Employers seeking to attract and retain talent are increasingly offering benefits such as remote work, paid leave, matching 401(k), dental coverage, and now, pet insurance. This particular benefit has gained popularity among potential employees, prompting employers to seek robust and reliable pet insurance providers for partnerships.
The pandemic has resulted in a surge of households grappling with the costs of care and prevention for their pets. This trend is driving many employers to consider pet insurance as an employee benefit. "Across the country, pet care costs are rising, and many families are choosing pets and breeds that require greater medical care," said Melissa Lovely, Nationwide’s vice president of sales. She added that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation in veterinary services has risen from historical averages of 3-5% per year to 9-11% per year over the past two years.
Nationwide is a leading provider of pet insurance, serving more than 1.2 million pets. The company has been a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes looking to offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. Many Fortune 500 companies and thousands of organizations across the U.S. have chosen Nationwide's pet health insurance workplace product.
David Hurley, director of voluntary benefits for Nationwide, stated that both employers and pet owners appreciate working with a reputable brand for their pet protection needs. He noted that when people discover that Nationwide offers pet insurance, interest in the product significantly increases.
Pet insurance provides peace of mind not only for emergencies but also for conditions like skin allergies, stomach issues, infections and heart disease which require multiple veterinary visits, tests and medications. In some cases, these conditions may necessitate extended care – resulting in substantial costs.
Nationwide also offers additional perks such as VetHelpline®, which provides unlimited access to phone and video consultations with certified veterinary experts at no extra cost. Their PetHealthZone® helps pet parents understand increased health risks their pets may face. Additionally, Nationwide’s Pet RxExpress program offers discounts on pet medications at Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies, and a 10% discount at all Petco veterinary services.
Dr. Jules Benson, Nationwide’s Chief Veterinary Officer, believes that pet parents should have the flexibility to choose the level of veterinary care that aligns with their resources, values, and the needs of their pets. He stated that by offering services like Pet RxExpress, VetHelpline, and Pet HealthZone, Nationwide is expanding opportunities to support pets’ health and wellbeing in a convenient manner.
Nationwide has been serving its customers for nearly 100 years and has been a leading pet insurer since it started offering the product 40 years ago. J.J. Perez, Nationwide’s President of Corporate Solutions reaffirmed the company's commitment to its pet insurance customers despite recent industry challenges.
For more information about Nationwide’s workplace pet insurance product and how to make it available to your employees, visit www.petinsurance.com.