Embrace offers some of the best pet insurance coverage in the industry. Embrace has very few exclusions compared to other providers and pays out claims promptly. But choosing a pet insurance company isn’t the same for every pet parent.
You most likely have your own concerns about Fido’s health and what you want to be covered in your pet insurance policy. Not to mention a budget that you’d like to stick to. Signing up for a pet insurance plan can help you maintain your dog’s health and manage your finances.
Embrace is a popular pick amongst dog parents for numerous reasons, and it could be the best option for your family. Our comprehensive review explains how Embrace pet insurance works, plan options, pros and cons, and more to help you decide if it’s the best company for your needs.
Embrace
- Premium reduces by $50 per year if no claims are made
- Covers curable pre-existing conditions, dependent on evaluation
- Exam fees included in all policies
- Offers coverage for behavioral therapy and training
- Dental treatment included
How Does Embrace Pet Insurance Work?
- You pay a monthly or annual premium to maintain your dog’s insurance coverage.
- The waiting periods must pass before your dog is fully covered, and you are eligible to submit claims.
- If your pup becomes sick or injured (after your waiting periods), you visit the vet and pay your bill, asking for a detailed receipt with line items for each charge.
- You can submit claims through the MyEmbrace portal, app, mail, email, or fax. You have the twelve months included in your current policy term plus 60 days following renewal to submit your claim.
- If your claim is approved, reimbursement will be sent to you via direct deposit or check.
Pros & Cons Of Embrace
Embrace was founded in 2003, is underwritten by American Modern Insurance Group, and averages a five-day claim processing average. The company is commended for its extensive coverage, quick claim processing, and customizable plan options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Diminishing deductible feature where the annual deductible decreases by $50 each year a claim isn’t submitted | $25 enrollment fee and $1 monthly transaction charge |
| Accident benefits start after a two-day waiting period | Pets younger than 15 years of age cannot be enrolled for a new accident and illness policy (accident-only eligible) |
| No lifetime limits and no per-incident limits as they use an annual deductible | Excludes bilateral conditions (ailments or diseases that affect both sides of the body) |
| Optional wellness plan add-on | |
| Offers up to a 10% multi-pet discount, a 5% military discount (not in NY and TN), and a 15% USAA discount in most states | |
| Dependent on evaluation, some curable pre-existing conditions may be covered |
What Types Of Plans Does Embrace Offer?
Accident & Illness Plan
Embrace’s accident and illness plan covers accident-related claims, such as broken bones, foreign body ingestion, torn nail, etc., and illness-related claims, such as allergies, cancer, arthritis, vomiting, and diarrhea. These plans are the most extensive option available. Pets must be at least six weeks old but less than 15 years old for new enrollment with Embrace. If your dog was enrolled before their 15th birthday, you can continue with an accident & illness policy, but pets who wish to enroll after the 15th birthday will only have the option of accident-only coverage.
Accident and illness plans are customizable to fit your budget more easily. You can choose your deductible, payout, and reimbursement from the options below.
| Deductible Options | Payout Options | Reimbursement Options |
|---|---|---|
| $200 $300 $500 $750 $1,000 | $5,000 $8,000 $10,000 $15,000 $30,000 Unlimited | 70% 80% 90% |
Your monthly premium is based on your dog’s breed, age, location, pre-existing conditions, etc. It’s best to sign your dog up for insurance sooner rather than later to minimize exclusions for pre-existing conditions they may experience with age.
Waiting Periods
Embrace has the following waiting periods before coverage kicks in for a condition.
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Accidents: 2 days
- Cruciate Ligament: 6 months
- Hip Dysplasia: 6 months
- IVDD: 6 months
- Patellar Luxation: 6 months
Accident-Only Plan
Embrace’s accident-only plan is only available for dogs enrolled after their 15th birthday. The plan covers accident-related claims, such as broken bones, foreign body ingestion, torn nail, etc.
Embrace is one of only four national providers that currently offer an accident-only option. These policies are an excellent choice for people who want a true emergency-only plan to help keep costs down, making it more affordable than accident and illness plans. However, unlike most other companies, not all prospective customers are eligible for this Embrace product – your pet must be 15 years of age or older to be considered.
The accident-only plan isn’t customizable and includes the following coverage:
- $5,000 annual payout limit
- $100 deductible
- 90% reimbursement
Waiting Periods
Embrace has the following waiting periods before coverage kicks in for a condition.
- Accidents: 2 days
- Cruciate Ligament: 6 months
- IVDD: 6 months
- Patellar Luxation: 6 months
Wellness Plan
Wellness plans aren’t insurance plans. Instead, they’re optional add-ons to a pet insurance policy to help cover the preventative expenses associated with routine medical care. Annual vet exams can cost $300 or more depending on your vet, location, necessary vaccines, testing required, and more. A wellness plan is specifically designed to help budget for the annual costs a responsible pet owner should expect to pay the vet each year to proactively help monitor and manage their pet’s health.
These plans can also help you pay for monthly preventative medications, including heartworm and flea & tick treatments. Wellness plans can help you budget for routine expenses throughout the year instead of racking up a large annual vet bill you must pay all at once.
Three wellness plans are available through Embrace, which have no waiting periods. Embrace reimburses 100% of your dog’s wellness expenses up to your selected amount of coverage. The amounts below are in addition to your pet insurance premium and are subject to change.
- $250 Wellness Rewards per year: $18.75 per month
- $450 Wellness Rewards per year: $35.42 per month
- $650 Wellness Rewards per year: $52.09 per month
The Wellness Rewards can be used for the following items but are not limited to:
| Routine vet visits | Grooming |
| Flea, tick, and heartworm medications | Fecal and routine blood tests |
| Microchipping | Medicated shampoos |
| Spay/neuter surgery | Routine chiropractic care |
| Massage and acupuncture | Teeth cleaning |
| Prescription diet food | Training classes |
| Vaccinations | Toenail trimming |
| Anal gland expression | Pet activity monitors |
| Cremation or burial |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Embrace Pet Insurance Take To Pay Back Customers?
Embrace averages five days for processing and paying out covered claims. Direct deposit will allow you to receive reimbursement faster than a mailed check.
Does Embrace Cover Ear Infection?
Yes, Embrace covers ear infections as long as this is not a pre-existing condition. If your dog has a history of ear infections prior to coverage, then the last infection needs to be resolved entirely and symptom-free for 12 months before any future ear infections will be considered for coverage.
Final Thoughts
With so many pet insurance options, why should Embrace be your top pick? Embrace offers extensive coverage and pays out claims in a short amount of time. Before signing up, read through your proposed policy carefully to ensure you know what is included and excluded in coverage and that you’re comfortable with the terms.
Recognize that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by any provider, so any ailment you’ve taken your dog to the vet for in the past is most likely excluded from coverage.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from several pet insurance providers to see how the cost compares. But don’t stop there. Make sure you carefully review coverage as well. Just because a company is typically among the lowest prices doesn’t mean it’s always the best value or that it will be the lowest for you. And a low price is only good if the coverage meets your unique needs, so read the policy closely before enrolling.
