Brea, CA – With millions of Americans currently working from home, people are spending more time in the company of their pets. That increased time spent together may lead them to consider pet insurance as a way to care for and protect their animals. What they may not realize is that their employer may offer pet insurance to them as a voluntary benefit at a preferred rate.  

As the 2021 workplace benefits open enrollment period gets underway, Nationwide, the largest provider of pet health insurance in the U.S., is reminding employees to ask their employers if they offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. Nationwide’s medical and wellness plans for dogs, cats, birds and exotics are offered as a voluntary benefit by more than 8,600 employers and associations, including more than half of Fortune 500 companies.

“With nearly 70% of U.S. households owning at least one pet, many employees may be faced with unplanned pet health expenses,” said Nationwide Chief Pet Officer Heidi Sirota. “Offering pet insurance as a voluntary benefit is a win/win for employer and employee. It demonstrates that the company is invested in the wellbeing of the whole family and it provides pet-owning employees financial relief to get the care their beloved companions need.”

Employee benefits
Enrolling through work guarantees preferred pricing and may offer the convenient option of having monthly premiums payroll deducted. Additionally, this voluntary benefit is portable so a Nationwide pet insurance member who separates from their company may retain the policy at the preferred rate for the remainder of the term.

Employer benefits
There is no cost to add Nationwide pet insurance to its benefits portfolio and it may help attract or retain a key demographic in today’s workforce. This increasingly in-demand benefit is shown to greatly appeal to millennials who represent the largest generation in the workforce and 35% of all U.S. pet owners. According to a HealthPocket poll, 62% of millennials say they would put their pet’s health before their own.

Nationwide has plans that cover accidents, illnesses and routine care, such as vaccinations, flea and tick preventive medication, and annual wellness exams. Employees may visit the voluntary benefits section of petinsurance.com to see if their company offers Nationwide pet insurance and employers may visit the HR professionals/broker section of the site to learn more about adding the benefit to its portfolio. Nationwide has also created a virtual booth that contains additional resources and enrollment FAQs.

Nationwide pet insurance journey 
Earlier this year, Nationwide became one of only two companies in the U.S. to earn designation as a Human-Animal Bond Certifed Company. The certification, created by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), prepares veterinarians and animal care staff to meet the bonding needs between pets and their families. The program evaluates the science, communication, community engagement, animal welfare and wellness, and medical care needed to create and maintain a positive human-animal bond. 

And in January, Nationwide updated and expanded its popular avian and exotic plan which now reimburses up to 90 percent of eligible veterinary expenses. Nationwide is the only pet health insurer in the U.S. to offer an avian and exotic plan. More information about this plan, including a list of pets and conditions covered, can be found at EveryPetInsurance.com.

About Nationwide pet insurance

With more than 880,000 insured pets, Nationwide is the first and largest provider of pet health insurance in the United States. Nationwide pet health insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2019); National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2019). Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. Pet owners can find Nationwide pet insurance on Facebook or follow on Twitter. For more information about Nationwide pet insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.