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Ralph Davidson
- September 16, 2023
Routine annual veterinary care can cost a few hundreds of dollars – no biggie. However, emergency trips to the vet can completely jeopardize your financial plans and leave you wondering – why the heck didn’t I enroll in a pet insurance policy?
Key Benefits
- Available 24/7 for consultation
- An optional wellness plan
- No lifetime limit
- Coverage for travel outside the U.S.
- Discounts for multiple breeds
Embrace Pet Insurance can be the partner you turn to in a crisis, taking care of expenses for injuries and disease.
Picking the best pet insurance options for your pet is a daunting task. Affordable prices, full coverage, and customer service should be a top priority of every checklist. Embrace ranks high in those categories and continues to make pet owners’ lives more financially stable.
In this review, we’re taking an in-depth look into the company to help you discover what makes it a dogsent compared to other pet insurance policies.
Embrace: In a Nutshell
The concept of pet insurance was relatively rare at the beginning of the century. However, in 2003, Embrace won first place in a business plan competition, and the Ohio-based company decided to implement the ideas in the new niche of the insurance market – pets.
Embrace issued its first policy in 2006 and today provides nationwide coverage. The provider offers pet insurance coverage underwritten by American Modern Insurance. Payments of claims that yearly amount into millions is yet another proof of the company’s reliability.
What does Embrace Stand For?
Embrace’s philosophy is to inspire diligence in pet owners by saving them money and offering the industry’s best diminishing deductibles on the condition that your pet stays healthy.
Embrace is more affordable than its competitors, without a lifetime limit on its plans. It has an annual cap and a deductible that fluctuates based on the specifics of the coverage you choose.
Routine grooming treatments are not included but can be added with the auxiliary wellness plans. These should not be confused with insurance policies; they offer a method to budget routine veterinary expenses by paying them off in installments.
All-inclusive coverage is available only for dogs and cats younger than 14 years old. Still, the concept of all-inclusive is a bit misleading in this case because Embrace doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions – nor any other pet insurance companies, though.
However – there is one exemption to the rule – and that’s if the condition is regarded as correctable by the insurance provider and your pet has no symptoms for a year.
Let’s examine Embrace’s most notable pros and cons:
Pros:
- Diminishing deductibles that lower the deductible by $50 for every year you didn’t request compensation. This means cutting down on future out-of-pocket expenses in case of a submitted claim.
- Pet telehealth line available 24/7 for consultation with an expert.
- Discounts for multiple breeds of pets and military personnel.
- A waiting period of 2 days for injuries. When an orthopedic exam is performed by a veterinarian, the waiting period for orthopedic conditions is reduced to two weeks.
- An optional wellness plan that enables the client to construct their budget for the cost of selected treatments. With behavior and rehabilitation coverage, this is available on every policy.
- No lifetime limit on the cost of your pet’s healthcare.
- Excellent customer service, accessible online or via telephone.
- If the clinic uses Embrace proprietary software, owners can pay their vet directly for claims.
- Claims paid on average from 8 to 9 days.
- Coverage for travel outside the U.S. with the owner.
- Coverage for healable pre-existing conditions provided that the pet is symptom-free for a year.
- High maximum insurable age at 15 years for illness, and no age limit for accidents. Something not offered by other insurance providers.
Cons:
- Orthopedic conditions have a 6-month waiting period.
- Plans include annual limits, and pet owners can only buy plans that allow up to 90% reimbursement.
- No all-inclusive plans for dogs and cats older than 14 years.
- Plans are accessible only for dogs and cats. Other types of animals such as birds and reptiles are not covered by the provider.
- Some policies are not accessible online.
- Doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.
- Wellness plans don’t offer a rebate if the budget was not used in a year.
Embrace Pet Insurance: What Does it Cover?
Embrace Pet insurance offers a health care policy for your pet that reimburses the cost of veterinary expenses in case of accident or illness. However, like most other providers in the industry, coverage is not possible for pre-existing conditions. Embrace makes an exception for pets that have been symptom-free for over a year.
The core plan covers a percentage of veterinary expenses, but pet parents will have to pay 10% of the bill, which is not covered when visiting the vet clinic.
Embrace does not enroll pets older than 14 for illness, but they are eligible for the accident plan. Once enrolled, the only viable reason for canceling the coverage is nonpayment. The provider does not have a lifetime max that it will pay for a pet’s covered treatments.
24/7 consultation
Optional wellness plan
No lifetime limit
Covrage outside US
Discounts for multiple breeds
Available Plans
The provider offers two insurance plans for cats and dogs along with a wellness plan, packaged as accident-only and accident and illness. Embrace’s basic accident and illness plan provides reimbursement for most treatments but not for a pre-existing condition.
