Pumpkin offers better pet insurance than Nationwide, ranking seventh for dogs and third for cats compared to Nationwide's 14th and 11th place finishes in MoneyGeek's analysis. However, your best option may change based on priorities. If stronger value and service matter most to you, Pumpkin is the ideal choice, while Nationwide is preferable for comprehensive coverage.
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pumpkin offers the best pet insurance compared to Nationwide. Pumpkin has lower rates and better service, while Nationwide offers broader coverage.
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Updated: January 20, 2026
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Pumpkin provides more affordable pet insurance, charging $48 monthly for middle-aged dogs and $30 monthly for cats, while Nationwide's rates are higher at $101 for dogs and $52 for cats.
Pumpkin wins against Nationwide in customer service, earning a 4.9 out of 5.0 Trustpilot score and A+ BBB rating for its fast claim reimbursements and responsive customer representatives.
Nationwide provides broader pet insurance coverage, which extends to exotic animals like rabbits, lizards, ferrets and small mammals. It also has a shorter waiting period for accidents.
Is Nationwide or Pumpkin Pet Insurance Better?
| Cat | Affordability | Pumpkin | 1 | 13 |
| Dog | Affordability | Pumpkin | 3 | 14 |
| Cat | Coverage | Nationwide | 9 | 11 |
| Dog | Coverage | Nationwide | 9 | 11 |
| Cat | Customer Experience | Pumpkin | 3 | 4 |
| Dog | Customer Experience | Pumpkin | 3 | 4 |
| Cat | Overall Score | Pumpkin | 3 | 11 |
| Dog | Overall Score | Pumpkin | 7 | 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.
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your pet insurance. Compare quotes from the top pet insurance companies.
Learn more about the best pet insurance options for your pet across different situations:
Nationwide and Pumpkin Comparison by State
Pumpkin ranks as the best pet insurance company compared to Nationwide in all 50 states for both dogs and cats.
| Alabama | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Alabama | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Alaska | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Alaska | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Arizona | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Arizona | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Arkansas | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Arkansas | Dog | Pumpkin |
| California | Cat | Pumpkin |
| California | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Colorado | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Colorado | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Connecticut | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Connecticut | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Delaware | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Delaware | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Florida | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Florida | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Georgia | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Georgia | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Hawaii | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Hawaii | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Idaho | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Idaho | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Illinois | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Illinois | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Indiana | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Indiana | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Iowa | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Iowa | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Kansas | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Kansas | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Kentucky | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Kentucky | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Louisiana | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Louisiana | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Maine | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Maine | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Maryland | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Maryland | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Massachusetts | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Massachusetts | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Michigan | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Michigan | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Minnesota | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Minnesota | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Mississippi | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Mississippi | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Missouri | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Missouri | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Montana | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Montana | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Nebraska | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Nebraska | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Nevada | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Nevada | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New Hampshire | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New Hampshire | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New Jersey | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New Jersey | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New Mexico | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New Mexico | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New York | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New York | Dog | Pumpkin |
| North Carolina | Cat | Pumpkin |
| North Carolina | Dog | Pumpkin |
| North Dakota | Cat | Pumpkin |
| North Dakota | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Ohio | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Ohio | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Oklahoma | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Oklahoma | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Oregon | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Oregon | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Pennsylvania | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Pennsylvania | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Rhode Island | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Rhode Island | Dog | Pumpkin |
| South Carolina | Cat | Pumpkin |
| South Carolina | Dog | Pumpkin |
| South Dakota | Cat | Pumpkin |
| South Dakota | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Tennessee | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Tennessee | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Texas | Cat | Pumpkin |
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| Utah | Cat | Pumpkin |
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| Vermont | Cat | Pumpkin |
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| Virginia | Cat | Pumpkin |
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| Washington | Cat | Pumpkin |
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| West Virginia | Cat | Pumpkin |
| West Virginia | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Wisconsin | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Wisconsin | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Wyoming | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Wyoming | Dog | Pumpkin |
How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State
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.
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cost
Pumpkin beats Nationwide for affordability across most age groups, winning six out of eight pet insurance cost categories.
- Kittens: Pumpkin costs $17 monthly compared to Nationwide's $33, saving you 50% ($16 per month).
- Puppies: You'll pay $24 monthly with Pumpkin versus $60 monthly with Nationwide — a 59% savings that adds up to $36 monthly.
- Young cats: Pumpkin charges $21 per month while Nationwide runs $37 per month, cutting your costs by 45% ($16 monthly difference).
- Young dogs: At $31 monthly, Pumpkin costs 55% less than Nationwide's $69 monthly rate, saving you $38 each month.
- Middle-aged cats: Pumpkin's $30 monthly rate beats Nationwide's $52 monthly, delivering 44% savings ($22 per month).
- Middle-aged dogs: Pumpkin costs $48 monthly against Nationwide's $101 monthly — you save 53% or $53 each month,
- Senior cats: Nationwide wins here at $57 monthly compared to Pumpkin's $64 monthly, though you only save 10% ($7 per month).
- Senior dogs: Nationwide charges $99 monthly versus Pumpkin's $116 monthly, saving you 15% ($18 each month).
| Kittens | Pumpkin | $17 | 50% |
| Young Cats | Pumpkin | $21 | 45% |
| Puppies | Pumpkin | $24 | 59% |
| Middle Aged Cats | Pumpkin | $30 | 44% |
| Young Dogs | Pumpkin | $31 | 55% |
| Middle Aged Dogs | Pumpkin | $48 | 53% |
| Senior Cats | Nationwide | $57 | 10% |
| Senior Dogs | Nationwide | $99 | 15% |
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. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cost by State
Pumpkin offers the cheapest pet insurance compared to Nationwide across the country for kittens, puppies, and young and middle-aged pets. Nationwide only wins against Pumpkin for senior cats and senior dogs in all states.
| Alabama | Pumpkin | $35 | 53% |
| Alaska | Pumpkin | $46 | 53% |
| Arizona | Pumpkin | $58 | 53% |
| Arkansas | Pumpkin | $32 | 53% |
| California | Pumpkin | $60 | 53% |
| Colorado | Pumpkin | $60 | 53% |
| Connecticut | Pumpkin | $55 | 53% |
| Delaware | Pumpkin | $48 | 53% |
| Florida | Pumpkin | $54 | 53% |
| Georgia | Pumpkin | $43 | 53% |
| Hawaii | Pumpkin | $48 | 53% |
| Idaho | Pumpkin | $48 | 53% |
| Illinois | Pumpkin | $59 | 53% |
| Indiana | Pumpkin | $43 | 53% |
| Iowa | Pumpkin | $40 | 53% |
| Kansas | Pumpkin | $43 | 53% |
| Kentucky | Pumpkin | $38 | 53% |
| Louisiana | Pumpkin | $38 | 53% |
| Maine | Pumpkin | $58 | 53% |
| Maryland | Pumpkin | $47 | 53% |
| Massachusetts | Pumpkin | $61 | 53% |
| Michigan | Pumpkin | $48 | 53% |
| Minnesota | Pumpkin | $50 | 53% |
| Mississippi | Pumpkin | $41 | 53% |
| Missouri | Pumpkin | $38 | 53% |
| Montana | Pumpkin | $40 | 53% |
| Nebraska | Pumpkin | $43 | 53% |
| Nevada | Pumpkin | $49 | 53% |
| New Hampshire | Pumpkin | $55 | 53% |
| New Jersey | Pumpkin | $54 | 53% |
| New Mexico | Pumpkin | $42 | 53% |
| New York | Pumpkin | $52 | 53% |
| North Carolina | Pumpkin | $43 | 53% |
| North Dakota | Pumpkin | $37 | 53% |
| Ohio | Pumpkin | $44 | 53% |
| Oklahoma | Pumpkin | $40 | 53% |
| Oregon | Pumpkin | $59 | 53% |
| Pennsylvania | Pumpkin | $50 | 53% |
| Rhode Island | Pumpkin | $42 | 53% |
| South Carolina | Pumpkin | $45 | 53% |
| South Dakota | Pumpkin | $42 | 53% |
| Tennessee | Pumpkin | $44 | 53% |
| Texas | Pumpkin | $50 | 53% |
| Utah | Pumpkin | $46 | 53% |
| Vermont | Pumpkin | $44 | 53% |
| Virginia | Pumpkin | $51 | 53% |
| Washington | Pumpkin | $55 | 53% |
| West Virginia | Pumpkin | $41 | 53% |
| Wisconsin | Pumpkin | $51 | 53% |
| Wyoming | Pumpkin | $44 | 53% |
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. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Discounts
Nationwide offers more pet insurance discounts than Pumpkin — three compared to two — but Pumpkin's multi-pet discount delivers double the savings at 10% per additional pet versus Nationwide's 5%. Nationwide wins for existing customers and employer group plan members, while Pumpkin provides rate reductions for veterinary clinic employees.
Multiple pets | 5% off per pet when you insure two to three pets under separate policies. | Save 10% on each additional pet you enroll under separate policies. |
Existing customer | Existing Nationwide insurance customers get 5% discount when buying pet insurance. | None. |
Employer group plan | Save 10% for joining a participating employer's group plan. | None. |
Veterinary staff | None. | Get a discount when you work as a staff at a veterinary clinic. |
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Customer Experience
According to our analysis, Pumpkin's customer service is superior to Nationwide's, ranking third nationally, while Nationwide places fourth. Both providers have A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, though Pumpkin earns a higher rating on Trustpilot and stronger positive sentiment on Reddit.
Pumpkin's 4.9 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating beats Nationwide's 4.4 out of 5.0, with customers praising Pumpkin's fast claim processing (often within minutes) and responsive customer service, though some mention claim denials without clear explanation. Nationwide earns positive reviews for helpful agents and customizable coverage options, but complaints focus on slow reimbursement times (around 30 days) and communication difficulties.
