Nationwide recently launched its pet health insurance benefit,
Vethelpline offers insurance members and now subscribers, 24/7 access to veterinary experts and board-certified veterinarians who can answer care questions through an app with a chat feature or a phone consultation.
Heidi Sirota, the chief pet officer at Nationwide, says the service saw a 56% bump in usage year-over-year in August.
“During the pandemic, we saw a huge surge,” Sirota said. “So, we jumped to launch a standalone subscription service for non-insurance members.”
Experts can’t diagnose or prescribe but they’re able to address a variety of questions related to toxicology, emergency and critical care concerns and general follow-up information.
Sirota said the service is also meant to help with the veterinary hospital and clinic backlog. Many veterinary care facilities have seen a pandemic-related increase in appointment requests, new patients and calls.
“We see it as a way to triage,” Sirota said. “Helping people figure out if they need to go to the vet or not and avoiding unnecessary stress to the pet. … Vethelpline can be a real lifeline for pet families who don’t have insurance or who live in rural areas, it is an entry point for care.”
The subscription can be purchased through a monthly fee or a three or six-month plan. It covers unlimited interactions for up to 10 pets in one home. Additionally, subscribers can access pet health topic articles including safety tips for dogs and cats.
In the future, the service may include additional features like video telehealth options.
Nationwide pet insurance members will continue to have access to vethelpline as a benefit with coverage.
