Both Nationwide pet insurance and Lemonade pet insurance plans provide coverage for your furry friend’s medical expenses, but it’s important to understand the differences so you can find the perfect fit for you and your pet.
We get it, comparing pet insurance providers is complicated. Every pet insurer offers different types of plans and coverage options—making for a lot of moving parts. We’ll try to make the process smoother.
Compared to Nationwide, Lemonade offers straightforward, comprehensive policies, a seamless app experience from quote to claim, and co-insurance and coverage limits designed with pet parents’ budgets in mind.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty of how Nationwide Pet Insurance stacks up to Lemonade Pet.
| Nationwide pet insurance | Lemonade pet insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Types of animals covered | Dogs, cats, and exotic pets—like certain birds, reptiles, and rodents | Dogs and cats |
| Plans offered | Four different policy types—Whole Pet, Modular, Major Medical, and Pet Wellness | One base accident and illness policy that’s easily customizable with things like preventative care packages and add-on coverages |
| Coverage for pre-existing conditions | No | No |
| Coverage for routine wellness care | Can’t add to Whole Pet plan | Yes |
| Coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions | Limitations for Major Medical and Modular plans | Yes, as long as it’s not a pre-existing condition |
| Coverage for aged-related changes to your pet’s ears or eyes | Excluded from Major Medical plan | Yes, as long as it’s not a pre-existing condition |
| Co-insurance options (aka reimbursement rate) | 50% or 70% of eligible vet bills for Whole Pet Plan | 70%, 80%, or 90% of eligible vet bills |
| Coverage limits | Some plans have maximum coverage amounts per condition | Annual limit |
| Discount for covering second pet | Up to 5% | Up to 10% |
| Seamless in-app claims process | No | Yes |
| Claims processing time | Can take up to 30 days or more | 50% of claims handled instantly |
Lemonade Pet simplifies your search for the perfect pet insurance plan
Nationwide pet insurance offers four distinct pet insurance plans. Variety can be nice, but navigating through multiple plans—each with its own set of rules, coverage options, and complexities—could cause unnecessary confusion.
For example, Nationwide’s Whole Pet plan—an accident and illness policy that is the most similar of its plans to a Lemonade Pet base policy—doesn’t have an option to add coverage for routine wellness care.
Protecting your pet should be hassle free. That’s why Lemonade pet insurance designed a straightforward policy that’s easy to understand and customize.
When you buy a Lemonade Pet policy, you start with a base accident and illness plan and build from there. You have the power to tailor your policy to fit your priorities and budget—whether it’s tweaking your deductible, annual coverage limit, or reimbursement rate. Plus, we offer three Preventative Care Packages and five add-on coverages that you can mix and match on your pet’s policy to help meet their unique needs.Â
Nationwide pet insurance reviews
TrustPilot is a review site that’s open to all consumers. Whether you’re looking to rave about the great customer service you received when calling a company, or warning others about a poor experience you had with another company, it’s a customer’s one-stop shop to see how a company treats their customers.
Nationwide pet insurance has a 3.2-star rating on TrustPilot based on customer reviews, while Lemonade has a4.4-star review.
When it comes to the apps, Nationwide pet insurance’s app has a rating of 4.6 stars based on customer reviews, whereas Lemonade’s app-store rating is 4.7 stars.Â
Nationwide’s Whole Pet plan only offers one annual limit option. Lemonade Pet gives you the power to choose your policy’s annual limit, to help protect both your furry friend and your wallet
Nationwide’s Whole Pet Plan—which is the most similar to Lemonade’s base accident and illness policy—only has a $10,000 annual limit.
On the other hand, Lemonade lets you easily adjust your annual limit when you’re building your pet insurance policy, which could help you lower your monthly premium.
An annual limit is the maximum amount your pet insurer will pay out on claims over the course of a year, after co-insurance and your annual deductible are applied. With Lemonade Pet, you can choose an annual limit between $5,000 and $100,000. Plus, Lemonade’s Preventative Care Packages and some other policy add-ons might be subject to their own, separate limits..
