Nationwide vs. Met Life Pet Insurance

Nationwide offers better pet insurance for cats, while Met Life is more ideal for dogs. However, your best choice between these two pet insurance providers may change based on what matters most to you:

• Affordability: Met Life wins on price for both cats and dogs. For cats, it ranks 10th nationally compared to Nationwide's 13th position, while dog owners see Met Life place sixth against Nationwide's 14th.
• Coverage: Met Life offers better coverage options, holding seventh place nationally for both pets. Nationwide lags behind at ninth for both pet types.
• Customer Experience: Nationwide ranks higher for customer service, placing fourth nationally while Met Life comes in eighth. This ranking holds the same for both dog and cat insurance.

Learn more about the best pet insurance options for your pet across different situations:

Met Life ranks as the best pet insurance company for dogs in 49 states, while Nationwide leads in only one state, Virginia. The results reverse for cats. Nationwide ranks as the best pet insurance company in all 50 states, while Met Life does not lead in any state for cat insurance.

Met Life wins on pet insurance cost across most age categories, with the largest savings for puppies at 41% less than Nationwide’s rates. Nationwide only costs less for senior dogs, where it is 19% cheaper than Met Life.

Met Life consistently offers the cheapest pet insurance across the country for kittens, puppies, and young and middle-aged pets. For senior cats, Met Life offers lower rates in 37 states, while Nationwide takes the lead in California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin. Nationwide is also more affordable than Met Life for senior dogs in all 50 states.

Met Life offers more pet insurance discounts than Nationwide, with nine savings opportunities compared to Nationwide's three. Although both providers match on employer group plans at 10% off, Nationwide wins for existing customers with its 5% loyalty discount, while Met Life rewards military members, veterinary staff, health care workers and federal employees.

Nationwide ranks higher than Met Life for customer service, placing fourth nationally while Met Life comes in eighth. Met Life holds a higher Trustpilot rating at 4.7 out of 5 compared to Nationwide’s 4.4, but Nationwide posts a stronger BBB rating (A+ versus A-) and slightly higher positive sentiment on Reddit (43% versus 40%).

Met Life ranks higher than Nationwide for pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats, placing seventh nationally while Nationwide comes in ninth. It offers more flexibility when setting up a policy, including a $0 deductible option and no waiting period for accidents. Hereditary and congenital conditions are part of Met Life’s standard coverage, while Nationwide requires an add-on for these conditions.

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

Both Nationwide and Met Life allow you to extend your base coverage for more comprehensive financial protection. Nationwide offers two add-ons, while Met Life has one focused on routine care.

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

• Preventive Care add-on: Comes in two tiers (Preventive 365 and Preventive 575) and covers routine care, such as wellness exams, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm testing and prevention, routine blood work, urinalysis, fecal testing, dental cleaning, spay or neuter procedure, microchipping, nail trimming and behavioral training.

Choosing between Nationwide and Met Life depends on what matters most to you. Nationwide is the better option for cat insurance and ranks higher for customer service, with a 4.4 out of 5 Trustpilot score and an A+ BBB rating. Met Life works well for dog insurance, with lower premiums, no waiting period for accidents and no upper age limit for enrollment.

Compare other pet insurance companies to find the best option for your pet:

Compare Nationwide and Met Life pet insurance through these common questions: