A Vet's Guide To Pet Insurance
Nationwide Pet Insurance
Comparison Fact Sheet (Birds and Exotic Pets)Updated 2/3/2023
To get the most from these sheets, please read the Guide to Pet Insurance first.
| Company Info | |
| Company Name | Nationwide |
| Also Known As / Affiliates / Partners | Formally Known As: VPI or Veterinary Pet Insurance |
| Address | P.O. Box 2344 Brea, CA 92822-2344 |
| Phone | 1-888-899-4874 |
| Website | www.petinsurance.com |
| Plan Name(s) | Avian and Exotic Pet Plan * |
| States Covered | All 50 states, including DC |
| Underwriter and AM Best Financial Strength Rating | Insurance underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance
Company (in California) and National Casualty Company (in all other
states) Veterinary Pet Insurance Company has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A+" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 2/3/2023. National Casualty Company has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A+" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 2/3/2023. For the most recent ratings go to: AM Best |
| Year Company Started | VPI was started in 1982. Nationwide acquired VPI in 2015. |
| Policy Basics | |
| Policy Term | Not Clear |
| Effective Date | The Effective Date will be listed on the Declarations Page of your policy after you apply and are accepted. |
| Enrollment Age | Not Clear |
| Cancellation Policy | Ask for a current copy of their insurance policy so that you may review their cancellation policy. |
| Waiting Period | Not Clear |
| Waiting Period for Cruciate Injury | |
| Coverage When Travel Out of State or Country? | Not Clear |
| Can the Price of the Policy Increase as my Pet Ages? | Yes, the policy premium can increase as your
pet ages. The premium may also increase due to inflation or other reasons.
Contact the company for more information on when and by how much your premium may increase. |
| Does Coverage Stop Due to Age? | No |
| What Happens when the Policy Renews? | Coverage for chronic conditions in subsequent years is available up to the benefit allowance
for the diagnosis/treatment as long as you have not gone over the maximum annual and per incident payout limits. Benefit schedule
allowances are reset every policy year. |
| Can the Price of the Policy Increase if a Claim is Filed? | No |
| Choice of Vet? | Not Clear |
| Money Back Guarantee? | Not Clear |
| Surcharge for Visiting a Specialist or Emergency Clinic? | No |
| Referral needed to Visit a Specialist? | No |
| Pre-certification Required? | No |
| Additional Requirements | **See actual policy or call Nationwide for a complete list of the requirements you are expected to adhere to in order to maintain coverage. |
| Pet Insurance Policy Available for Pre-Purchase Review? | Sample policy available online |
| What's Covered | |
| Species Covered | Select Birds and Exotic Pets |
| Accident/Injury - Baseline Coverage |
Covers diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medication.
It is not clear if exams are covered. |
| Illness - Baseline Coverage |
Covers diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medication.
It is not clear if exams are covered. |
| Behavioral Therapy Coverage | Behavioral problems not listed in the Benefit Schedule are not covered. |
| Alternative Therapy Coverage | Not Clear |
| Pre-existing Conditions Policy |
Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
"...Injury or illness contracted, manifested or incurred prior to the policy effective date, unless such injury or illness has been cured and there has not been a reoccurrence or manifestation of the injury or illness requiring treatment. Support documentation from a licensed veterinarian must be submitted to us for consideration of removal of any medical exclusion." **See actual policy or call Nationwide for complete a description of their pre-existing conditions policy. |
| Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage | [NO] Hereditary and Congenital conditions are not covered. **See actual policy or call Nationwide for complete description of their Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Policy. |
| Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions | [INCLUDED] Continual coverage for chronic conditions is included in policy. Coverage for chronic conditions in subsequent years is available up to the benefit allowance for the diagnosis/treatment as long as you have not gone over the maximum annual and per incident payout limits. Benefit schedule allowances are reset every policy year. If the condition is not on the Benefit Schedule, it is not covered. |
| Chronic Conditions Policy | Coverage for chronic conditions in subsequent years is available up to the benefit allowance
for the diagnosis/treatment as long as you have not gone over the maximum annual and per incident payout limits. Benefit
schedule allowances are reset every policy year. If the condition is not on the Benefit Schedule, it is not covered. They do not cover chronic conditions that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period. **See actual policy or contact Nationwide for complete description of their Chronic Conditions Policy. |
| Cancer Coverage | [LIMITED COVERAGE] Cancers listed in the benefit schedule are covered up to the benefit allowance for
the diagnosis/treatment as long as you have not gone over the maximum annual and per incident payout limits. If the cancer is
not on the schedule it is not covered. If the cancer condition is not on the schedule it is not covered. They do not cover cancers that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period. Cancers that are considered to be hereditary or genetic may not be covered. For ferrets, diagnosis, medical management, or surgical correction of any endocrine tumors (benign and malignant), endocrine hyperplasias of any kind, and associated splenectomy are not covered. |
| Cancer Coverage Limits | Coverage for eligible cancers in subsequent years is available up to the benefit allowance
for the diagnosis/treatment as long as you have not gone over the maximum annual and per incident payout limits. Benefit
schedule allowances are reset every policy year.
