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Nationwide vs Healthy Paws Pet Insurance 2024 Comparison: Which One’s Best?

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

nationwide vs healthy paws

No matter what pet insurance guide you are looking at, Nationwide and Healthy Paws rank as being some of the most impressive options. Although both pet insurers have their own advantages, certain customers would prefer one over the other.

For example, Nationwide Pet Insurance is the better option if you want more coverage. Though the plans are more expensive and fixed, they cover preventative care and a number of other issues, which may be helpful for pets with pre-existing conditions. More so, Nationwide covers exotic pets, including reptiles, birds, and small mammals, in addition to dogs and cats.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, on the other hand, is ideal for dog and cat owners who want customization and affordable prices. Although they do not offer preventative care or coverage for exotic pets, their plans are great for those needing to save some money. In fact, most users would prefer Healthy Paws Pet Insurance over Nationwide due to the customization and affordable price.

Still, there are quite a few other factors to consider when deciding between Nationwide and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. To find out more about both of these pet insurers, keep reading. In this review, we give an overview of both insurers and give recommendations about which one you should select.

Divider 8

Best for Exotic Pets
Our rating: 3.9 / 5
Best Coverage Limit
Our rating: 4.7 / 5

A Quick Comparison

Before we jump into the big comparison, here’s a brief look at both insurance companies side by side:

Company Name Nationwide Healthy Paws
Pets Covered Dogs, Cats, Birds, Exotic Pets Cats and dogs
Types of Plans Varies between condition and plan Unlimited
Deductibles $250
  • 5 years and younger: $100, $250, and $500
  • 6–7 years: $250, $500, and $750
  • 8 years and older: $750 and $1,000
Reimbursement
  • 50%
  • 70%
  • 90%
  • 5 years and younger: 70%, 80%, and 90%
  • 6–7 years: 60%, 70%, and 80%
  • 8 years and older: 50% and 60%
Additional Perks
  • Can use any vet
  • Multi-pet discount
  • Discount for Nationwide members
  • Can cover cancer treatments
  • 24/7 vet helpline
  • The non-profit foundation helps homeless pets through the Every Quote Gives  Hope™ program.
  • 24/7 helpline

Brief Overview of Nationwide

Nationwide Pet Insurance

Pros
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Impressive coverage
  • Exotic pet coverage
  • 24/7 vet helpline
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Not customizable
  • Basic phone support

Nationwide Pet Insurance is a highly known insurer that offers premade policies for convenience. Although the premade policies are easy to use and simple, the premiums are on the higher side of things. If you are looking for ease of use and coverage over price, however, Nationwide Pet Insurance may be the option for you.

It is also an ideal insurer if you have exotic pets, such as reptiles, birds, and small mammals, or dogs or cats with pre-existing conditions.

Coverage and Customization

One thing that makes Nationwide Pet Insurance stand out is how easy it is to use. Because it has fixed plan options, you do not have to worry about customizing or creating your own plan. As a result, Nationwide offers three different pet insurance policies: Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness, and Whole Pet with Wellness.

In terms of coverage, Nationwide offers a variety of options, but you have to know which plan to select. The Whole Pet Plan, for instance, offers just about everything you could need, including preventative care. It also has pretty impressive waiting periods and no bilateral exclusions for any CCL injuries, making it the better option for pets with pre-existing conditions.

Customer Service

The Nationwide Pet Insurance customer service is subpar at best. They offer basic phone support, and most claims are processed within 30 days. You can contact Nationwide via phone or email, Monday through Friday during business hours and Saturdays in the morning.

Nationwide also offers a 24/7 vet helpline. This will allow you to contact a veterinarian, no matter the time of day, with general or urgent health questions pertaining to your pet.

Affordability

In terms of affordability, Nationwide is more on the expensive side. Because it offers fixed plans, the premiums are a bit higher. For example, coverage for a medium-sized, mixed-breed female dog comes with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. This comes out to $28.42 for the Major Medical Plan or $72.56 for a Whole Pet with Wellness Plan.

Nationwide does offer a 5% discount to those who are insuring two or more pets. Most other companies offer a 10% discount for insuring two or more pets, though.

Best For

Even though Nationwide is expensive, Nationwide Pet Insurance is the ideal choice if you have an exotic pet or a pet with a pre-existing condition. Because it offers more coverage, Nationwide will be able to care for exotic pets or pets with special needs. On the other hand, Nationwide is not the best option for people on a budget or for animals with no known pre-existing conditions or in need of preventative care.


Brief Overview of Healthy Paws

HealthyPaws

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Great reputation
  • Easily customizable
  • Quick payment times
Cons
  • Less coverage
  • No exotic pet coverage
  • Only covers dogs and cats

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is easily one of the most loved pet insurers for dogs and cats. Their affordability, comprehensive coverage, and customization make their plans a hit among a variety of pet owners. Of course, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance only covers dogs and cats, making the insurer less suitable for those with exotic pets. It’s also less suitable for pets with pre-existing conditions.

Coverage and Customization

Coverage is not Healthy Paws Pet Insurance’s number one feature. Although it does cover a wide range of treatment options, it does not cover any preventative care. Still, it does offer decent coverage for younger and relatively healthy pets.

Where Healthy Paws Pet Insurance stands out is in customization. They have unlimited claims on all their plans, though there are restrictions on certain annual deductible amounts and reimbursements. Their plans are highly customizable, making them a great option if you want to mix and match your coverage.

