Compare Healthy Paws and Nationwide
We based our analysis of Healthy Paws and Nationwide on important factors like coverage options, policy customization, cost and customer reviews.
One of the main differences between Healthy Paws and Nationwide is each provider’s coverage limit. Healthy Paws offers unlimited lifetime payouts on every plan, so you will never run out of coverage. Nationwide offers two plans with different limits — one policy extends per-incident coverage caps, and the other caps annual coverage at $10,000.
But unlike Healthy Paws, Nationwide offers preventive care coverage for your pet’s routine care needs. This is an important feature for pet parents seeking reimbursements for wellness services like checkups, vaccinations and heartworm treatments.
Nationwide also offers a discount if you enroll multiple pets in health insurance plans, while Healthy Paws does not offer any discounts. Compare more features of Healthy Paws and Nationwide using the chart below:
Star Rating | ||
Best For | Our Pick for Nationwide Members | Most Affordable Unlimited Coverage |
Average monthly cost | $25–$60 for dogs and $15–$35 for cats | $40 for dogs and $20 for cats |
Coverage limits | $10,000 | Unlimited |
Deductibles | $250 | $100–$1,000* |
Reimbursement rates | 50% or 70% | 50%-90%* |
Wellness care add-on | Yes | No |
Pre-existing condition coverage | No | No |
Multi-pet discount | Yes | No |
Star Rating | ||
Best For | Our Pick for Nationwide Members | Most Affordable Unlimited Coverage |
Average monthly cost | $25–$60 for dogs and $15–$35 for cats | $40 for dogs and $20 for cats |
Coverage limits | $10,000 | Unlimited |
Deductibles | $250 | $100–$1,000* |
Reimbursement rates | 50% or 70% | 50%-90%* |
Wellness care add-on | Yes | No |
Pre-existing condition coverage | No | No |
Multi-pet discount | Yes | No |
*Healthy Paws offers varying copay and deductible options based on your pet’s age at the time of enrollment.
Healthy Paws Insurance Coverage Overview
Healthy Paws pet insurance provides comprehensive accident and illness coverage for cats and dogs with unlimited per-item, annual and lifetime payouts. So if your pet is unexpectedly hurt or gets sick, Healthy Paws will cover the following:
- Hereditary conditions
- Congenital conditions
- Chronic conditions
- Cancer
- Diagnostic testing and treatments
- X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds
- Blood tests
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Prescription medications
- Emergency care
- Specialty care
- Alternative treatments
Healthy Paws limits plan customizability based on your pet’s age and breed. You can choose from multiple deductible and reimbursement options for pets ages 5 and under, but Healthy Paws restricts selections for animals over 6 years old. And it does not offer coverage to cats and dogs over 14 years old.
This provider also does not offer a wellness care plan, so preventive care is treated as a policy exclusion.
Healthy Paws Coverage Exclusions
Like other pet insurance providers, Healthy Paws excludes certain conditions and veterinary services from its coverage.
- Pre-existing conditions
- Preventative care
- Spay and neuter procedures
- Office visit fees and examination fees
- Breeding costs
- Boarding or grooming fees
- Birds and exotic pets
- Illnesses or accidents that occur during waiting periods
- Pets over 14 years old*
The company also has an upper age limit of 14 years, after which point you cannot enroll your pet in new coverage. However, the age limit does not apply if you enrolled your pet in a plan before it turned 14.
Healthy Paws extends a 15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses.
How Much Does Healthy Paws Cost?
Based on sample quotes we gathered, Healthy Paws costs $40 per month for dog insurance and $20 for cat insurance. Your insurance quote may vary depending on your pet’s breed, age and location. For example, it may cost more to insure an older pet in an area with a higher cost of living, like in New York City.
Healthy Paws Discounts
Healthy Paws doesn’t offer any discounts at this time.
Healthy Paws Monthly Pricing
To help you better understand how much Healthy Paws costs each month, we gathered sample quotes for 2-year-old pets in Boise, Idaho. The below rates reflect accident and illness coverage with a 80% reimbursement rate and a $250 deductible.
Medium Mixed-Breed Dog | Golden Retriever | Domestic Shorthaired Cat | Domestic Medium-Haired Cat | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Accident and Illness Plan | $47 | $69 | $19 | $19 |
Nationwide Pet Insurance Coverage Overview
Nationwide offers two pet insurance plans — Major Medical and Whole Pet. Each plan covers your pet’s veterinary care related to unexpected accidents and illnesses, but uses different reimbursement systems.
- Major Medical: An accident and illness plan with a $250 annual deductible and per-incident benefit schedule. Under this plan, Nationwide will cap reimbursements for various incidents at a specific dollar amount. So your policy will have different coverage limits for different treatments and conditions.
- Whole Pet: Comprehensive and customizable pet insurance coverage that includes a $250 deductible, a $10,000 annual limit and reimbursement rates of 50% or 70%. Like most pet insurance policies, Whole Pet will cover the overall cost of veterinary treatments based on the reimbursement rate you select.
Nationwide also offers two preventative care plans that you can add to your base pet insurance policy. This coverage includes routine pet services such as wellness exams, vaccinations, microchip implantation, parasite treatment and more.
- Wellness Basic:This wellness add-on costs $12 to $18 per month and provides up to $400 in coverage.
- Wellness Plus: A more comprehensive wellness package that costs $17 to $22 per month and reimburses up to $500 annually.
You can utilize wellness add-ons to enhance your coverage. So for example, enrolling in a Whole Pet Plan with Wellness offers the most comprehensive coverage.
With any Nationwide plan, you will also get access to the 24/7 vet helpline, an on-demand chat feature staffed by experienced veterinary professionals.
