Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. and Nationwide announced plans for a multi-year partnership to co-develop integrated and affordable pet health, wellness and protection solutions for every stage of a pet's life, with the goal of better pet health and wellness outcomes for the more than 90 million pet families in the U.S. Petco's fully integrated ecosystem of pet health and wellness solutions -- including their more than 1,500 Petco pet care centers -- and Nationwide's deep claims data set, and pet protection and insurance capabilities will be at the center of the comprehensive programs expected to be available in 2023. With the ability to cross-promote and market to each other's customer base and beyond, the pet-serving companies will leverage their collective infrastructure, expertise and more than 150 years of insights from a rapidly growing customer base of more than 25 million pet families. Ongoing veterinary care is key to pets' overall health and wellness, and helping them live long, happy, healthy lives.

Pet insurance plays a significant role in helping families say "yes" to care they may not otherwise be able to afford, yet only about 2.5% of pets in the U.S. are estimated to be insured, according to 2021 data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). A 2021 VetSuccess study sponsored by Nationwide found dogs and cats insured by Nationwide visited veterinarians 73% and 43% more often, respectively, than pets without health insurance. These new offerings are expected to focus on end-to-end pet care fulfilled through Petco's pharmacy, veterinary hospitals or clinics, and other health and wellness offerings, including Petco's revolutionary Vital Care program.

Coverage will include routine preventative care like vaccinations and unexpected medical needs related to accidents or serious illnesses. Petco insurance offerings available to customers and Petco partners (employees) are expected to be delivered exclusively through Nationwide pet insurance in the future.