Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: Which Is Better? (2026)

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: Key Takeaways

Healthy Paws outperforms Nationwide in affordability, offering the lowest rates puppies and young pets, with young dog owners saving 37% compared to Nationwide's premiums.

Nationwide provides better customer service, earning a higher Trustpilot rating and Reddit positive sentiment for its responsive customer service and clear policy terms.

Healthy Paws offers broader pet insurance coverage than Nationwide, with unlimited payouts and option for direct vet payment.

Is Nationwide or Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Better?

Healthy Paws beats Nationwide for pet insurance, ranking sixth nationally, while Nationwide places 11th for cats and 14th for dogs in MoneyGeek's analysis. However, your best choice may vary depending on what matters most when selecting pet insurance for your furry companion.

Affordability: Healthy Paws costs less than Nationwide for both dogs and cats, placing sixth in our study compared to Nationwide's 14th and 13th rankings, respectively.
Coverage: Healthy Paws offers broader financial protection than Nationwide's plans, ranking three places above Nationwide in our analysis.
Customer Experience: Nationwide wins against Healthy Paws in customer service quality, earning fourth place in our national ranking, whereas Healthy Paws is behind by one spot.


Cat	Affordability	Healthy Paws	6	13
Cat	Coverage	Healthy Paws	6	9
Cat	Customer Experience	Nationwide	4	5
Cat	Overall Score	Healthy Paws	6	11
Dog	Affordability	Healthy Paws	6	14
Dog	Coverage	Healthy Paws	6	9
Dog	Customer Experience	Nationwide	4	5
Dog	Overall Score	Healthy Paws	6	14

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider

All scores presented here were based on averages for experiences and pricing for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll, with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement rate.

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Nationwide and Healthy Paws Comparison by State

Our study found that Healthy Paws consistently ranks as the best pet insurance company in 50 states for both dogs and cats when compared to Nationwide.

Data filtered by:


Alabama	Cat	Healthy Paws
Alabama	Dog	Healthy Paws
Alaska	Cat	Healthy Paws
Alaska	Dog	Healthy Paws
Arizona	Cat	Healthy Paws
Arizona	Dog	Healthy Paws
Arkansas	Cat	Healthy Paws
Arkansas	Dog	Healthy Paws
California	Cat	Healthy Paws
California	Dog	Healthy Paws
Colorado	Cat	Healthy Paws
Colorado	Dog	Healthy Paws
Connecticut	Cat	Healthy Paws
Connecticut	Dog	Healthy Paws
Delaware	Cat	Healthy Paws
Delaware	Dog	Healthy Paws
Florida	Cat	Healthy Paws
Florida	Dog	Healthy Paws
Georgia	Cat	Healthy Paws
Georgia	Dog	Healthy Paws
Hawaii	Cat	Healthy Paws
Hawaii	Dog	Healthy Paws
Idaho	Cat	Healthy Paws
Idaho	Dog	Healthy Paws
Illinois	Cat	Healthy Paws
Illinois	Dog	Healthy Paws
Indiana	Cat	Healthy Paws
Indiana	Dog	Healthy Paws
Iowa	Cat	Healthy Paws
Iowa	Dog	Healthy Paws
Kansas	Cat	Healthy Paws
Kansas	Dog	Healthy Paws
Kentucky	Cat	Healthy Paws
Kentucky	Dog	Healthy Paws
Louisiana	Cat	Healthy Paws
Louisiana	Dog	Healthy Paws
Maine	Cat	Healthy Paws
Maine	Dog	Healthy Paws
Maryland	Cat	Healthy Paws
Maryland	Dog	Healthy Paws
Massachusetts	Cat	Healthy Paws
Massachusetts	Dog	Healthy Paws
Michigan	Cat	Healthy Paws
Michigan	Dog	Healthy Paws
Minnesota	Cat	Healthy Paws
Minnesota	Dog	Healthy Paws
Mississippi	Cat	Healthy Paws
Mississippi	Dog	Healthy Paws
Missouri	Cat	Healthy Paws
Missouri	Dog	Healthy Paws
Montana	Cat	Healthy Paws
Montana	Dog	Healthy Paws
Nebraska	Cat	Healthy Paws
Nebraska	Dog	Healthy Paws
Nevada	Cat	Healthy Paws
Nevada	Dog	Healthy Paws
New Hampshire	Cat	Healthy Paws
New Hampshire	Dog	Healthy Paws
New Jersey	Cat	Healthy Paws
New Jersey	Dog	Healthy Paws
New Mexico	Cat	Healthy Paws
New Mexico	Dog	Healthy Paws
New York	Cat	Healthy Paws
New York	Dog	Healthy Paws
North Carolina	Cat	Healthy Paws
North Carolina	Dog	Healthy Paws
North Dakota	Cat	Healthy Paws
North Dakota	Dog	Healthy Paws
Ohio	Cat	Healthy Paws
Ohio	Dog	Healthy Paws
Oklahoma	Cat	Healthy Paws
Oklahoma	Dog	Healthy Paws
Oregon	Cat	Healthy Paws
Oregon	Dog	Healthy Paws
Pennsylvania	Cat	Healthy Paws
Pennsylvania	Dog	Healthy Paws
Rhode Island	Cat	Healthy Paws
Rhode Island	Dog	Healthy Paws
South Carolina	Cat	Healthy Paws
South Carolina	Dog	Healthy Paws
South Dakota	Cat	Healthy Paws
South Dakota	Dog	Healthy Paws
Tennessee	Cat	Healthy Paws
Tennessee	Dog	Healthy Paws
Texas	Cat	Healthy Paws
Texas	Dog	Healthy Paws
Utah	Cat	Healthy Paws
Utah	Dog	Healthy Paws
Vermont	Cat	Healthy Paws
Vermont	Dog	Healthy Paws
Virginia	Cat	Healthy Paws
Virginia	Dog	Healthy Paws
Washington	Cat	Healthy Paws
Washington	Dog	Healthy Paws
West Virginia	Cat	Healthy Paws
West Virginia	Dog	Healthy Paws
Wisconsin	Cat	Healthy Paws
Wisconsin	Dog	Healthy Paws
Wyoming	Cat	Healthy Paws
Wyoming	Dog	Healthy Paws

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Cost

Nationwide costs less than Healthy Paws for kittens and middle-aged and senior pets, with middle-aged dogs offering the biggest savings at 26%. Healthy Paws offers lower rates than Nationwide for puppies and young pets, where young dog owners save 37% compared to Nationwide's premiums.

See pet insurance costs by age category below.

Data filtered by:


Young Cats	Healthy Paws	$27	27%
Kittens	Nationwide	$33	25%
Young Dogs	Healthy Paws	$44	37%
Puppies	Healthy Paws	$48	20%
Middle Aged Cats	Nationwide	$52	11%
Senior Cats	Nationwide	$57	10%
Senior Dogs	Nationwide	$99	14%
Middle Aged Dogs	Nationwide	$101	26%

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider

All rates presented here were based on averages for pricing for Labrador Retrievers and Ragdolls from the age of less than 1 years old up to 20 years of age across 50 states.

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Cost by State

Nationwide dominates state-level affordability across most pet categories, while Healthy Paws offers the cheapest pet insurance for younger animals in select states. Here's how costs compare in the most affordable states for each category:

Kittens: Nationwide costs $22 monthly in Arkansas compared to Healthy Paws' $29 in the same state, allowing Arkansas kitten owners to save 24% with Nationwide.
Puppies: Healthy Paws wins at $32 monthly in Arkansas, beating Nationwide's $41 rate in the same state. You'll save 21% choosing Healthy Paws for your new puppy.
Young Cats: Healthy Paws charges $18 monthly in Arkansas versus Nationwide's $26. That's a 29% savings for young cat owners in Arkansas.
Young Dogs: Arkansas offers the best value with Healthy Paws at $29 monthly compared to Nationwide's $47. Young dog owners save 37% with Healthy Paws.
Middle-Aged Cats: Nationwide leads with a $36 monthly rate in Arkansas, while Healthy Paws charges $39 in the same state. Arkansas residents save 9% with Nationwide for middle-aged cats.
Middle-Aged Dogs: Nationwide costs $68 monthly in Arkansas versus Healthy Paws' $91. Middle-aged dog owners save 26% choosing Nationwide.
Senior Cats: Arkansas has Nationwide's lowest rate at $39 monthly, beating Healthy Paws' $42. Senior cat coverage costs 8% less with Nationwide.
Senior Dogs: Nationwide charges $67 monthly in Arkansas compared to Healthy Paws' $77. That translates to 14% savings for senior dog owners.

Data filtered by:


Alabama	Nationwide	$74	26%
Alaska	Nationwide	$98	26%
Arizona	Nationwide	$122	26%
Arkansas	Nationwide	$68	26%
California	Nationwide	$127	26%
Colorado	Nationwide	$126	26%
Connecticut	Nationwide	$115	26%
Delaware	Nationwide	$101	26%
Florida	Nationwide	$114	26%
Georgia	Nationwide	$91	26%
Hawaii	Nationwide	$102	26%
Idaho	Nationwide	$101	26%
Illinois	Nationwide	$124	26%
Indiana	Nationwide	$91	26%
Iowa	Nationwide	$85	26%
Kansas	Nationwide	$92	26%
Kentucky	Nationwide	$80	26%
Louisiana	Nationwide	$81	26%
Maine	Nationwide	$122	26%
Maryland	Nationwide	$99	26%
Massachusetts	Nationwide	$130	26%
Michigan	Nationwide	$101	26%
Minnesota	Nationwide	$104	26%
Mississippi	Nationwide	$86	26%
Missouri	Nationwide	$80	26%
Montana	Nationwide	$84	26%
Nebraska	Nationwide	$91	26%
Nevada	Nationwide	$104	26%
New Hampshire	Nationwide	$117	26%
New Jersey	Nationwide	$114	26%
New Mexico	Nationwide	$89	26%
New York	Nationwide	$109	26%
North Carolina	Nationwide	$90	26%
North Dakota	Nationwide	$77	26%
Ohio	Nationwide	$92	26%
Oklahoma	Nationwide	$84	26%
Oregon	Nationwide	$125	26%
Pennsylvania	Nationwide	$105	26%
Rhode Island	Nationwide	$88	26%
South Carolina	Nationwide	$96	26%
South Dakota	Nationwide	$89	26%
Tennessee	Nationwide	$93	26%
Texas	Nationwide	$106	26%
Utah	Nationwide	$96	26%
Vermont	Nationwide	$94	26%
Virginia	Nationwide	$107	26%
Washington	Nationwide	$117	26%
West Virginia	Nationwide	$87	26%
Wisconsin	Nationwide	$108	26%
Wyoming	Nationwide	$93	26%

How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State

All rates presented here were based on average pricing for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and a 7-year-old Ragdoll.

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Discounts

Nationwide offers three pet insurance discounts, while Healthy Paws has none. Multi-pet households save the most with Nationwide's 5% per-pet discount when insuring two to three animals, plus existing Nationwide customers get an additional 5% off. Joining a participating employer's group plan also gets you 10% savings.


Multiple pets	Save 5% per pet when you insure two to three pets with Nationwide.	None.
Existing customer	5% off for existing Nationwide insurance customers buying a new pet policy.	None.
Employer group plan	Get 10% discount for joining a participating employer's group plan.	None.

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Customer Experience

Nationwide wins the customer experience category for both cats and dogs, beating Healthy Paws' national ranking by one spot. Although both companies hold A+ ratings from the Better Business Bureau, Nationwide earns a higher rating on Trustpilot (4.4 versus 4.0 out of 5.0) and stronger positive sentiment on Reddit (43% versus 20% positive).

Nationwide vs Healthy Paws Trustpilot ratings

Nationwide scores 4.4 out of 5.0 on Trustpilot, while Healthy Paws earns 4.0 out of 5.0, with pet owners praising Nationwide for helpful agents and quick reimbursements but noting occasional communication delays. Healthy Paws receives high marks for fast claim processing and comprehensive coverage, though reviewers complain about steep premium increases for senior pets and emergency exam fee exclusions.

Nationwide vs Healthy Paws BBB ratings

Nationwide maintains an A+ BBB rating, which is the highest grade available for companies that uphold BBB Standards for Trust. Healthy Paws also has an A+ rating, indicating that both insurers maintain strong complaint resolution records and transparent business practices with pet owners.

Nationwide vs Healthy Paws Reddit sentiment

Reddit discussions show Nationwide receiving 43% positive sentiment from 14 total comments, with users praising its responsive customer service and clear policy terms, while Healthy Paws holds 20% positive feedback from 40 comments. Reddit threads reveal Healthy Paws faces harsh criticism for massive premium increases on senior pets, sometimes doubling or tripling rates, and claim denials that leave owners frustrated during emergencies.