Customer Service

In the pet insurance industry, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is one of the best in terms of customer service and reputation. It is easy to contact Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. They will be happy to help you out and answer any questions you may have. You can contact Healthy Paws Pet Insurance via email 24/7. You can also call them Monday through Saturday during business hours.

Affordability

On top of their great customer service, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is affordable. There is a $25 enrollment fee plus a 30-day money-back guarantee. Although Healthy Paws puts limits and excludes some pets covered by their plans, the prices are more affordable for the pets that qualify.

Best For

Because of Healthy Paws’ affordable prices, it is best for dogs and cats with no known illnesses. If your pet is young and healthy, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance will help you save money while protecting your furry friend. However, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is not the ideal choice if your pet has pre-existing conditions or needs preventative care.


Other Top-Rated Pet Insurance Companies

Most Customizable
Our rating: 4.5 / 5
Best Wellness Plans
Our rating: 4.1 / 5
Best Dental Coverage
Our rating: 4.5 / 5

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws: Plans Available

Company Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs Sample Monthly Cost For Cats Learn More
Nationwide $34.34 $14.98 Click to Get Quote
Healthy Paws $45.88 $21.42 Click to Get Quote

Find The Best Insurance Companies in 2024


Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws: Reimbursements and Deductibles

Nationwide

% of Medical Expenses
  • 50%
  • 70%
  • 90%
Annual Deductible Options
  • $250
Maximum Coverage Options
  • Varies between condition and plan

Healthy Paws

% of Medical Expenses
  • 60%
  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%
Annual Deductible Options
  • $100
  • $250
  • $500
  • $750
  • $1000
Maximum Coverage Options
  • No coverage limits

What the Users Say

In addition to our own research and experience with the two pet insurers, we looked online to see what other users thought about Nationwide and Healthy Paws. Overall, most reviews were overwhelmingly in favor of Healthy Paws, but users who wanted more coverage preferred Nationwide, which is what we expected.

For Nationwide, most users were pleased with the optional Wellness Plan and additional coverage. However, Nationwide had far more negative reviews than Healthy Paws. In fact, many customers complained that there are transaction fees, long claim payments, and age restrictions.

Healthy Paws, on the other hand, had primarily positive reviews, making it difficult to find negative reviews. Most negative reviews we found dealt with the customer not understanding which pets were covered in the first place. For customers who understood their policies, there were very few negative comments.

Even though user opinion is important when selecting a pet insurer, we do not think that the reviews tell the entire picture in this case. Given that Healthy Paws is more geared towards healthy and young dogs and cats, it makes sense that their customers have fewer complaints. Nationwide, on the other hand, offers more coverage to more animals, resulting in the possibility of more complaints.

Nevertheless, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is the favorite among users online. It is difficult to find negative reviews. Nationwide, on the other hand, has quite a few positive and negative reviews.


Company Verdict: Which One Has the Edge?

Customer Service 📞

  • Edge: Nationwide

Although neither of these pet insurers have impressive customer support, Nationwide beats out Healthy Paws just slightly. Because of the 24/7 helpline, you can get more help with your pet using Nationwide than Healthy Paws. However, both insurers are subpar in terms of customer support with the company, given that they both only offer phone and email options.


Price of Plans 💲

  • Edge: Healthy Paws

One area where Healthy Paws Pet Insurance beats Nationwide is in price. As we mentioned above, Nationwide has three set plans, resulting in relatively high deductibles. With Healthy Paws’ more customized approach, you can usually find a plan to better fit your budget. At the same time, some options are more expensive if you want to put out the money.


Areas of Coverage 🌐

  • Edge: Nationwide

In terms of coverage, Nationwide Pet Insurance beats Healthy Paws Pet Insurance by a landslide. On one end of the spectrum, Nationwide offers pretty extensive coverage, including preventative care for their Whole Pet Plan. Additionally, they do not exclude or limit as many pets as Healthy Paws. Not to mention, Nationwide covers more pet varieties, including birds, reptiles, and small mammals.

If you have a dog or cat that is younger and in relatively good condition, the coverage of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is still extensive. So long as you do not want preventative care options, your pet should be fully covered.


Customization

  • Edge: Healthy Paws

Even though Nationwide offers more coverage, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is more easily customized. Nationwide takes an approach to offer three prefixed plans. As a result, you cannot customize your plan at all. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, on the other hand, is easily customizable, ensuring you get the exact coverage you need for your pet.


Claim Repayment

  • Edge: Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance typically repays claims within 2 days, making it the fastest in the industry. Nationwide, on the other hand, takes between 5 to 15 days to repay claims, though they allow up to 30 days.

Find The Best Insurance Companies in 2024


Conclusion

Nationwide Pet Insurance
Nationwide
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws
Our Rating
Our Rating:
Our Rating:
Medication
Medication:
Medication:
Wellness Options
Wellness Options:
Wellness Options:
Breeding
Breeding:
Breeding:
Specialists
Specialists:
Specialists:

All around, Nationwide and Healthy Paws are good pet insurers. So how do you choose Nationwide Pet Insurance vs Healthy Paws? Between the two, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is superior in most categories. As a result, most dog and cat owners should opt for Healthy Paws due to its customization and affordability. Just make sure your pet is covered first.

There are times when users should select Nationwide Pet Insurance instead, though. Most notably, pets who need more coverage should definitely select Nationwide instead. Nevertheless, you should select Healthy Paws Pet Insurance if you do not need additional coverage or preventative care.

Read Also: 

  • Hepper acknowledges that it is not licensed as an insurance agent, and therefore will not offer any advice regarding insurance, nor recommend a particular coverage, policy, or insurance company.

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