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As a full-time digital nomad who travels around the world with a cat, I was thrilled when I heard about the Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card. It has no annual fee, and claims to save pet owners hundreds of dollars per year on pet insurance, which is a built-in benefit of the card. But how does it actually work, and is it worth applying? Let's dive in to everything you need to know about the Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card.
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What is the Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card?
The Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that provides built-in pet insurance as a core benefit. It also allows cardholders to earn bonus points on veterinary and pet purchases that can be redeemed as a statement credit to their account.
- Built-in pet insurance policy with up to $10K in accident and illness coverage for one pet
- Unlimited 3x rewards on pet stores, pet services, and at any licensed vet
- Get 3x rewards on the full cost of your vet visit, not just the cost after insurance
- Automated claims so you can tap your card and we can file the claim
- Use at any licensed veterinarian around the country
- Personalize your insurance policy and add extra coverage or more pets for an additional charge
- Nibbles is not a bank. The Nibbles Card is issued by Lead Bank. Fees and T&C apply. See nibbles.com for details.
- Unlimited 3x rewards on pet stores, pet services, and at any licensed vet
- 1x rewards on everything else
As a cardholder, you'll receive pet insurance for one pet. If you want to add another pet to your policy, you can do so at an additional charge, but you'll receive a 5% discount as a perk of holding the card. The most exciting part is that claims are filed automatically, so you don't have to do anything extra to be reimbursed.
According to data by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, the average cat insurance in the U.S. costs $386 per year, while dog insurance costs $749 annually. So, it seems like the Nibbles card could potentially save you hundreds each year on pet insurance.
Related: Got an Amex Platinum Card? Here's How to Claim Free Pawp Telehealth Support for Your Pet
What's Covered Under the Nibbles Plan?
Since pet insurance is the primary reason you'd apply for this card, it's important to be very clear as to what is and is not covered under the health insurance plan. Nibbles pet insurance only covers dogs and cats that are at least 7 weeks old. Luckily, the plan isn't associated with any one vet — you can use your insurance at any licensed vet in the U.S. Simply pay with your card and file a claim through your online dashboard, or Nibbles can automatically file the claim for you.
With the basic plan, you'll receive 80% coinsurance after meeting your $500 annual deductible, up to $10,000 in annual coverage. However, the plan is highly customizable. You can increase the coinsurance coverage up to 90%, so once you meet your deductible, you're only liable for 10% of the veterinary cost. Or, you can upgrade your deductible to be as low as $100, down from the standard $500. Finally, you can upgrade the annual limit to cover up to $40,000 in vet bills — four times what the basic plan covers. These are upgrades, so they will come at an additional charge.
The base plan covers procedures, illnesses, diagnostics, medications, accidents, and supportive care. Essentially, if your dog or cat gets into an accident or gets sick, you'll be covered for most expenses related to the illness or injury.
Available add-ons
In addition to the basic plan, you can purchase several add-ons for more comprehensive coverage:
- A preventative wellness plan, which includes coverage for flea meds, vaccines, teeth cleanings, and more, with an average cost of $276/year
- Vet visits and exam fees for accidents and illness, with an average cost of $47/year
- At-home prescription medication coverage for accidents and illness, with an average cost of $47/year
- Physical therapy after accidents or illness, with an average cost of $16/year
This is an important distinction — if you only have the basic plan, and your pet gets injured, you're covered for all of the procedures related to the injury, but not the vet visit. If you want to be covered for vet visits and exams fees related to accidents and illness, you'll need to purchase the add-on.
If you upgrade to the preventative wellness plan, you'll receive a variety of benefits, up to the plan limit, including:
- Spay and neuter OR teeth cleaning: $150/year
- Rabies vaccination: $15/year
- Flea and tick prevention: $65/year
- Heartworm prevention: $30/year
- Vaccination/titer: $40/year
- Wellness exam: $50/year
- Heartworm test or FELV screen: $30/year
- Blood, fecal, parasite exam: $70/year
- Microchip: $40/year
- Urinalysis or ERD: $25/year
- Deworming: $20/year
Total annual benefits: $535
You'd need to weigh the cost of the wellness plan against the benefits. The maximum total annual benefits is $535, and the average cost of the wellness plan is $276 per year, so it might seem like a great deal. However, these aren't all benefits you typically get every year. Once your pet has a microchip, there's no reason to spend that money again. And many rabies vaccines are valid for three years, so you don't need annual coverage for that, either.
What Isn't Covered?
Just like with human health insurance, there's a long list of things that aren't covered, including:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding, pregnancy, or birth expenses
- Preventative care
- Prescription food
- Training/obedience class
- Medications
- Issues that occur during a waiting period
- Cosmetic or elective procedures
- Boarding
- Biohazard fees
- Non-emergency dental work
- Vet exam fees
Essentially, Nibbles pet insurance works to support you when your pet gets sick or injured. It doesn't work like a Banfield Optimum Wellness plan, which covers things like office visits, vaccinations, and routine exams.
Nibbles Card Rewards
The other main benefit of being a Nibbles credit cardholder is the ability to earn rewards on your purchases. You'll earn 3X points on purchases at pet stores, on pet services, and at any licensed vet. You'll earn 1X points on all other purchases, wherever Mastercard is accepted. Note that pet purchases at department stores or discount stores do not qualify for bonus earnings. There's no limit to how much you can earn.
The 3X category includes purchases like pet food, grooming, training, boarding, vaccinations, and medications. There aren't many cards that list pet stores as a bonus category, so having this card in your wallet could be a solid way to increase your earnings on these purchases.
The rewards you earn will be applied to your account as a statement credit at a value of 1 cent apiece, but more redemption options are on the way. In addition to rewards and pet insurance, cardholders receive access to exclusive pet services and partner discounts.
You can prequalify with no impact to your credit score, but you must have a qualifying cat or dog to be approved. Unfortunately, residents of Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington cannot apply for the Nibbles Credit Card at this time.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Final Thoughts
The Nibbles Credit Card is interesting, to say the least. The ability to receive insurance for your furry friend without paying an annual fee is fantastic. That said, you'll still pay out of pocket if something were to happen — both a deductible and your portion of the co-insurance. While the opportunity to earn rewards is excellent, there are minimal ways to redeem your rewards for maximum value.
Before applying, be sure to weigh the potential benefits against the potential costs to ensure it saves you money. Since it doesn't cover things like international pet travel paperwork or vet visits abroad, I won't be applying just yet. However, if you're based in the U.S. and want to be protected if the unthinkable happens, the Nibbles Credit Card is a great option.
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