What Should Pet Parents Know About Nationwide Pet Insurance?

General Forum
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I’ve been with Nationwide Pet Insurance since 2012 for my dog Tara, a 13.5-year-old border collie, covering her under their Major Medical and CareGuard plans. Recently, when she was diagnosed with arthritis, I thought, “Great, I’m covered!” But then I discovered there’s a $700 cap on her arthritis treatment, and I just spent $1,400 on one vet visit. After paying over $15,000 in premiums, I’m stunned by this limit. I’m working on resolving it, but I wanted to warn other pet parents especially those with older pets to review their policies carefully. Has anyone else faced similar issues or managed to get these caps increased?

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I’m really sorry to hear about Tara and that surprise vet bill. :pensive: It sounds like a tough situation!

I used to work in human health insurance and have done a lot of research on pet insurance. Nationwide’s policy details can be incredibly confusing. It seems their Major Medical plan uses an outdated benefits schedule with caps per diagnosis, which is pretty frustrating. Other insurers have moved away from this model, but Nationwide still sticks with it.

Unfortunately, it might be hard to get those caps raised since the contract likely spells out their limits. It’s definitely worth advising others to avoid the Major Medical plan given the current vet costs. :disappointed:

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I hear you. I had Nationwide for years until the premiums got too high, but they did cover 90% of my bill. My advice? Always read the policy thoroughly and ask questions before signing up. You might not have much luck getting the cap increased unless there’s an error on Nationwide’s part. :thinking:

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Nationwide does have a lot of market presence, partly due to their employee benefit plans. However, I find their plans hard to navigate and often don’t recommend them. There’s not much consumer protection in the pet insurance industry, which is a shame. :confused:

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Totally agree. I switched to MetLife when my employer started partnering with them in January, and I’m much happier with the service. :+1:

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Glad to hear MetLife has been better for you! Nationwide seems to cause a lot of frustration for many people. :sweat:

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I had Nationwide for 6 months, and it was just a hassle. :persevere:

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I’m dealing with similar issues right now. I end up resubmitting almost every claim. They keep telling me I’ve hit limits on medical conditions, which isn’t true since I track it. If resubmitting with notes doesn’t work, I plan to file a claim with the insurance department and possibly accuse them of fraud. :exploding_head:

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Thanks for the insights. It’s frustrating, but I’ll try to see what can be done. I also read that Nationwide canceled some policies recently, which is upsetting since those with pre-existing conditions are left with fewer options. :cry: