Those vet bills add up quickly
Pet Insurance
You may have never thought that your lovable non-human companion(s) can have insurance of their own. Whether four-legged and furry, feathered, or scaled, pet insurance helps cover the cost of their doctor and hospital visits, just like your personal health insurance. We protect tons of furry friends and their humans with pet insurance.
Like human health insurance, things like age and pre-existing conditions matter. It's best to look into pet coverage at an early age if possible. The sooner you get your pet insured, the more affordable it's likely to be.
However, some insurance companies will cover your pet up to age 10, so unless your pup or kitty is a real senior, it's always good to check out your pet insurance options.
The Most Diverse Pet Insurance by Nationwide
Nationwide offers America's longest-lived and most inclusive pet program. Whether they're covered in fur, scales, or feathers, all are welcome at Nationwide. It's super easy to get a quote and purchase a policy online. Check it out!
We've got em covered.
Nationwide, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual are three of our favorite pet insurance partners. Pups and kitties are welcome at all three. More exotic pets like birds, aquatics, and reptiles can find a home with Nationwide.
👉 Who It's For
- All kinds! Dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and more. Nationwide insures the most diverse range of pets.
✅ Key Features
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Comprehensive coverage: Includes accidents, illnesses, and wellness care
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Exotic pet coverage: Only U.S. insurer covering birds, reptiles, and small mammals.
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Multi-pet discounts: Savings when insuring multiple pets
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Use any licensed vet: No network restrictions.
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24/7 vet helpline: Access to veterinary professionals anytime
👍 Pros
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Broad coverage options: Tailored plans for various needs
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Unique exotic pet insurance: Coverage for non-traditional pets
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Discounts available: For multiple pets and wellness plans
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Flexible vet choice: Freedom to choose any licensed veterinarian
👎 Cons
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Premium increases: Costs may rise with pet's age or claim history
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Policy non-renewals: Plans to drop ~100,000 policies by summer 2025 due to rising veterinary costs
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Waiting periods: Typically 14 days for most coverages.
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Exclusions: Pre-existing conditions not covered
Nationwide Pet Insurance
In 1982, the very first pet insurance policy in America was issued to none other than television's Lassie by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). Pet insurance, already popular in other countries, instantly caught on in the U.S. Fast-forward to 2008, and VPI joined the Nationwide family of companies.
Those decades of VPI's pet insurance experience and Nationwide's excellent personal and business insurance service gave them a leg up on other pet insurers at least at that time.
Nationwide's Pet Insurance Highlights
- Use YOUR vet. Continue using your primary vet. You can also visit any licensed veterinarian anywhere worldwide–even specialists and emergency providers.
- Exotic pet coverage. Only Nationwide covers your bird, rabbit, reptile, or exotic pet.
- Multiple plan options:
- The Whole Pet with Wellness® plan covers accidents, illnesses, and wellness care.
- The Major Medical plan covers accidents and illnesses only.
- The Pet Wellness plan covers routine stuff like checkups and vaccinations.
- The 24/7 VetHelpline gives you instant access to a national network of veterinarians. You get live help with any pet health concern, including identifying urgent care needs.
How does it work?
It's surprisingly simple, actually.
- You pay for your vet or specialist visit.
- Send in a claim form along with the vet's invoice.
- Your claim is processed, and you're reimbursed electronically or with a mailed check, usually within 30 days. That's it!
Are exotic pets covered?
Nationwide is one of the only pet insurers that will cover non-canine or feline pets. Birds, rabbits, snakes, reptiles, whatever. (Are rabbits really that exotic?) You'll need to speak with one of Nationwide's pet specialists to get the specifics on structuring a plan for your exotic pet. Just call 888-899-4874, mention Pyron Group Insurance, and they will walk you through the process.
| Amphibians | Goats | Rats |
| Birds | Guinea Pigs | Rabbits |
| Chameleons | Lizards | Snakes |
| Chinchillas | Mice | Sugar Gliders |
| Ferrets | Opossums | Tortoises |
| Geckos | Potbellied Pigs | Turtles |
Is there a waiting period?
Once your application is approved and payment is received, the Whole Pet with Wellness® and Major Medical plans have a 14 day waiting period before pet coverage begins. The Pet Wellness plan coverage begins 24 hours after your application is approved and payment is received.
👉 Who It's For
- Dogs and cats only
✅ Key Features
- Coverage Types: Accident-only, accident & illness, optional wellness plans
- Customization: Adjustable deductibles, reimbursement rates, and annual limits
- Vet Flexibility: Use any licensed U.S. veterinarian; Pets Best also covers Canadian vets
- Claims Process: Online filing with prompt reimbursements
- Support Access: 24/7 pet health helpline and expert care teams
👍 Pros
- Single Annual Deductible: Applies once per year, not per incident
- Wellness Coverage: Optional plans for routine care like checkups and vaccinations
- Budget-Friendly Options: Affordable accident-only plans available
- Expert Assistance: Access to veterinary professionals for guidance
👎 Cons
- Pre-existing Conditions: Not covered under any plan
- Waiting Periods: Typically 3 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Exotic Pets: Coverage limited to cats and dogs only
- Separate Policies: Each pet requires its own individual policy
Progressive Pet Insurance
Progressive offers customizable pet insurance plans for dogs and cats through partnerships with Pets Best and Companion Protect, helping you manage veterinary expenses for both unexpected incidents and routine care.
Coverage Options
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Comprehensive Plans: These cover a wide range of services, including emergency care, diagnostics, specialist visits, and more. You can tailor plans by selecting deductibles, reimbursement percentages, and annual coverage limits.
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Wellness Plans: Designed for routine and preventive care, these plans cover services like annual checkups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and spaying/neutering. They can be purchased separately or added to a comprehensive plan.
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Accident-Only Plan: This is a budget-friendly option that covers treatments for accidental injuries such as broken bones or swallowed objects.
Key Progressive Features
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Single Annual Deductible: Unlike some insurers that require a deductible for each incident, Progressive's plans have one annual deductible, potentially reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
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Flexible Vet Choice: You can visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S., and Pets Best also accepts claims from Canadian vets.
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Efficient Claims Process: You can file claims online with quick reimbursement for eligible expenses.
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Expert Support: Access to 24/7 pet health helplines and dedicated care teams for guidance on pet health concerns.
Cost Considerations
Premiums vary based on factors like your pet's age, breed, location, and your selected coverage options. A quick example, in 2023, the average monthly premium for an accident and illness plan was $56.30 for dogs and $31.94 for cats. Accident-only plans averaged $17.01 for dogs and $9.68 for cats per month.
Keep In Mind
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Waiting Periods: Typically, there's a 3-day waiting period for accident coverage and a 14-day period for illness coverage, so it's not something you want to try to purchase when things have already gone wrong. Routine care coverage on the other hand often starts the next day.
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Pre-existing Conditions: Conditions that existed before the policy's start date are generally not covered.
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Multiple Pets: While each pet requires its own policy, multi-pet discounts are sometimes available.
👉 Who It's For
- Dogs and cats only
✅ Key Features
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Coverage Types: Accident & Illness; optional Wellness add-on
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Customization: Annual limits ($5K, $10K, $15K), deductibles ($250, $500, $1K), reimbursement rates (70%, 80%, 90%)
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Vet Flexibility: Use any licensed vet, specialist, or emergency clinic
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Eligibility: Pets aged 8 weeks and older
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Wellness Coverage: Fixed reimbursements for preventive care (not subject to deductible or annual max)
👍 Pros
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Comprehensive Coverage: Includes hereditary, congenital, behavioral, and alternative therapies
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Discounts Available: Multi-pet, multi-policy, and military discounts
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No Network Restrictions: Freedom to choose any licensed veterinarian
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Preventive Care Options: Wellness plans cover routine exams, vaccinations, and more
👎 Cons
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Pre-existing Conditions: Not covered
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Waiting Periods: 14 days for all coverages
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Wellness Reimbursements: Based on a fixed schedule
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Exotic Pets: Coverage limited to cats and dogs
Safeco Pet Insurance
Safeco offers customizable pet insurance plans for your cats and dogs, providing coverage for accidents, illnesses, and preventive care. With policies starting at less than $1 per day, you can tailor a plan to fit your needs and budget.
Plan Options
Accident Coverage: Covers accidental injuries, including ingestion of foreign objects (up to two treatments per policy year), euthanasia or anesthesia due to an accident, cremation and burial expenses for injury-related death, and accidental death.
Accident and Illness Coverage: Includes all benefits of the Accident plan, plus coverage for illnesses such as cancer, influenza, and kennel cough, alternative medicine, behavioral therapy, and hereditary and congenital conditions.
Accident, Illness, and Wellness Coverage: Encompasses all features of the Accident and Illness plan, with additional coverage for wellness exams, intestinal deworming, routine dental cleaning, spaying/neutering, flea and tick prevention, heartworm tests and medication, dietary food and supplements, prescription medications, and boosters and vaccinations.
Customization Options
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Annual Maximum: Choose from $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 annual coverage limits.
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Deductible: Options of $250, $500, or $1,000.
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Reimbursement Rate: Select 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement for covered veterinary expenses.
Adjusting these parameters allows you to balance coverage and premium costs.
Key Safeco Features
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Lifetime Coverage: Policies are not automatically terminated due to your pet's age.
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Multiple Discounts: Stackable discounts can save up to 20% on premiums.
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Flexible Vet Choice: Visit any licensed veterinarian; no network restrictions.
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Online Management: User-friendly portal for claims tracking and accessing your benefits anytime.
Important Considerations
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Waiting Period: All coverages have a 14-day waiting period beginning once the policy is issued.
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Exclusions: Pre-existing conditions are not covered.