Nationwide
Nationwide's stated plan terms, checked November 1, 2026. Facts only: no rating, ranking, or price.
- Accident and illness
- Wellness add-on
- Employer group plans
- Dogs
- Cats
- Birds
- Exotic pets
- Birds and exotic pets covered
- Wellness add-on available
- Some plans employer-only
- Exam fees covered on standard plan
- Major Medical enrollment 9 and younger
- Cats 8 and older cannot add hereditary coverage
- Illness wait waiver with exam in 14 days
The stated facts
| Company and underwriter, as the company states it | Nationwide pet insurance (petinsurance.com). Its footer says products are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and National Casualty Company in all other states, both Columbus, Ohio subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. |
|---|---|
| Species covered | Dogs, Cats, Birds, Exotic pets |
| Plan types offered | Major Medical; Modular plan (accident, illness, and wellness modules); Employer plans such as My Pet Protection Choice; Avian and exotic pet plans; Add-on wellness |
| Accident waiting period, as stated | Nationwide's FAQ says most plans start 14 days after the application is approved and payment is received, and that group enrollments have their own effective dates. Its waiting period waiver form describes a way to waive the illness wait with an early exam. |
| Illness waiting period, as stated | Most plans start 14 days after approval and payment, per the FAQ. The waiver form says the illness wait may be waived if the pet has a full in-person vet exam within 14 days. |
| Orthopedic, cruciate, and other special waiting periods | Not published on the plan pages read. No sample policy was available on the forms page, so ask for the orthopedic and cruciate schedule for your specific plan in writing. |
| Eligibility, as the company states it | Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, and other exotic pets. On the all-products page, Major Medical is open to new dogs and cats 9 years and younger and at least six weeks old; the individual Modular plan needs pets at least 8 weeks old and limits new illness enrollment to dogs and cats 8 and younger; exotic pets must be at least 8 weeks old. |
| Deductible, reimbursement, and limit options, as stated | Varies by plan. The all-products page lists accident and illness options from 50 to 80 percent reimbursement with deductibles from $100 to $1,000, and annual maximums that include $5,000 on one plan and $2,500 to $10,000 on another. Some plans pay up to category maximums or set benefit allowances, which the FAQ says replenish at renewal. |
| Wellness or preventive option | Add-on wellness with defined annual benefits per condition, at a $450 or $800 maximum annual benefit for dogs and cats on the all-products page, and a $300 or $500 option on the exotic pet plans. The pages do not state in words whether it is insurance. |
| Pre-existing condition rule, as stated | The plan pages say pre-existing conditions are not covered and that certain coverages may be excluded due to them. The FAQ warns that an older dog enrolling in a medical plan for the first time may have items excluded as pre-existing. |
Several Nationwide plans, several age rules
Nationwide sells more than one product, and the age rules differ by plan. The all-products page says new enrollment in Major Medical, with or without wellness, is for dogs and cats 9 years and younger, with a six week minimum. The individual Modular plan has an 8 week minimum and only takes new illness enrollments for dogs and cats 8 and younger; for older pets, accident cover is the route on that plan.
So a nine year old Golden Retriever might still find illness cover on Major Medical but not on the Modular plan, and a ten year old would find neither. Ask which plan your quote is for before comparing its terms.
Hereditary coverage and older cats
Nationwide's FAQ answers the hereditary question in one line: cats 8 years and older are not eligible to enroll in hereditary coverage. That implies hereditary cover is a separate piece of at least some plans. For a Maine Coon or a Persian with breed-linked heart or kidney risks, enrolling before eight decides whether those conditions can be insured at all. Dog owners should ask whether their plan includes hereditary conditions or sells them separately.
Benefit schedules versus open limits
The FAQ explains that depending on the plan, an annual maximum may apply, and some plans pay only up to category maximums or pre-set allowances, all of which replenish at renewal. A plan that pays a fixed allowance for knee surgery behaves very differently from one that pays a percentage of the bill up to an annual cap. One employer plan example on the all-products page uses an annual limit per selected medical category.
For a breed with a likely big-ticket surgery, ask for the benefit schedule that would apply to that procedure, not just the annual figure.
Exam fees and the waiting period waiver
The dog insurance FAQ states that Nationwide covers exam fees as part of its standard plan. No sample policy was found to confirm the wording plan by plan.
On timing, most plans start 14 days after the application is approved and paid. Nationwide's waiver form says the illness waiting period may be waived when the pet has a full in-person exam by a licensed vet within 14 days. Book that appointment early and send the form with the exam notes.
Claims and where care can happen
The FAQ describes three steps: visit any licensed vet in the United States or anywhere else in the world, submit the claim online, and receive reimbursement under the policy terms. The pages read do not state a claim filing deadline; ask for it, and for whether any plan pays the vet directly.