Clients can select the best option from five different limits, the same number of deductibles, and three reimbursement amounts. Pets 14 years or older are excluded from signing up for the plan but can get a policy for the accident-only plan that covers veterinary care for things like poisoning, cuts, and a pet getting hit by a car.
The limitation with these plans is a single option for a $100 annual deductible and covers 90% of veterinary bills for relevant situations up to $5,000 per year. The more general plan covers both accidents and illnesses, including congenital conditions, dental, cancer, and chronic conditions, such as allergies and arthritis.
Annual deductibles, max payouts, and the percentage of reimbursed medical bills are customizable and affect the premiums.
- Reimbursement limit: You can select a limit between $5,000 and $30,000 – the latter being a higher figure than most competitors offer.
- Deductibles: As with most insurers, your choices in an annual deductible range from $200 to $1,000.
- Reimbursements: You can select a reimbursement percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90% – a typical range of options.
Pre-existing conditions are not covered, but if your pet is symptom-free for over a year, you will get financially protected.
The supplemental wellness program offers preventive care such as vaccines and microchipping. Optional add-ons allow owners to choose a reimbursement level of $250, $450 up to $650 per year.
The wellness program provides reimbursement for the following therapeutics and medications associated with precautionary care and upkeep:
- Vet recommended diet food.
- Medical drops for cleaning ears.
- Heartworm, tick, and flea preventatives.
- Antiseptic and antifungal medicated shampoos for cats and dogs.
- Nutritional supplements.
The provider offers two insurance plans for cats and dogs along with a wellness plan, packaged as accident-only and accident and illness. Embrace’s basic accident and illness plan provides reimbursement for most treatments but not for a pre-existing condition.
Clients can select the best option from five different limits, the same number of deductibles, and three reimbursement amounts. Pets 14 years or older are excluded from signing up for the plan but can get a policy for the accident-only plan that covers veterinary care for things like poisoning, cuts, and a pet getting hit by a car.
The limitation with these plans is a single option for a $100 annual deductible and covers 90% of veterinary bills for relevant situations up to $5,000 per year. The more general plan covers both accidents and illnesses, including congenital conditions, dental, cancer, and chronic conditions, such as allergies and arthritis.
Annual deductibles, max payouts, and the percentage of reimbursed medical bills are customizable and affect the premiums.
- Reimbursement limit: You can select a limit between $5,000 and $30,000 – the latter being a higher figure than most competitors offer.
- Deductibles: As with most insurers, your choices in an annual deductible range from $200 to $1,000.
- Reimbursements: You can select a reimbursement percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90% – a typical range of options.
Pre-existing conditions are not covered, but if your pet is symptom-free for over a year, you will get financially protected.
The supplemental wellness program offers preventive care such as vaccines and microchipping. Optional add-ons allow owners to choose a reimbursement level of $250, $450 up to $650 per year.
The wellness program provides reimbursement for the following therapeutics and medications associated with precautionary care and upkeep:
- Vet recommended diet food.
- Medical drops for cleaning ears.
- Heartworm, tick, and flea preventatives.
- Antiseptic and antifungal medicated shampoos for cats and dogs.
- Nutritional supplements.
Embrace Pet Insurance: Pricing & Reimbursement Rate
Embrace has some of the most sensible pricing options on the pet insurance market. Basic coverage begins under $7 per month for cats and $14 for dogs. Rates differ depending on location, breed, and age, and usually – you will pay more for older pets.
On average, a cat under one-year costs about $12, while the same-age mixed breed dog will cost around $24 per month. The downside is that the wellness package is not budget-friendly, and it can easily double the monthly premium. The upside is that the wellness plan is separate from your core plan, and medical therapies do not influence the annual deductibles or the maximum limit.
Embrace has plenty of benefits, but owners should be on the lookout for the few hidden costs, like the enrollment fee of $25, which is not an industry standard.
Both monthly premium rates have a $5,000 annual benefit limit, a $500 deductible that goes down $50 per year for each year you don’t file a claim, and a 90% reimbursement rate.
Dental treatments have a $1,000 annual limit separate from the annual limit on general coverage.
How does Embrace Pet Insurance Work?
The sign-up process is straightforward, and you can register within minutes on their official website. Owners have to provide the pet’s medical history and a recent veterinary exam. There is a waiting period to avoid insurance fraud.
Specific time frames include:
- 2 days for accidents and injuries
- 14 days for illnesses
- 6 months for orthopedic conditions
Pet owners can submit claims through the MyEmbrace app but also via email, fax, or postal mail. Owners can download the claim form from the website or find it on the app.
Necessary documents include an invoice from the vet and any diagnosis your pet received. All information in the form must match with the veterinary records for a positive claim’s outcome.
