Petco and Nationwide® launch co-branded pet insurance product on petco.com

Rhea-AI Summary

Nationwide and Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. are introducing a new customizable pet health insurance offering available now on petco.com. The co-branded experience on petco.com enables visitors to build a policy that fits the individual needs of their pet and budget. Petco | Nationwide pet insurance provides essential coverage for unexpected veterinary expenses and offers optional coverage for diagnosis and treatment of illness or disease. Members will receive exclusive discounts and savings on veterinary services available through Petco's network of Vetco Total Care hospitals and mobile Vetco Vaccination Clinics.

Market Research Analyst

The partnership between Nationwide and Petco represents a strategic move in the pet insurance and wellness industry, aiming to capitalize on the growing trend of pet humanization where pet owners are increasingly willing to spend on their pets' health and well-being. The introduction of a customizable pet insurance offering through Petco's platform suggests a response to consumer demand for personalized products and services. Such customization allows pet owners to tailor their pet insurance policies to their financial capabilities and pets' needs, potentially increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

From a market perspective, this collaboration could enhance Petco's competitive positioning by adding value to its existing services, which may attract new customers and retain current ones. For Nationwide, the partnership expands its distribution channels and customer base. The potential increase in Nationwide's insurance subscribers through Petco's network could lead to higher revenue streams. However, the success of this initiative will depend on the adoption rate among Petco's customers and the perceived value of the insurance plans.

Financial Analyst

The financial implications of the Nationwide-Petco partnership could be significant for both companies. For Petco, which is publicly traded under the ticker WOOF, the addition of a customizable insurance product could drive incremental revenue through commissions or profit-sharing arrangements with Nationwide. Moreover, offering discounts to Nationwide's 1.2 million members could stimulate increased foot traffic to Petco's Vetco Total Care hospitals and vaccination clinics, potentially boosting sales of ancillary products and services.

For investors, the key metrics to monitor would include the uptake rate of the new insurance offering, the average policy value and the impact on Petco's overall service revenue. The long-term benefits will hinge on customer retention rates and the potential for cross-selling additional services. Any significant deviation from projected growth figures or customer acquisition costs could alter investor sentiment. It's also crucial to observe how this partnership might affect Petco's operating margins, considering the costs associated with service delivery and potential insurance claim liabilities assumed by Nationwide.

Veterinary Industry Expert

The expansion of the Nationwide-Petco partnership into customizable pet health insurance is indicative of broader trends within the veterinary industry. As pet care becomes more integrated and technologically driven, partnerships that offer a seamless experience from insurance to care provision are likely to become more common. The emphasis on data-driven solutions and a 360-degree health and wellness ecosystem suggests that Petco and Nationwide are leveraging big data analytics to tailor their offerings to pet owners' preferences and pets' health profiles.

From an industry standpoint, this move could prompt other pet health and wellness companies to seek similar partnerships or develop integrated care and insurance models. The focus on affordability and access could also have positive implications for pet health outcomes, as financial barriers to veterinary care are reduced. However, the actual impact on veterinary practices, particularly independent ones, remains to be seen. This could potentially shift more pet healthcare into the domain of corporate-backed veterinary services, influencing the landscape of pet healthcare provision.

Partnership expansion also features member savings on Petco Veterinary Services 

SAN DIEGO and COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading pet insurer Nationwide^® and Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: WOOF) are delivering on their shared commitment to provide affordable and integrated pet health, wellness and protection solutions with the introduction of a new customizable pet health insurance offering available now on petco.com.

Petco | Nationwide pet insurance leverages Nationwide's customizable pet health insurance product within Petco's unique and fully integrated pet care ecosystem. The co-branded experience on petco.com enables visitors to build a policy that fits the individual needs of their pet and budget.

Petco | Nationwide pet insurance provides essential coverage for unexpected veterinary expenses resulting from accidental injuries including broken bones, lacerations, poisoning, and other incidents. Pet parents may also choose optional coverage for veterinary expenses related to diagnosis and treatment of illness or disease. Wellness is also offered as an optional coverage to help families manage costs of routine and preventive care such as checkups, vaccinations, flea & tick prevention, and other procedures.  