(See 'Chronic Conditions Policy' section above) |
| Prescription Drug Coverage | [INCLUDED] Coverage for prescription drugs
for covered medical conditions is included up to the benefit allowance
for the diagnosis/treatment **See actual policy or contact Nationwide for full list of inclusions and exclusions |
| Pregnancy Coverage | [NO] |
| Routine/Wellness Coverage | [NO] |
| Dental Care (Illness/Accident) | [LIMITED COVERAGE] Only the dental conditions
listed in their benefit schedules are covered. Orthodontics, endodontics and removal of deciduous teeth are not covered **See benefit schedule, actual policy or contact Nationwide for full list of inclusions and exclusions. |
| Bilateral Conditions Policy | Not Clear
**Contact the company for a list of medical conditions that are considered bilateral for the purpose of exclusion and for a complete description of their Bilateral Conditions Policy. |
| Coverage - Overview (please read policy for full coverage details) |
Diagnostics and treatments of eligible illnesses and accidents. Diagnosis/treatment must be listed in the benefit schedule to be covered.
**See benefit schedule, actual policy or contact Nationwide for full list of inclusions, exclusions, limitations and conditions. |
| What's not Covered - Overview (partial listing, please read policy for full details) |
|
| How The Policy Works | |
| Reimbursement | According to their website, they "...will pay 90% of the current Avian & Exotic Pet Plan Veterinary Services Benefit Schedule as established and published per incident during each policy term after the deductible for eligible expenses submitted." |
| Deductible | Not Clear |
| Flat Deductible vs % Deductible | Not Clear |
| Deductible Per Incident vs Annual Deductible | Not Clear |
| How is Reimbursement Determined | Nationwide Bird and Exotic plan uses a benefit schedule to determine how much you will be reimbursed per diagnosis/treatment per policy year. The benefit schedule allowances are reset each year. |
| Max Payout Annually | For Birds and Exotic Pets, Nationwide has a maximum annual payout of $7,000 |
| Max Lifetime Payout | Nationwide does not have a maximum lifetime payout |
| Max Payout per Incident | The Bird and Exotic Plan has a per incident maximum of $2,000 |
| Max Payout Based on Body System | Nationwide does not have a maximum payout based on body system |
| Client Reimbursed or Vet Paid Directly | You pay the veterinarian and then you are reimbursed after you file the claim. |
| Pricing | |
| Approximate Monthly Costs | Not Clear |
| Additional Info | |
| What are Customers Saying? | PetInsuranceReview.com;
Yelp.com Also check with your state's Department of Insurance to see if any complaints have been filed for this company |
| Better Business Bureau | bbb.org |
| Additional Info | |
**Disclaimer: These charts are created based on my research. While I do my best to stay current, information can change quickly. Also, terms and conditions can vary from state to state. Before buying a pet insurance plan, confirm all information by contacting the company or reading the most current policy for your state. We will not be held liable for errors or omissions. If you see something that is incorrect or needs clarifying, please let me know.
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