Having insurance for your pet can provide several benefits and peace of mind. Pet adoption is more popular than ever, and insurance can provide a financial safety net when your pet becomes ill or needs veterinary assistance for unforeseen circumstances. When choosing pet insurance, the choice can be overwhelming, and the process can become confusing. There is a lot to consider; naturally, you want the best and most affordable cover for your companion.
To help you make your decision, we have put together a side-by-side comparison of Lemonade and Nationwide, two great insurance providers. We compare the types of plans they offer and which pets they cover. We also examine the pros and cons of each company, reimbursements, and additional perks.
Company Name | Lemonade | Nationwide |
Pets Covered | Cats and dogs | Dogs, cats, birds, exotic pets |
Types of Plans | Accidents & Illness, Add-on Coverages, Preventative Care, Puppy/Kitten Care | Major medical, whole pet, Wellness |
Deductibles | $100, $250, $500 | $250 annual fee |
Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, 90% | Two types of reimbursement, according to the benefit schedule |
Additional Perks | Discounts available, donates unclaimed funds to customer-chosen charities fast claim payout | Discounts available |
Brief Overview of Lemonade
- Offers lower premiums compared to competitors
- Bundling and multi-pet discount
- Fast claims payout
- Mobile app for easy submission of claims
- Not available in 13 states
- No exotic pet coverage
Lemonade pet insurance provides affordable standard coverage for accidents and illness for your cat or dog. They offer preventive care packages, and optional add-on coverage for things like vet fees, dental illness, behavioral conditions and physical therapy so you can personalize your plan. Their monthly premiums are generally low and customizable, and their easy-to-use mobile app can help you build policies, handle simple claims, and get reimbursed in minutes.
Lemonade has a bundling discount policy to help you save money. The company does not cover pre-existing conditions and has an age limit depending on the breed’s life expectancy. Their policies can be used with any licensed vet in 36 states plus Washington, D.C. They are one of the best insurance providers because of their affordability, broad coverage, and fast claims process.
Brief Overview of Nationwide
- One of the only companies to offer exotic pet insurance
- Discounts available
- Comprehensive coverage
- Offers Pet RX express
- Less generous reimbursement options
- Higher premium than Lemonade
Nationwide is one of the largest pet insurance companies in the world, covering more than a million pets. It offers a variety of plan options to protect your cat and dog, as well as birds and exotic pets, which many insurance companies don’t cover. Nationwide’s simple and easy-to-use plans cover accidents and illness, testing and diagnostics, and holistic and alternative treatment.
They offer three options with a $250 deductible and one with a 90% reimbursement and no annual limit. Nationwide provides insurance that lasts and coverage that won’t be dropped because of age or number of claims. They do not cover pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, or diagnostic tests.
Nationwide offers discounts to help you save, and you can receive care from any licensed vet in the world.
Other Top Rated Pet Insurance Companies
Lemonade vs Nationwide: Plans Available
Lemonade offers accident and illness coverage that covers several medical expenses, with the option for additional customizable add-ons for extra coverage.
Nationwide offers three plans and lets you customize your policy with add-ons for as much coverage as possible.
Company | Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs | Sample Monthly Cost For Cats | Learn More |
Lemonade | $19.44 | $11.00 | Click to Get Quote |
Nationwide | $56.74 | $28.15 | Click to Get Quote |
Lemonade
Lemonade’s base plan covers accidents and illness. Incidents that are covered include:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Infections
- Cancer and heart disease
- Broken bones, sprains, elbow and hip dysplasia, arthritis
- Allergies, skin, congenital, hereditary, and other chronic conditions
Procedures, tests, and other costs related to accidents and illness are covered and can include:
- Prescription medication
- Ultrasounds, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and bloodwork
- Hospitalization, surgery, emergency, and special care.
Lemonade offers flexible annual limits, and there are no lifetime limits. They offer three deductible options and three reimbursement options.
Nationwide
Nationwide offers three plans with deductibles, reimbursement amounts, and average cover limits. They include Whole Pet, Major Medical, and Wellness. Whole Pet and Major medical includes coverage for:
- Exams
- Hereditary and chronic illnesses
- Surgeries and hospitalization
- Prescriptions
- Lab tests
- Cancer
Wellness includes coverage for:
- Wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Flea and heartworm prevention and treatment
- Behavior exam and treatment
- Microchipping
- Dental
- Deworming
- Bloodwork
- Spay or neuter
If you are looking for as much coverage as possible, Nationwide allows you to add Pet Wellness coverage as a rider to another plan. They also offer two add-ons: Wellness Basic and Wellness Plus, which provide coverage for the same treatments, but Wellness Plus has a higher coverage limit.
Lemonade vs Nationwide: Reimbursements and Deductibles
Lemonade Pet Insurance payment plans allow you to select the percentage on your deductible and reimbursement amount for a customizable plan.
All three of Nationwide’s plans have a set $250 deductible and one with a set 90% reimbursement and no annual limit. Nationwide will reimburse you for eligible expenses once you have met your yearly deductible, but certain procedures may be excluded due to pre-existing conditions.
Lemonade
- 60%
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
- $100
- $250
- $500
- $750
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $20,000
- $100,000
When you start a policy, Lemonade lets you choose a $100, $250, or $500 deductible that can be updated annually when your policy is renewed. The deductible amount can affect your monthly premium, and your premium will be lower if you choose a higher deductible option.
Depending on your plan, Lemonade offers four reimbursement percentage amounts: 70%, 80%, or 90%. Annual reimbursement limits range from $5,000 to $100,000.
Nationwide
- 50%
- 70%
- 90%
- $250
- $10,000
If you buy your policy online, an annual deductible of $250 applies to both Whole Pet and Major Medical plans. Whole Pet plans refund a percentage of what you paid your veterinarian. You can be reimbursed 50% or 70% of your vet expenses. The Major Medical plan and Wellness plan reimbursement is based on your schedule of benefits, which caps reimbursement at a set amount for each condition and service.
Lemonade vs Nationwide: Additional Perks
Both companies offer discounts to help you save money, but Lemonade has a Giveback program that benefits charities.
Lemonade
When you sign up for your policy with Lemonade, you select a charity that can benefit from your business. While it takes a flat fee for running costs, Lemonade donates unclaimed premiums to the charity of your choice at the end of the year.
Lemonade offers discount bundling where you can receive 10% off your premiums when you bundle your pet insurance policy with a homeowner’s or car insurance policy. If you cover two or more pets, you receive a 5% discount, and if you pay your premiums annually rather than monthly, they will be reduced by 5%.
Nationwide
If you have a current policy with Nationwide, they offer a 5% discount on a new pet insurance policy. You can also receive a 5% discount if you insure multiple pets.
Policyholders also have access to Pet Rx Express, which gives you preferred pricing on pet prescriptions at any Walmart or Sam’s Club pharmacy. Nationwide can process the prescription insurance claim at the pharmacy counter, and they also provide insurance for birds and other exotic animals.
Company Verdict: Which One Has the Edge?
Customer Service
- Edge: Lemonade
While both companies have a user-friendly app, Nationwide’s app offers little functionality for customers, and Lemonade has an app scoring 4.9 out of 5. A third of lemonade app users received their reimbursement instantly after uploading their claim. Although Lemonade claims not always to be perfect, they have earned some of the highest customer ratings in the industry. Lemonade has not received complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Price of Plans
- Edge: Lemonade
Lemonade offers astonishingly low rates for the amount of coverage, with premiums starting at just $10 per month, while Nationwide plans start at $35 per month. You can cover most of your pet bills, whether planned or not, while barely paying $50 a month. Lemonade’s quotes are at the lower end of the scale while offering the same deductible and reimbursement options as other insurers.
Areas of Coverage
- Edge: Nationwide
Nationwide has a variety of policies to choose from that are customizable and available in all 50 states. For the best coverage, riders and add-ons are available. The Wellness plan can be added as a rider to an existing or stand-alone plan, which other companies do not offer. Nationwide doesn’t only cover cats and dogs. They also offer coverage for birds and exotic pets such as reptiles, potbellied pigs, hamsters, and goats.
Policyholders have access to Pet Rx Express for prescriptions at Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies, and the claims can be processed in-store.
Perks
- Edge: Lemonade
Lemonade offers a 10 % discount on bundled policies, whereas Nationwide only offers 5%. They also donate a portion of your payments to charity and have a user-friendly app that allows you to manage your account and submit claims.
Summary
Lemonade | Nationwide | |
---|---|---|
Our Rating | Our Rating: | Our Rating: |
Preventative Care Options | Preventative Care Options: | Preventative Care Options: |
Wellness Options | Wellness Options: | Wellness Options: |
Spaying/Neutering | Spaying/Neutering: | Spaying/Neutering: |
Prescription Foods | Prescription Foods: | Prescription Foods: |
Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
Although Nationwide has broader coverage, we believe Lemonade is the better choice for pet insurance because of its affordability and fast claims payout. You can save a lot on regular vet bills, as well as unforeseen accidents that may happen. Lemonade is ideal for owners of recently adopted pets since the low premium which can offset the start-up costs of adopting a new pet. It is also the best choice for pet owners on a budget, as its low premiums will give you peace of mind knowing that your pet bills are covered without breaking the bank.
- https://pangovet.com/insurance/lemonade-pet-insurance-review/
- https://www.lemonade.com/pet?utm_source=pangolia_pet_us&utm_medium=partners_online&utm_campaign=petkeen_review
- https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/pet/
- https://www.extrabux.com/en/guide/5363653
- https://www.thisoldhouse.com/home-finances/22744453/lemonade-pet-insurance-reviews
- https://www.investopedia.com/nationwide-pet-insurance-review-5070734
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- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/nationwide-pet-insurance-review