Claim processing usually takes from 10 to 15 days, and if any documents are missing – Embrace’s team will contact the vet office to get them.
Covered Medications
Embrace’s prescription drug coverage is available with every policy and reimburses for FDA-approved and Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia-included drugs prescribed for covered conditions.
Covered prescriptions include:
- Antibiotics
- Allergy medication
- Steroids
- Insulin & supplies
- Eye & ear drops
- Oral chemotherapy
- Pain medication
- Anxiety medication
Honest Client Testimonials
It wouldn’t be an unbiased review without mentioning a few honest client testimonials.
Third-party reviews have been generous to Embrace pet insurance, and AM Best has rewarded Embrace’s underwriter, American Modern Insurance Group, with an A+ rating for financial stability.
Although we faced a couple of negative comments regarding the pricey wellness plan and the claim processing period, most testimonials were positive. Let’s check out a few of them:
Embrace Pet Insurance Google Reviews
“After we passed the waiting period, Embrace handled everything promptly. My plan sets me back $70 a month, but it’s worth it! When my dog fractured its leg, all the diagnostic tests could have made a dent in my bank account, but the insurance policy saved me. The provider covered every procedure. Purchasing the policy was a great investment.” – Bryan M, Cleveland.
Embrace Pet Insurance Reviews BBB
“My dogs have been insured for over a decade. Before Embrace, I used another provider, but they didn’t offer the same level of options. The experience with Embrace has been satisfactory, especially these past two years as my dogs get older. Problems started manifesting, and we are more frequently at the vet. A few months back, my Doberman injured its knee. Orthopedic surgery was the only option to improve its mobility, but the price tag scared me. I consulted with Embrace, and they approved my claim. In my experience, the policy had paid for itself.” David A, Arlington
Embrace Pet Insurance Reviews Reddit
“After a health scare with her cat, my girlfriend got pet insurance. Embrace was her choice. What disappointed her was that pre-existing conditions are not covered, but apparently, that’s the industry standard. The little furball has a chronic illness. Besides that disappointment, she is satisfied with the customer service. So far, she has submitted a couple of minor claims. The payment was in a reasonable timeframe.” Posted by Jedi Rockstar
Embrace Pet Insurance Reviews Yelp
“My initial experience with Embrace was not positive, as I had some problems with my first claims. But when my dog passed away, they were empathetic and approved all my claims, reimbursing 90% of the expenses. The correct attitude motivated me to continue doing business with them. I got a policy for my new puppy, this time I also got the wellness plan.” – Mark N, Sacramento.
Is Embrace Pet Insurance Worth it
With its full-coverage insurance plan that provides care for nearly all medical issues, the diminishing deductibles which save owners money in the long run, and the multi-pet discount – Embrace Pet Insurance is definitely worth it. Embrace is a tested partner for pet health – an excellent choice for pets with breed-specific conditions.
The reputation for being one of the best pet insurance providers in the industry guarantees clients peace of mind when faced with a hefty veterinary bill.
Embrace Pet Insurance Alternatives
To find the best Embrace Pet Insurance alternative for you, it’s important to compare the plans offered by different companies.
Consider your budget, your pet’s age and health needs, and the type of coverage you’re looking for. You can also read reviews of different pet insurance companies to get a better sense of their customer service and claims process.
Embrace Pet Insurance alternatives:
- Figo Pet Insurance – More customizable plans, with a wide range of coverage options to choose from.
- Healthy Paws Pet Insurance – Better rates, especially for older pets and pets with pre-existing conditions.
- MetLife Pet Insurance – Quicker coverage for unexpected accidents.
- Lemonade Pet Insurance – Better overall value, with a unique Lemonade Care policy that offers a lower premium and a higher reimbursement rate.
- Pets Best Pet Insurance – Cheaper rates, especially for young pets and pets with no pre-existing conditions.
- Pumpkin Pet Insurance – Best for accident and illness coverage, with a focus on sudden onset illnesses and injuries.
- Spot Pet Insurance – Best for preventive care, with a unique wellness package that covers the cost of routine vet visits and vaccinations.
- Trupanion Pet Insurance – Best for lifelong coverage, with no annual or lifetime limits on benefits.
- ASPCA Pet Insurance – Best for pet parents who want to support a good cause, with a portion of every premium donated to the ASPCA.
- Nationwide Pet Insurance – Best for pet parents who want a variety of coverage options to choose from, including wellness plans, multiple pet discounts, and pre-existing condition coverage.
These companies offer a variety of pet insurance plans with different coverage levels and premiums. Some companies also offer additional benefits, such as wellness coverage, multiple pet discounts, and pre-existing condition coverage.