Nationwide Coverage Exclusions
Like Healthy Pets, Nationwide extends coverage exclusions based on the policy you select. Both the Whole Pet and Major Medical plans exclude the following:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Grooming, boarding and other non-veterinary expenses
- Preventive care
- Cosmetic procedures
- Breeding costs
The Major Medical also has exclusions for hereditary disorders and congenital conditions, which can include hip dysplasia and other bone-related issues.
Nationwide extends a 14-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses and a 12-month waiting period for cruciate ligament events. Wellness coverage starts after a 24-hour waiting period.
How Much Does Nationwide Cost?
Based on our sample quotes, Nationwide pet insurance costs $25 to $60 per month for dogs and $15 to $35 for cats. Pet insurance policies with added wellness coverage will increase your monthly premium — the Wellness Basic plan can add $12 to $18, and Wellness Plus can add $17 to $22.
Your pet’s species, age, breed and location will also impact your pet insurance cost. You can also customize your Nationwide policy by selecting the Whole Pet plan. For example, selecting a 70% reimbursement rate instead of 50% will increase your price and vice versa.
Nationwide Discounts
Nationwide offers discounts for policyholders that enroll multiple pets in pet insurance coverage. It also discounts your premium if you bundle your policy with other Nationwide products, like car insurance.
Nationwide Monthly Pricing
The chart below outlines sample monthly quotes we gathered for Nationwide accident and illness coverage based on 2-year-old pets in Boise, Idaho.
Medium Mixed-Breed Dog | Golden Retriever | Domestic Shorthaired Cat | Domestic Medium-Haired Cat | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Major Medical Plan | $25 | $35 | $12 | $12 |
Major Medical with Wellness Care | $43 | $53 | $30 | $30 |
Whole Pet Plan* | $49 | $69 | $21 | $20 |
*Price estimates include a 70% reimbursement rate. Your price may vary depending on your reimbursement level. Selecting a Whole Pet with Wellness plan can also increase your cost.
Why Choose Healthy Paws?
Healthy Paws is a good option if you are seeking straightforward pet insurance coverage for unexpected accidents and illnesses. While Healthy Paws offers comprehensive coverage with unlimited annual limits, it does not include preventive care and routine vet costs. Plus, the company donates to animal shelters and rescue organizations each time pet owners get a quote online.
To help you better understand the customer experience, we researched reviews to see what Healthy Paws policyholders like and dislike about the company. Healthy Paws holds a 4 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, with positive reviews that mention an easy claims process and positive customer service. However, negative reviews mention increased premium rates.
“It is a very easy process. I paid my vet, uploaded [an] itemized statement and all medical records to the Healthy Paws site, then filed my claim. It was approved in two days, and I received a check in less than a week. Insurance for humans should be this simple!”—D. Marcus via Trustpilot
“Healthy Paws continually raises its prices. This year, it raised its rates to 45% higher than when I initially signed up. There are much cheaper options for the same coverage.”—Paul E. via Trustpilot
Why Choose Nationwide?
With nearly 100 years in the insurance industry, Nationwide is a good choice for pet parents seeking comprehensive coverage from a long-standing, trusted provider. The company added pet insurance to its portfolio in 2009 after it acquired Veterinary Pet Insurance, the first pet health insurance company in the U.S.
Nationwide offers two pet insurance plans with varying coverages and reimbursement systems, plus you can add wellness care for an extra cost each month. Nationwide is also one of the only pet insurance providers to cover exotic animals, so it’s an excellent choice for owners of birds, rabbits, reptiles and other pets.
The company has a 3.4 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. We’ve included a sample of positive and negative reviews below.
“Dealing with Nationwide is always painless and it nevers gives me any hassle. Every time I have a problem, [Nationwide is] there to help. I’ve been with [Nationwide] for over five years … It has been great and is always so friendly.”—Johanna V. via Trustpilot
“I had Nationwide for years and as the animals got older, the premium went up [and] it denied every claim. I paid thousands of dollars to insure five pets. I canceled today after another run around [with] another claim. There are better insurance policies with other companies.”—Cindy S. via Trustpilot
The Bottom Line: Which Provider is Best for Your Pet?
Pet insurance can help cover vet bills if your pet is unexpectedly injured or gets sick. With so many options on the market, we know it can be overwhelming to select a pet insurance policy with affordable prices and comprehensive coverage. Healthy Paws and Nationwide offer different features to fit different coverage and budget needs.
For example, Healthy Paws may be a better choice if you are seeking comprehensive pet coverage with unlimited payouts. But Nationwide allows you to choose between multiple plans (including wellness care) and reimbursement rates for a more customizable pet insurance policy.
We suggest you request quotes from at least three pet insurance providers before selecting a policy. You may find that other top companies, like Embrace, Lemonade or Trupanion, offer the best coverage for your pet. Or, if you are seeking more affordable coverage, check out our cheap pet insurance review.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance
No. Healthy Paws pet insurance does not include veterinary office visit fees or examination fees. Healthy Paws only covers fees associated with diagnosing and treating your pet’s unexpected accidents and illnesses.
Nationwide covers veterinary exam fees for your pet’s unexpected clinic visits, but does not cover the physical exam. The company only includes exam coverage if you purchase a wellness care add-on.
Healthy Paws does not limit coverage on its pet insurance plans, so you will have unlimited payouts no matter how many claims you submit.
However, Healthy Paws does not allow enrollment for pets 14 years old and older. The company also restricts plan customizability based on your pet’s age and breed.
Nationwide pet insurance coverage limits depend on the policy you select. Nationwide enforces per-incident limits for its Major Medical and wellness plans so you are reimbursed up to a certain dollar amount depending on the services your pet needs. The Whole Pet plan offers a $10,000 annual limit regardless of the treatment or service.
As for age limitations, Nationwide doesn’t allow you to enroll pets that are 10 years or older.