My Experience With Pet Insurance

When Nestle became a part of our indoor home, we were not expecting to have a sixth cat. We had plans in place for our five cats veterinary care, but when Nestle came along, we elected to go down the pet insurance rabbit hole. Pet insurance is a reimbursement policy with strict coverages and limitations on each coverage. So, finding the right policy and insurance carrier would be an interesting and tedious task.

First and foremost, if you are able to put a decent savings aside for your pets care, I absolutely recommend that option. That is what our household would do if we could at this time. However, our home is not filled with sufficient excess funds that can deal with many emergencies, so pet insurance is what made sense for us to plan for the future at this time. When Nestle joined our indoor family, it was clear that the security blanket of pet insurance was critical to make sure he received the same care we have arranged for our other cats in the home. Nestle was around 1 year old when he officially came inside, so I knew the premiums would likely be cheaper. Nestle also had no preexisting conditions, which would have been excluded from the policy, so we took the opportunity to get Nestle covered.

The tedious comparison of the very many pet insurance plans was on my agenda, and it was overwhelming to begin with. There are so many pet insurance companies to research. Most pet insurance plans do not cover the wellness visits, which include annual labs, vaccinations and examinations by the veterinarian. Most policies are created for the unexpected illnesses/accident and emergency care. However, there were a few pet insurance carriers that included wellness along with illnesses and emergencies. For Nestle, we needed both wellness along with illness and emergency. That narrowed down the list to a handful of carriers. They are not always a one size fits all, so I read through the terms and conditions of each sample policy. I also recommend to look into the pet insurance carrier’s history such as how long they have been writing pet insurance and their credit score. AM Best is the insurance go to to check insurance company credit scores. Speaking to you vet clinic can also add insight into what other clients may experience with pet insurance companies.

I ultimately selected Nationwide Pet Insurance. I was able to choose the deductible and tailor a few of the coverage categories. Otherwise, the quote process was simple and the premium amount was clear by the time we finalized and bound the policy. When signing up for any pet insurance plan, one of the key questions asked is your state and zip code. Coverages and limits are based on the average amount vet clinics charge in your area. So, don’t assume you will get a full return back reimbursed unless your vet clinic is on the cheaper end of fees. Our vet clinic is known to cost on the higher end, but they also provide services that other vets often have to source out to specialists. It is a trade we were willing to take based on the level of care they provide.

The Wellness Coverage

I took Nestle for his first complete annual physical & wellness exam after the specified waiting period. Nestle received the following at his exam. Physical exam, complete bloodwork profile, rabies vaccine, FVRCP vaccine, urine sample, and a microchip (PSA: Indoor pets should be chipped). I filed the claim on Nationwide’s online portal the following day along with a copy of the invoice showing all services and charges along with proof the invoice was paid in full. Drum Roll…….Nationwide paid all charges based on the policy coverages and limits on each charge within 5 days of the claim file date. As for the coverage limits in my area, an exam fee is $50, but our veterinarian clinic exam fee average around $75. They reimbursed $50 which left $25 out of pocket. The same went for the bloodwork, vaccinations, etc. The policy clearly listed the maximum limit they will pay on the wellness section, and they reimbursed us for the maximum amount listed since our vet is higher on these charges.

Nestle had a great wellness exam in September of 2024, and we had no plans to bring him back until his next annual checkup. That was until Nestle showed signs of urinary distress. So, we now were going to find out how the illness side of the policy would work.

Illness Coverage

In January of this year, I noticed Nestle was going in out of the litter boxes without producing urine. He was licking excessively, and he was behaving frantic compared to his normal calm demeanor. We got him to his vet clinic right away. Quickly they were able to determine Nestle had a urinary tract infection and urinary crystals (calcium oxalate and struvite). The tests at the clinic included the physical exam, ultrasound and urine pulled for the lab. Nestle was given an antibiotic injection, and short term NSIAD (Meloxicam), liquid Gabapentin to help with pain & stress, and put on brand new prescription urinary diet effective immediately. I knew prescription food would not be covered, but everything from the tests to the medications should be covered subject to the deductible that would apply to the medical/illness coverage. I filed the claim the following day, and Nationwide approved the claim and paid the maximum coverages for the exam, ultrasound, labs and medications. They did not reimburse for the prescription pet food, but I already knew that would not be covered on the policy.

We had to bring Nestle back for two follow up rechecks due to the severity of the urinary tract infection and the urinary crystals. Both follow up appointment charges were covered and I was reimbursed within 10 days for each claim. However, depending on the type of claim, the insurance carrier may request more information and the claim review may take longer. Fortunately, we did not have to provide additional details this time around.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the pet insurance policy with Nationwide Insurance has been beneficial for our household. Nationwide has held up their end of the contract, and I have complied with all requirements to keep up my obligations within the policy. What I don’t have experience with is using the pet insurance policy in an emergency situation or a major illness or surgery. I certainly hope to avoid that with Nestle, but I feel at ease considering how the wellness and illness portions of the claims were handled. As for the upcoming renewal period in he next few months, I will be interested to determine how that will be handled. I expect a slight premium increase, but with the insurance industry, I am prepared to be surprised. So, to be continued.

Suggestions to make the most out of your pet insurance policy.

• Know your coverage and limits – Print or download your policy for quick reference.
• File claims within the time frame allotted within the policy terms and provide all the itemized documents from the vet clinic to back up the claim. Services, medications, labs, tests, etc along with proof the charges were paid in full. The carrier may request more details from your vet regarding the treatment, and you will need to obtain that information from your vet within the allotted time the carrier gives you.
• The pet insurance will most likely not pay everything. So, be prepared financially to not get a full reimbursement.
• Your vet clinic is not responsible for filing your pet insurance claims. You are.
• Do not allow your policy to lapse. If that happens, the insurance carrier can rewrite the policy as a new policy. If your pet has had an illness they covered in the past, that illness can now be considered a preexisting condition. Therefore, it would not be covered in the future.
  • Also, if you change insurance carriers, any illness treated by the previous carrier is going to be considered a preexisting condition. Try to stay with one carrier if possible.
• Expect a rate increase each policy term. The older your pet gets creates a higher risk for the insurance carrier. Even if your pet has not had any illnesses, as your pet ages the risk is higher for illness. Insurance company’s will take that into account. If the premium is getting too high, consider increasing your deductible, but make sure you know you can cover the cost of the deductible. You can also contact the insurance carrier to determine if their are any options to reduce the premium.
• Be truthful with the pet insurance company. The pet insurance company will obtain records from the vet clinic. If they discover details that you provided are not truthful to the best of your knowledge, they can cancel the policy for misrepresentation or increase the rate/premium drastically. Examples:
  • Estimating an age is one thing, but shedding a few years off of their age for a cheaper rate, will be discovered once the pet insurance company receives your pet’s file from the vet clinic.
  • If you stated your cat is an indoor pet and they later determine you let your cat outside, that opens a higher risk of illness and injury that they were not initially aware of when the policy was rated to begin with.
• Do not take overuse an insurance policy if at all possible. You have every right to file a claim and the insurance company is under contract to pay covered claims during the policy term. However, the insurance company reviews all activities before the policy is set to renew. Your claims history will be reviewed and determined if too many claims have been filed. The rate will most like increase or the insurance carrier can nonrenew or even cancel coverage. Fair or not, an insurance company is not obligated to renew a policy. They are only under contract while the policy is in force. However, a reputable insurance company should give at least a 30 day notification of changes on a renewal policy or if they are nonrenewing a policy. If they decide to cancel a policy mid-term, they should give a 10 day or 30 day notice, depending on the reason for cancellation.
  • If you can cover the cost of medications, food (if it is covered), etc consider paying for those out of packet to avoid excess small claims.
    • I personally pay out of pocket for Nestle’s daily medication. It is around $20.00 a month, so I am willing to cover that cost and leave the larger charges to be filed with with Nationwide.
• When in doubt, contact your pet insurance carrier. A reputable insurance company will require one of their licensed agents to discuss the terms and conditions of the policy.

I have been pleasantly surprised with my personal experience with pet insurance through Nationwide. There are many great pet insurance companies to choose from that will fit different needs. However, buyer beware, there are many pet insurance companies that are not worth the “paper” the policy is printed on. Just do your due diligence when researching pet insurance. It was scary for me at first. However, after researching the coverages, the credit health of the carriers, the longevity of how long the carriers have been offering pet insurance, and finally discussing pet insurance with our vet clinic, I felt much more at ease with my decision. Fortunately, it has paid off for the time being.

Disclosure:

I do work in the commercial lines insurance industry, so I have knowledge and experience with the insurance market that has been helpful for my research. However, pet insurance was new territory for me, and I am simply another client in this case. I do not make any form of commission or kickback from a pet insurance company, nor do I work directly or indirectly with any pet insurance company. My experience is just that.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Wishing you and your pet family love and good health. – Dayna