This might sound like a lot of kibble, but common veterinary procedures and diagnostics like MRI’s, general surgery, or cancer treatments can cost well over $1,000 a pop. Not to mention overnight vet stays, which can set you back up to $1,700 a night or more.
Lemonade Pet gives you more control over your finances by offering a range of coverage options. Just don’t forget that opting for a higher annual limit could result in a higher premium.
Nationwide pet insurance offers less and lower co-insurance options than Lemonade pet insurance
Nationwide’s Whole Pet plan only offers 50% and 70% co-insurance. Lemonade Pet offers several co-insurance options—70%, 80%, or 90%—to help take a bite out of vet bills.
Co-insurance is the percentage of the total cost your insurance company will reimburse you on eligible claims, after you’ve exhausted your annual deductible.
Your optimal co-insurance depends on how much you can afford to pay if you file a claim, and how much you’re willing to pay for your insurance premiums. The higher your co-insurance percentage is, the less you pay in the event of you filing an eligible claim. But a higher co-insurance generally also means a higher premium.
Nationwide pet insurance is non-renewing 100,000 pet insurance policies for existing customers
On June 14, 2024, Nationwide announced that it will non-renew 100,000 pet insurance policies until the summer of 2025, citing apparent concerns about rising costs impacting their ability to cover every policy.
Here’s what you need to know:
- If a pet has pre-existing conditions, it can be hard to find a new pet insurance policy that suits their needs, as most pet insurers will not cover pre-existing conditions.Â
- Even if your pet’s pre-existing condition started while they had coverage by Nationwide pet insurance, and was not considered a pre-existing condition during that time, the condition may not be eligible for coverage under a new pet insurance policy, as each insurer has their own waiting periods for coverage eligibility.
When choosing the right pet insurance policy for you and your fur-baby, finding reliable coverage is key to making sure they’re protected throughout their lifetime.
The Lemonade app revolutionizes the way you insure your pet and get reimbursed for covered claims, making the process smoother and more user-friendly than Nationwide pet insurance
Nationwide offers online services, but their process doesn’t leverage the same level of AI integration and mobile-first design as Lemonade, which could lead to more time spent on phone calls, filling out forms, and waiting for claim resolutions. Claims processing at Nationwide Pet Insurance could take up to 30 days from the time you’ve submitted all of the necessary documents.
On the flip-side, Lemonade Pet elevates pet insurance through the power of AI and machine learning. The app is designed to streamline everything from building a quote to filing a claim, turning what used to be a cumbersome process into an experience that’s quick and easy (and maybe even a little fun).
When you buy a Lemonade Pet policy—and any other Lemonade policy—you can adjust your deductible, set your annual coverage limit, and add optional coverages, all in the palm of your hand. The app’s intuitive design means you could spend less time figuring out your policy, and more time enjoying life with your furry friend.
Tech also helps Lemonade process claims at lightning speed, with roughly 50% of pet claims being handled instantly, and 80% of claims handled within 5 days.
Click below to start your free Lemonade pet insurance quote. It’s easy to build, and easy to compare.
Tips for comparing pet insurance plans
Finding the right pet insurance for you and your fur fam depends a lot on your priorities, whether that’s finding the most comprehensive coverage, the cheapest rates, a hassle-free digital experience, and so much more.
Let’s swing through some of the main factors that might be important to you when choosing a pet insurance provider, and some questions to consider for each.
Coverage options
Base pet insurance plans typically cover the treatment of eligible accidents and illnesses. Check the specifics of what’s covered under a base policy, the waiting periods for certain conditions, and exclusions. Also look for how customizable the policy is and what optional coverages are offered—like preventative care, and add-ons.
Balance between cost and coverage
The scope of what’s included in the price of a base pet insurance plan can vary widely among providers, and might require a more intricate comparison. Carefully examine the premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance offered by each provider, then compare it to the range of healthcare services covered, and what you might end up needing to pay if you file a claim.
