On June 14, 2024 Nationwide Pet announced that the corporation will no longer renew approximately 100,000 policies beginning this Spring through the summer of 2025.1
As early as April, Nationwide had begun sending non-renewal notices to policyholders across the country. The notices state that the company has discontinued certain plans — including Nationwide Whole Pet with Wellness — for policyholders in certain states.
In their recent statement, Nationwide cited the increased cost of veterinary care and other unnamed factors for its decision. The company asserted that even with the impact on pet owners, the decision was needed to ensure the company maintained the business’s viability and could continue supporting pet parents into the future.1
With these discontinuations, many pet parents may now understandably think carefully about their pets’ insurance options. One viable alternative is to enroll in a policy with wellness through MetLife Pet Insurance.
Read on to learn how a MetLife Pet Insurance plan with our Preventive Care add-on compares to Nationwide’s pet insurance with wellness coverage and how our comprehensive coverage can help fill the gap.
With our Preventive Care add-on, we can help reimburse you for vaccines, teeth cleanings, flea and tick prevention, and other routine wellness costs. Get a free quote for a policy now.
How Nationwide’s Non-renewal May Affect Pre-existing Conditions
If you received a non-renewal letter from Nationwide and you plan to enroll in a new policy with them, your previous coverage may not be guaranteed. A condition previously covered under the Whole Pet with Wellness plan might now be considered a pre-existing condition — even if you switch to a new Nationwide plan. This may be OK for pet parents with young or healthy dogs or cats; however, it could greatly affect pet parents of vulnerable pets, including older pets or pets with health issues.
But what if you switch from Nationwide to another pet insurance provider? Illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that occurred prior to enrollment with the new provider or during any waiting period will likely be considered pre-existing conditions — even if they occurred while you were covered by Nationwide. But MetLife Pet may be able to help.
MetLife Pet Insurance May Be Able to Cover Certain Pre-existing Conditions if You Switch
Unlike most insurance providers, MetLife Pet Insurance may be able to cover certain pre-existing conditions previously covered by another provider, for policyholders who switch to MetLife Pet and sign up for pet insurance through their employer.
See if your employer offers pet insurance through MetLife Pet and get a quote. You may also be eligible for a discount when you make the switch to MetLife Pet and buy a policy through your workplace.2
MetLife Pet Insurance With Preventive Care Add-on vs. The Discontinued Nationwide Whole Pet With Wellness Plan
Are you worried you’ll miss out on the coverage you had under the Nationwide Whole Pet with Wellness plan? You can get similar coverage with a MetLife Pet plan when you add on our Preventive Care plan for routine wellness expenses. Here's a side-by-side comparison of our current plan with Preventive Care versus the old Nationwide plan — ensuring you make an informed decision about your pet’s protection.3
Compare Plans
| What Nationwide Whole Pet With Wellness Used To Cover | What MetLife Pet Insurance With Preventive Care Can Cover |
|---|---|
| Injuries and illnesses |
undefined Yes (This is included in our standard plan) |
| Dental cleaning and care |
undefined Yes |
| Spaying/neutering |
undefined Yes |
| Heartworm, flea, and tick prevention |
undefined Yes |
| Vaccines | undefined Yes |
| Supplements and vitamins | undefined Yes4 |
| Anal gland expression | undefined Yes4 |
| Behavior training | undefined Yes (if recommended by a vet for anxiety or aggression) |
| Gastropexy |
undefined Yes4 |
As with any insurance policy, coverage may vary and exclusions apply. See our Coverage and Exclusions page for more details, and learn how our pet insurance works.
Additional wellness expenses MetLife Pet Insurance with Preventive Care can cover
Our Preventive Care add-on may also be able to help cover a few additional wellness expenses, including:
- Nail trimming5
- Genetic testing4 (only if purchased through a vet)
- Dew claw removal4
- Radiograph screenings4
- Tail docking4
- EKG4
Our policies also include potential assistance with boarding fee coverage if you’re hospitalized and can’t care for your beloved companion(s).
Interested in Switching to MetLife Pet?
Other Reasons to Switch From Nationwide to MetLife Pet Insurance
Take a look at a few ways we might stand out from Nationwide and other competitors:
Shorter waiting periods: We have a 0-day waiting period for accidents and Preventive Care.6
Family plan for multiple pets:7 MetLife Pet has the only family plan on the market that lets you insure multiple pets under one policy with a shared deductible.8
Variety of discounts for eligible policyholders:9 These include a deductible discount,10 internet purchase discount,11 animal care discount,12 military discount,13 and healthcare workers discount.13
Free mobile app with vet chat: Our app for policyholders offers a convenient way to access and manage your claims, maintain your veterinary records, and use our free 24/7 online vet chat.14
Holistic coverage: We extend coverage to some alternative treatments — such as hydrotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy.
Learn more by comparing our plans to Nationwide’s Major Medical℠ plan or comparing our plans to other providers.
Success Stories From Pet Parents Who Switched From Nationwide
Many of our current members made the switch to MetLife Pet Insurance from Nationwide; here are some of their success stories:
Marshmallow (2-year-old Bernese mountain dog from Colorado): After Marshmallow’s parents switched over from Nationwide, we reimbursed $6,100 of their $6,800 vet bill for her intervertebral disc disease exam and treatment.15
Ruby (1-year-old German shorthaired pointer from California): Shortly after switching from Nationwide to MetLife Pet, Ruby’s parents received $2,300 back from us for their $3,200 bill when Ruby needed an exam and treatment for soft-tissue sarcoma cancer.16
Daisy (5-year-old mixed breed pup from Arizona): An emergency treatment for bloat saddled Daisy’s family with a vet bill over $5,800. Luckily, they had switched to MetLife Pet, and we reimbursed her parents $5,200.17
These are just a few examples of how MetLife Pet Insurance is making a difference in the lives of pet parents everywhere. Are you ready to see what it would cost to switch over to award-winning18 MetLife Pet? Get started with a free quote today.
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Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as actually issued. This comparison or description of Nationwide’s policy(ies) was not furnished by Nationwide. It was prepared solely by MetLife Pet Insurance based on publicly available summary information about competitors' offerings and highlights selected coverages of the policies referenced as of March 2024 and is subject to change without notice. It may not be completely accurate and should not be the sole source of information relied upon in deciding which insurance coverage to purchase. To receive the latest information about other providers' available plans, please visit their website. If you have questions regarding the illustration or about a particular competitor’s policy or coverage, please contact a representative of Nationwide. Referenced publicly available material for Nationwide sample plan. For completely reliable benefit comparisons, insurance departments (including North Dakota’s) advise that you obtain the benefit schedules directly from each applicable insurance company.
**As with any insurance policy, coverage may vary. Learn how MetLife Pet Insurance works, and review our coverage and exclusions.
1 “Nationwide Pet takes underwriting actions to address inflationary pressures and other factors,” Nationwide®
2 The Affinity Group Discount is not available on policies issued to residents of MN or TN. The Employer Group Discount is not available on policies issued to residents of TN. These discounts are only available to individuals who are eligible members or employees of an entity that has arranged for MetLife Pet to offer pet insurance (the discount is 10% for Employer Groups and 5% for Affinity Groups). In MN, the Employer Group Discount is called an “Employee Affinity Discount." In AK, Employer Group must be > 2+ employees and the employee must enroll through employer’s voluntary benefit or employee discount program via URL and/or toll-free number. In AK, for Affinity Groups, the policyholder must enroll through the affinity group's discount program via URL and/or toll-free number.
3 Based on information found across the Nationwide Pet Insurance website and https://www.petinsurance.com/images/VSSimages/media/pdf/CA_POIA_2015.pdf.
4 Covered only if recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention
5 Covered only if related to an illness, injury, or medically necessary
6 Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy is compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Illness coverage begins 14 days from the effective day of your policy compared to 14 to 30 days for many competitors. Based on a March 2024 review of publicly available summary information. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor's policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.
7 Family plan policies are limited to dogs age 12 and under and cats age 14 and under. Multi-policy discount is not available with Family Plans.
8 Based on a March 2024 review of publicly available summary information. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor's policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.
9 When using multiple discounts, discounts cannot exceed 30%. Each discount may not be available in all states. Please contact MetLife Pet for further details.
10 Your pet’s deductible automatically decreases by $50 each policy year that you don’t receive a claim reimbursement.
11 Discount may not be available in all states. When coverage is purchased on-line, a premium discount will apply during the first year of the policy.
12 Discount may not be available in all states. A discount is applicable to staff/owners of animal care facilities.
13 Discount may not be available in all states. A discount is available to Healthcare Workers, First Responders, and serving and retired members of the Armed Forces.
14 Virtual veterinary services are available through the MetLife Pet App and are provided entirely by AskVet, a third-party partner; MetLife Pet is not responsible for any pet guidance or advice provided or taken. Veterinarians providing virtual veterinary services cannot prescribe medication or answer questions about the pet policy.
15 This claims paid amount is based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from October 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
16 This claims paid amount is based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from October 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
17 This claims paid amount is based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from November 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
18 “2023 Pet Insurance of the Year Award” Winners, Pet Independent Innovation Awards
Coverage issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company, a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886. Availability is subject to regulatory approval. Coverage subject to restrictions, exclusions and limitations and application is subject to underwriting. See policy or contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC (“MetLife Pet”) for details. MetLife Pet is the policy administrator. It may operate under an alternate or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), and MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois).
“Average Cost Of Emergency Vet Visits,” Emergency Vets USA, https://emergencyvetsusa.com/average-cost-of-emergency-vet-visits
Family plan policies are limited to dogs age 12 and under and cats age 14 and under. Multi-policy discount is not available with Family Plans.
Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy is compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Illness coverage begins 14 days from the effective day of your policy compared to 14 to 30 days for many competitors. Based on a January 2024 review of publicly available summary information. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor's policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.
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