Coverage Highlights
What’s the 24/7 Vet Helpline?
Nationwide has a free 24/7 helpline staffed by vets that you can call for general wellness advice. They can also help tell you if it’s a good idea to take your pet to a vet for a possible health issue, but you don’t need to call for approval.
They don’t provide access to in-person care. You should save the location and phone number for a local clinic for overnight and emergency care.
How Does the Deductible Work?
There may be per-visit/incident as well as annual deductibles depending on the exact policy that you choose. Like with other insurance policies, you may have the choice between a policy with a higher premium and lower deductible or a lower premium and higher deductible. Certain plans may have no deductible or only one option.
The insurance companies have the deductible versus premium calculation down to a science so that they make the same amount of money no matter which option you choose. Which option will work best for you is a combination of how lucky you are with your pet’s health and how much risk you’re willing to take with your budget. If you want a fixed budget with no surprise expenses, go for a lower deductible. If you’re really only looking for coverage for major illnesses or injuries and can pay smaller bills out of pocket, go for a higher deductible.
How Do Claims Work?
If you’re used to having problems dealing with your own health insurance company, you may be surprised at how simple it is to use Nationwide pet insurance. There are three easy steps.
- Visit any vet of your choosing. You don’t need to find a vet that’s in the insurance network or get a pre authorization. You decide which vet to use and when.
- Submit your claim. You’ll just need to provide an itemized bill from your vet and fill out some basic forms.
- Get a check in the mail once your claim is approved. The only downside is that some vets may not be willing to wait for payment. If you don’t have the cash to pay in full and the vet won’t allow a payment plan, you can use a credit card and often get your claim check before the bill is due.
