Petco Pet Insurance Review 2026

Petco pet insurance, officially known as Petco | Nationwide pet insurance, earned 4.6 stars out of 5 for overall performance.

Petco pet insurance policies are offered by Nationwide. Coverage is available for dogs and cats as well as other pets like birds, gerbils, reptiles, hedgehogs and pigs. (You’ll need to get a quote by phone if you’re insuring one of these "exotic" animals.) Plans also cover pre-existing conditions, so long as they’re curable and your pet hasn’t needed treatment in at least six months.

You can apply for dog and cat insurance online, but sample policies aren’t accessible from Petco’s website. That makes it hard to get details about the coverage you’re buying.

Note that Nationwide announced in June 2024 that it would not renew approximately 100,000 policies through mid-2025. In a statement, Nationwide cited inflation in veterinary care as a factor in the decision. This action was unusual in an industry where companies often cover pets for life.

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In most states, Petco and Nationwide offer a base level of accident coverage, to which you can add illness and wellness coverage as options. If your dog or cat is 8 or older, they may not be eligible for illness coverage, though wellness coverage may be available.

Accident coverage

Petco and Nationwide provide accident-only plans that don't cover illnesses. However, they can help with costs if your pet gets hurt. For example, the coverage would kick in if your dog or cat is hit by a car, suffers heat stroke or is attacked by another animal. Accident coverage can pay for:

• Medications.

• Exams and diagnostic tests.

• Surgeries and other procedures.

• Medical equipment such as motility carts and e-collars.

Illness coverage

If you add illness coverage to your plan, Petco and Nationwide may cover the following:

• Treatment for infections and diseases, including cancer, allergies and arthritis.

• Exams and diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs.

• Surgeries.

• Medications.

Other coverage options may be available if you call to buy a policy.

Wellness coverage

In most states, Petco and Nationwide offer two tiers of wellness coverage. You can choose $450 or $800 in benefits for routine and preventive care, such as:

• Two annual exams.

• Vaccinations or titers.

• Heartworm or feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukemia virus testing.

• Fecal testing.

• Deworming.

• Microchipping.

• Health certificates.

• Heartworm or flea prevention.

• Spaying or neutering.

• Dental cleaning.

Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live.

» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?

Petco and Nationwide pet insurance plans generally don’t cover:

• Pre-existing conditions, unless your vet says they’re cured and your pet has been treatment-free for at least six months.

• Conditions related to breeding.

• Cosmetic procedures, like tail docking.

• Waste disposal.

• Boarding.

• Grooming.

• Cruciate ligament injuries in the first year of your policy. (If you want coverage for cruciate ligament issues, you may need to call to add it at your first policy renewal.)

Deductibles: A pet insurance deductible is the amount you have to pay before your plan reimburses you for vet expenses. Depending on where you live, you may be able to choose deductibles of $250, $500 or $1,000.

Reimbursement amounts: In most states, Petco plans from Nationwide can reimburse 50%, 70% or 80% of your vet bills after you’ve met your deductible. These options are less generous than those of many other pet insurers, which can pay up to 90% of your expenses.

Coverage limits: For accident coverage in most states, you can choose a limit of $2,500 or $5,000. Illness plans in most states have coverage limits of $5,000 or $10,000.

Age restrictions: A minimum age of 8 weeks may apply. In most states, you can’t enroll a dog or cat in a new illness policy once they’ve reached age 8. However, senior pets may be eligible for accident-only and wellness plans.

Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. Petco and Nationwide plans generally have a 14-day waiting period for most accident, illness and wellness claims. Spay or neuter surgery and dental cleaning claims have a 90-day waiting period. You may also need to wait 12 months for cruciate ligament-related claims. Waiting periods may vary by state.

The cost of Petco pet insurance will depend on where you live and your pet’s age and breed.

Sample rates for dogs

To give you an idea of how much you might pay, we gathered quotes for a variety of popular breeds. Below are sample monthly rates from Petco for six common dog breeds living in Katy, Texas.

For the younger dogs, our sample plan was for accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, $5,000 of annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. The older dogs were eligible only for accident coverage but had the same deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate. Your own price will vary.

Sample rates for cats

We also gathered rates for several cat breeds with the same coverage limits as above. Cats at age 8 at the time of enrollment were eligible for accident coverage only. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.

» MORE: The best cheap pet insurance

Discounts

Petco and Nationwide offer discounts for:

• Having more than one pet. You may be eligible for a 5% multipet discount, or 10% if you insure four or more pets. 

• Bundling policies. If you have other Nationwide coverage such as auto insurance, you may qualify for a multipolicy discount. (Be sure to mention that you have other Nationwide policies when buying your Petco policy.) 

You can also save 10% on vet services at any Vetco Total Care animal hospital or Vetco Vaccination Clinic. These facilities are located within Petco stores.

Discounts may not be available in all states.

Petco pet insurance through Nationwide is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all pets in a given state.

» MORE: How much does pet insurance cost?

Website: You can use the Petco website to get a quote and read FAQs about the company’s pet insurance plans. However, you’ll need to visit Nationwide’s site to file claims or read sample policies.

Mobile app: Petco has a mobile app that’s available for both Apple and Android devices. However, the app is designed primarily for shopping. To manage your policy, you’ll need to log in to your account on Nationwide’s website or app.

To file a claim, upload a copy of your veterinary receipt to my.petinsurance.com. You can also download a claim form from Nationwide's website and submit it with your receipt via email, fax or mail. Once your claim is approved, you’ll receive reimbursement by direct deposit or check. Many claims are processed within five days.

When calculating claim payouts, Nationwide generally subtracts your deductible from your vet bill before applying your reimbursement rate. This is a more generous method than some insurers use.

Suppose you have a $2,000 vet bill, a $500 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate. Here’s how Nationwide would likely calculate your reimbursement:

Phone: Call 800-540-2016.

Email: You can send a message through the Nationwide website.

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