line insurer. Skip Nationwide if you are buying a first policy for a young dog or cat: Embrace, Spot, and Lemonade all offer comparable accident-and-illness coverage at lower starting premiums and with more transparent claims processes. Pet owners who want to compare all pet insurance plans side by side should benchmark Nationwide quotes against at least two competitors before enrolling — the rate gap can be material at every age tier.