Pets are nothing short of cherished members of the family and make everyday life a purrr–e joy.
Unfortunately, from time to time, they require medical assistance. Be that as it may, veterinary bills can get a tad pricey – especially since you never counted on ever having to pay one.
Embrace Pet insurance offers a health care policy for your pet.
There are several reliable insurance companies on the pet market. But out of the bunch, Healthy Paws and Embrace have earned the highest scores.
But, which fits your and your pet’s needs the most?
Let’s find out, shall we?
Embrace vs Healthy Paws: A Comparison
Most insurance providers differ in some aspects regarding the plans they offer. That is why it is important to research companies and discover your perfect fit. By putting the effort up front – and I should know this best – you will minimize stress in case your pet shows symptoms of illness.
Most companies offer major coverage aspects – illnesses, accidents, cancer, and chronic conditions. Both Healthy Paws and Embrace focus on these areas to a certain degree.
The age restriction on enrolment is the key difference in their policies. Embrace has no age limit on enrolment whereas Health Paws only accepts pets aged 8 weeks to 14 years old.
Healthy Paws vs Embrace: Key Features
For certain clients, Embrace can be more attractive because they offer behavior therapy and prosthetics.
While Healthy Paws has comprehensive coverage, with no restrictions on congenital and hereditary conditions.
Healthy Paws | Embrace |
Covers both dogs and cats | Covers both dogs and cats |
Only medical coverage | Both medical and wellness coverage |
Choose your own vet | Choose your own vet |
Dental illness not included | Dental illness included |
Unlimited benefits | Capped at $15,000 annually |
Healthy Paws vs Embrace: Pros & Cons
Insurance companies, like any business, prefer to advertise their strengths. But it is time to take a look at both the good and the bad in their offer.
Healthy Paws Pros:
- Reimbursement model
- Surgeries, and hospital stays
- Short waiting period
- Quick response time
Health Paws Cons:
- Prices are high
- No wellness options
Embrace Pros:
- Optional wellness plan grooming, and training costs
- Large selection of customization options
- Huge choice of discounts
Embrace Cons:
- Customer service not satisfactory
- Denies claims for unrelated pre-existing conditions
- No vets on staff reviewing claims
Healthy Paws vs Embrace: The Pricing
Embrace typically has higher-priced policies than other companies. But, you can choose a plan that will get you started with the lowest monthly premium of $31.79 for dogs and $13.18 for cats.
To compare, Healthy Paws starting premiums are $64.89 and $28.81, respectively. This may seem like a big difference, but as mentioned, the Embrace still remains to be the lowest option to consider. You also have to take into account that, with Healthy Paws, there are no pricing limits and what’s best – you can customize all payout percentages.
When looking into Embrace vs Healthy Paws, especially billing-wise, you’ll find the two to be relatively similar. Both insurance providers have to be competitive in the marketplace, so it’s always vital to keep your eyes on the details, including the value of money, and the things you might be missing out on.
Healthy Paws vs Embrace: Which is Right for You?
Choices depend on circumstances and preferences. What do you want from your plan? If your focus is on speed, then Healthy Paws insurance is quicker in fulfilling claims – with a waiting period of only 2 business days.
Embrace usually takes about 5 business days for wellness insurance, whereas for illness and accident claims, the waiting period might be prolonged to up to 15 business days.
If you worry about reimbursement, know that both companies have a similar track record. Even so, Healthy Paws deductibles, the cost, and the enrollment all have a better score, whereas Embrace works better for coverage options.
If You Want Optional Wellness Coverage: Embrace vs Healthy Paws
If wellness is a priority for you, Embrace is the only viable option to try. After all, the company promotes pet health with training and grooming. Unfortunately, routine care reimbursement is not offered by Healthy Paws – a huge minus in their plan. On another note, Embrace gives complete protection – in sickness and in health.
Remember, prevention is the first step in combating potential health issues of your pet. In this category, the competition between Embrace vs Healthy Paws is a one-sided win.
Deductibles: Embrace vs Healthy Paws
As previously stated, Embrace is pricier but offers benefits that other companies do not.
The highest annual limit is $15,000, and yearly deductibles are incredibly customizable. You can choose between 5 different options. They start at $100 and go up to $1,000. The deductible decreases by $50 for every year you don’t make a claim.
For all their strengths, the Healthy Paws pet insurance deductible options are limited.
It may seem strange, but this can be seen as a positive thing. With their unlimited claims for all plans, you don’t have to worry about an annual limit. The negative side is that you don’t have the option to reduce the monthly cost by lowering the annual limit.
Depending on the age of your pet, you may encounter some limitations in deductibles.
Both main plans cover many common illnesses and condition
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Cataracts
- Cruciate injury
- Dental disease
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Ear infections
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastroenteritis
- Kidney disease
- Limping
- Liver disease
- Lymphoma
- Pancreatitis
- Seizures
- Vomiting
Where to Find Other Pet Insurance Alternatives
It is paramount to be diligent in your research when looking for the best options for your pet. Other companies may offer better services. Looking for alternatives means comparing other companies.
For example, Petplan and Healthy Paws are great options if you do not want to be caught in complex coverage options. Both providers offer policies that will help with unforeseen veterinary bills.
What way should you take then – Healthy Paws or Petplan? Whilst there are some nuances to consider in both, the final verdict is left to your own personal preference.
In some cases, at first glance, companies can appear very similar. We can compare Trupanion and Healthy Paws at face value. But, if you take a deeper dive into their services, you will discover unsuspecting differences that may steer your decision in a new direction.
Because of budget issues, a pet insurance company may not be a viable option. In such a case, there are other alternatives to consider – plenty of pet welfare associations offer financial help in paying for veterinary expenses.
In an emergency, expenses pile up quickly. With Embrace vs Healthy Paws, owners are not only protecting their pets but themselves from pricey veterinary bills.
As an owner, it is up to you to ensure the safety of your pet companion – and give yourself peace of mind!
Conclusion
If you are still wondering who is the top dog between Embrace vs Healthy Paws, let’s sum up the facts.
Healthy Paws is a solid provider but comes short in almost every category compared to a big shot like Embrace. The price reflects the quality of Embrace’s coverage that includes hip dysplasia, shorter waiting periods, more options for older pets, a telehealth line, and preventive care plan.
Most of the options listed are missing in Healthy Paws’ plans, not to mention the Embrace direct payment option that makes reimbursement the fastest and convenient process.