We analyzed Reddit discussions and found Pumpkin performing better with 79% positive sentiment from 14 total comments (11 positive, three negative), while Nationwide holds 43% positive feedback from 14 comments (six positive, eight negative). Reddit users praise Pumpkin for lightning-fast claim processing (often within days or even minutes with PumpkinNow) and responsive customer service that actually answers questions, while Nationwide earns mixed reviews with users highlighting helpful agents but complaining about slow reimbursements taking up to 30 days and frustrating coverage restrictions.
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Coverage
Nationwide has broader pet insurance coverage than Pumpkin, placing ninth in our national ranking, while Pumpkin is behind by two spots. Nationwide stands out for covering exotic pets, like birds, rabbits, ferrets and lizards. The company also has a shorter waiting period for accidents, though it requires an add-on for hereditary and congenital conditions coverage.
Diagnostics | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | |
✓ | ✓ | |
Fractures and broken bones | ✓ | ✓ |
Lacerations and bite wounds | ✓ | ✓ |
Parasite treatment | Only covers prevention through an optional add-on | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | |
Digestive illnesses | ✓ | ✓ |
Hereditary conditions | Only provides coverage through an optional add-on | ✓ |
Congenital conditions | Only provides coverage through an optional add-on | ✓ |
Chronic conditions | ✓ | ✓ |
Only provides coverage through an optional add-on | ✓ | |
$250, $500, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | |
$2,500, $5,000, $10,000 | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, Unlimited | |
50%, 70%, 80% | 80% or 90% | |
Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 12 months for cruciate ligament conditions | 14 days for accidents and illnesses | |
Age restrictions | Cats aged 8 years old and above are not eligible for hereditary coverage | No upper age limit for enrollment |
Pre-existing conditions | Curable pre-existing conditions may be covered if cured and symptom-free for six months | Curable conditions may qualify for coverage after 180 symptom-free days |
Provides accident and illness coverage for exotic animals such as birds, rabbits, mini pigs, guinea pigs, lizards, frogs, ferrets and small mammals | Doesn't cover exotic pets |
Coverage varies by state and policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents to understand exact coverage terms, exclusions and limitations.
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Add-ons
Both Nationwide and Pumpkin provide ways to expand coverage through optional add-ons, though Nationwide offers two, while Pumpkin only has one.
- Wellness coverage: Provides reimbursement for physical exams, vaccines, heartworm or FeLV/FIV tests, deworming, microchipping and health certificates, with annual benefit amounts of either $450 or $800.
- Hereditary and Congenital Condition coverage: Covers inherited and congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, collapsed trachea and Wobblers syndrome.
- Wellness Club: Covers routine care such as wellness exams, vaccinations, fecal tests and spay/neuter procedures depending on the tier (Essential or Premium). Members also get 24/7 access to licensed veterinary professionals through PawSupport and discounts up to 60% to 70% on certain pet brands.
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance: Bottom Line
Pumpkin offers better pet insurance than Nationwide, excelling in affordability and customer service. Pumpkin's rates start at $48 per month for middle-aged dogs and $30 per month for cats, which are 53% and 44% lower than Nationwide's monthly rates. Pumpkin also earns a stellar 4.9 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating, plus 79% positive sentiment Reddit for its fast claim reimbursements and responsive customer representatives. However, Nationwide offers broader coverage that extends to exotic pets, featuring a shorter waiting period for accidents.
Compare other major pet insurance companies to determine the best choice for your pet:
Nationwide vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Comparison: FAQ
Compare Nationwide and Pumpkin pet insurance through these common questions:
What is the difference between Nationwide and Pumpkin pet insurance?
Nationwide covers exotic pets like birds and rabbits. Pumpkin processes claims faster (often within days or minutes) and maintains a 4.9 out of 5.0 rating on Trustpilot. Nationwide is better if you're looking for broader coverage, while Pumpkin is ideal for lower rates and superior customer service.
Which is cheaper: Nationwide or Pumpkin pet insurance?
Pumpkin costs less than Nationwide across the country for kittens, puppies, and young and middle-aged pets. For middle-aged cats, Pumpkin averages $30 monthly compared to Nationwide's $52, saving you 44% ($22 per month). Nationwide only beats Pumpkin for senior pets with savings around 10% to 15%.
Does Nationwide or Pumpkin offer better coverage for older pets?
Nationwide offers better affordability for senior pets, charging $57 monthly for senior cats compared to Pumpkin's $64, and $99 monthly for senior dogs versus Pumpkin's $116. However, Pumpkin has no upper age limit for enrollment, meaning you can sign up a senior pet at any age, while Nationwide excludes hereditary coverage for 8-year-old cats and above.
Which pet insurance has better reimbursement options: Nationwide or Pumpkin?
Pumpkin offers reimbursement rates between 80% and 90%, while Nationwide caps reimbursement at 80%, meaning you'll pay more out of pocket with Nationwide.
Is Nationwide or Pumpkin pet insurance better for dogs and cats?
Pumpkin ranks better than Nationwide for both dogs and cats, placing seventh for dogs and third for cats nationally compared to Nationwide's 14th and 11th place finishes. Pumpkin delivers more affordable rates and superior customer service, while Nationwide provides broader coverage that extends to exotic animals.
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.