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Coverage

Healthy Paws offers better pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats than Nationwide, ranking sixth nationally compared to Nationwide's ninth position. While Healthy Paws have limited options for customizing your coverage levels, it still outperforms Nationwide for offering unlimited payouts and direct vet payment. Healthy Paws also includes hereditary and congenital conditions in its standard policy, while Nationwide charges extra for coverage.


Diagnostics	✓	✓
Procedures	✓	✓
Medications	✓	✓
Fractures and broken bones	✓	✓
Lacerations and bite wounds	✓	✓
Parasite treatment	Only covers prevention through an optional add-on	X
Cancer treatment	✓	✓
Digestive illnesses	✓	✓
Hereditary conditions	Only provides coverage through an optional add-on	✓
Congenital conditions	Only provides coverage through an optional add-on	✓
Chronic conditions	✓	✓
Hip dysplasia	Only provides coverage through an optional add-on	✓
Deductibles	$250, $500, $1,000	$250, $500, $1,000
Annual limits	$2,500, $5,000, $10,000	Unlimited
Reimbursement rates	50%, 70%, 80%	70%, 80%, 90%
Waiting periods	Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 12 months for cruciate ligament conditions	15 days for illnesses and accidents, 12 months for hip dysplasia
Age restrictions	8-year-old cats and older are not eligible for hereditary coverage	Only covers pets up to 14 years old
Pre-existing conditions	Curable pre-existing conditions may be eligible for coverage if cured and symptom-free for six months	Conditions that developed before enrollment or during waiting periods are permanently excluded
Direct vet payment	No direct vet pay feature available, operating on a reimbursement model instead	Pays licensed veterinarians directly, provided your vet agrees and you contact its customer service before your pet's treatment

Coverage varies by state and policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents to understand exact coverage terms, exclusions and limitations.

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Add-ons

Healthy Paws offers a single plan that covers accidents and illnesses without add-ons, focusing on simplicity and unlimited coverage. Meanwhile, Nationwide allows more policy customization through the following add-ons:

Wellness coverage: Comes in two tiers ($450 or $800) and covers exams, vaccines, blood tests, deworming, heartworm or FeLV/FIV test, microchip and health certificates.
Hereditary and Congenital Condition coverage: Covers hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, collapsed trachea, and other hereditary and congenital conditions.

Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: Bottom Line

Healthy Paws outperforms Nationwide for pet insurance overall, with lower premiums and broader coverage. Healthy Paws' standard plan includes unlimited coverage, plus hereditary and congenital conditions that Nationwide only covers through an optional add-on. That said, Nationwide is the ideal option for quality service, earning 4.4 out of 5.0 rating on Trustpilot and an A+ BBB rating for its helpful agents and quick reimbursements.

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Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Comparison: FAQ

Answers to common questions about Nationwide vs. Healthy Paws pet insurance:

Which is better: Nationwide or Healthy Paws pet insurance?

Healthy Paws ranks higher overall with stronger scores in affordability and coverage, while Nationwide wins in customer experience with a 4.4 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating compared to Healthy Paws' 4.0. Your best choice depends on priorities: Healthy Paws works better for budget-conscious owners seeking comprehensive coverage, while Nationwide excels for those who value responsive customer service.

Is Nationwide pet insurance cheaper than Healthy Paws?

Nationwide costs less than Healthy Paws across most age categories, with the biggest savings for middle-aged dogs at 26% and kittens at 25%. Healthy Paws offers lower rates for puppies (20% savings), young cats (27% savings) and young dogs (37% savings) nationwide.

What does Healthy Paws cover that Nationwide does not?

Both insurers cover similar accident and illness treatments, though Healthy Paws include hereditary and congenital conditions in its standard policy, while Nationwide requires you to purchase an optional add-on. Healthy Paws also offers unlimited coverage, while Nationwide caps annual limits at $10,000.

Does Nationwide or Healthy Paws have better coverage for older pets?

Nationwide offers better value for senior pets with lower premiums, with senior dog coverage costing 14% less and senior cat owners saving 10% compared to Healthy Paws. That said, it excludes hereditary coverage for 8-year-old cats and older. Meanwhile, Healthy Paws offers more comprehensive coverage, featuring unlimited payouts and direct vet payment, though it only insures pets up to 14 years old during enrollment.

How do reimbursement rates and deductibles compare between Nationwide and Healthy Paws?

There's no difference between Nationwide and Healthy Paws for deductibles, both offering $250, $500 and $1,000. However, Healthy Paws' highest reimbursement rate is 90%, while Nationwide's is 80%.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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