To meet their budget, pet parents may further customize their policy through:

• Reimbursement ranging from 50% to 90% of all eligible veterinary expenses
• Flexible annual deduction options from $100 to $500
• Coverage limits from $500 to unlimited.  

Plans are available for dogs and cats, as well as many avian and exotic animals, including popular pets such as reptiles and rodents. Accident plans in some areas start at $16/month for dogs and $9/month for cats.

Once enrolled, members will receive exclusive discounts and savings on veterinary services available through Petco's growing network of over 280 Vetco Total Care hospitals and approximately 1,450 weekly mobile Vetco Vaccination Clinics across the United States. The partnership also offers more than 1.2 million members of Nationwide's broader pet insurance network a first-of-its-kind discount of 10% when visiting a Vetco Total Care hospital or Vetco Vaccination Clinic. The discount applies to all services rendered during the visit, even those that may not be eligible for reimbursement based on a member's chosen coverage.

"We're thrilled to pair our most flexible pet protection solution with Petco's veterinary services to offer convenient, unified care within Petco's complete ecosystem," said Mariel Devesa, Head of Growth, Expansion & Development for Nationwide pet insurance. "This latest expansion of our partnership with Petco delivers integrated and affordable pet health and protection that will enable more pet parents to 'say yes to the vet.'"

"Increasing access to high-quality, affordable and seamless veterinary care is a key component of Petco's mission to improve lives," said Petco Chief Veterinarian Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM. "The customizable, data-driven pet insurance and care solutions we co-developed with Nationwide are designed to help families of all budgets and areas of the country prioritize their pets' immediate and long-term needs through our 360-degree health and wellness ecosystem."

Visit petco.com for additional resources regarding healthy pet ownership and frequently asked questions about Petco | Nationwide Pet Insurance. Visit petinsurance.com for more information about Nationwide.  

About Petco, The Health + Wellness Co.:
Founded in 1965, Petco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and our own Petco partners. We've consistently set new standards in pet care while delivering comprehensive pet wellness products, services and solutions, and creating communities that deepen the pet-pet parent bond. We operate more than 1,500 pet care centers across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, which offer merchandise, companion animals, grooming, training and a growing network of on-site veterinary hospitals and mobile veterinary clinics. Our complete pet health and wellness ecosystem is accessible through our pet care centers and digitally at petco.com and on the Petco app. In tandem with Petco Love, a life-changing independent nonprofit organization, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, we've helped find homes for nearly 7 million animals. Petco is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. PetCoach, LLC is a licensed insurance producer, not an insurer, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. The Petco name is used for the brand name. In California, PetCoach, LLC does business as PetCoach Insurance Solutions Agency (CA License No. 0M10414). Pet insurance plans are marketed and offered by PetCoach, LLC.

About Nationwide pet insurance 
With more than 1.2 million 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. Products underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH. Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Insurance terms, definitions and explanations are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in individual insurance contracts, policies or declaration pages, which are controlling. Pet owners can find Nationwide pet insurance on Facebook or follow on X. For more information about Nationwide pet insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Subscribe today to receive the latest news from Nationwide and follow Nationwide PR on X. 

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2024.

Petco Contact:
Ventura Olvera
ventura.olvera@petco.com

Nationwide Contact:
Karen Davis
davik53@nationwide.com                    

 

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SOURCE Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc.

What is the new customizable pet health insurance offering available on petco.com?

The new customizable pet health insurance offering is a collaboration between Nationwide and Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc., available on petco.com.

What does Petco | Nationwide pet insurance cover?

Petco | Nationwide pet insurance provides essential coverage for unexpected veterinary expenses and offers optional coverage for diagnosis and treatment of illness or disease.

What exclusive discounts and savings do members receive through the partnership?

Members will receive exclusive discounts and savings on veterinary services available through Petco's network of Vetco Total Care hospitals and mobile Vetco Vaccination Clinics.