Discounts and perks
Who doesn’t love saving some greens, or making life as a pet parent a tad simpler? Some pet insurance providers—including Lemonade—offer discounts for things like insuring multiple pets and bundling policies, as well as extra perks, like access to Chewy’s Connect with a Vet service.
Option to bundle
Some providers only offer pet insurance plans, while others can cover all the things you care about in one place—like your stuff, your car, and your pets. For example, when you bundle more than one Lemonade policy such as renters, homeowners, car, or pet insurance, you could be eligible for a discount on each policy, on top of enjoying the ease of managing all of your policies, and filing any claims, in one place (we’re talking about the Lemonade app).
Seamless experience
From building a quote, to managing your policy, to filing a claim—remember that insurance doesn’t need to be a hassle. Some insurance companies—including Lemonade—built their platforms with user-friendliness in mind, ensuring that each step is straightforward and stress-free for pet parents.
Customer reviews
Getting the inside scoop from the pet parent community about their experiences with their pet insurance provider can help you make a more informed choice. Websites like Consumer Reports, Better Business Bureau (BBB), NerdWallet are reputable sources for customer reviews and rankings of pet insurance companies. (Did we mention that the Lemonade app has a 4.9 star rating on the App Store?)
Social impact
Choosing a pet insurance that vibes with your values is the cherry on top of an awesome policy sundae. Some providers support causes you care about such as animal rescue shelters and animal rights organizations—like the Lemonade Giveback, which helps support organizations like SPCA International and The Humane Society.
FAQs
Does Nationwide pet insurance cover routine wellness care?
Nationwide does offer coverage for wellness care, however, it is only available on the Major Medical and Modular Pet Insurance plans. Wellness care is not available to be added to the Whole Pet Plan.
Does Nationwide pet insurance have the option to pay the vet directly?
No, Nationwide pet insurance policies work on a reimbursement basis. This means that you will need to pay your vet bill up front, and then submit your receipt for reimbursement when you file a claim.
Can I go to any vet with Nationwide pet insurance?
Yes, Nationwide pet insurance allows pet owners to visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S.
What options does Nationwide pet insurance offer for exotic pets?
Nationwide is one of the few providers that offer coverage for exotic pets, including birds, lizards, and reptiles.
How can I cancel a Nationwide pet insurance policy?
If you’re looking to cancel a Nationwide pet insurance policy, you can do so online through your account with the insurer. You can also cancel via phone by calling their customer service team.
Comparison information is provided using publicly available information as of November 2024 and is only meant to summarize program features, not a specific plan. Review the provider’s plan terms for more details. The description of the providers’ plans are not provided by that company. If you have questions about other plans, please contact an agent of that company. It is our intention to provide fair and accurate comparison information. We attempt to keep information up to date but it may change from time to time. If you are aware of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided, let us know by emailing [email protected].
This product information is for descriptive purposes only and does not provide a complete summary of any company’s coverage. Consult the applicable insurance policy for specific terms, conditions, limits, deductible, copay, limitations, and exclusions to coverage; these may vary by state and are subject to change without notice. The coverage for each policyholder will be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable policy. All coverage and limit options may not be available to all customers and are subject to underwriting approval. If there is any conflict between the policy and this product information, the provisions of the policy shall prevail.
For the full terms of Lemonade pet Insurance policies visit https://www.lemonade.com/pet. Products and rates may vary and are subject to change. Discounts may vary and are subject to change.
Residents of DE, LA, ME, MS, NE, NH, WA, will receive an Insurer Disclosure of Important Policyholder Provisions in the quote flow and policy documents.
Property and casualty insurance is provided by Lemonade Insurance Company (LIC), 5 Crosby St., 3rd floor, New York, NY 10013 or Metromile Insurance Company (MIC), 3080 N. Civic Center Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC (LIA) and Metromile Insurance Services LLC (MIS) are licensed insurance agents and appointed by LIC and MIC and both LIA and MIS receive compensation based on the premiums for the insurance policies each sells. Further information is available upon request.
