Embrace operates out of its headquarters in Cleveland to provide a range of comprehensive pet insurance products. The company, which was founded in 2003, focuses primarily on cat and dog insurance. It has also built a strong reputation in the sector, leading to major insurance providers like Geico and Allstate making Embrace its pet insurance provider of choice.
The company landed the top spot on Forbes 2022 list of the United States’ best pet insurance providers. With that sort of pedigree, Embrace seems like an easy choice if you want to insure your precious pup or feline friend.
Still, it’s always a good idea to research before choosing an insurer. In this article, we review Embrace to offer a complete breakdown of what it offers to consumers.
Pros and Cons of Embrace Pet Insurance
Pros
- Embrace reduces your deductible for each year that you don’t make a claim on your insurance policy. This diminishing deductible policy can reduce your deductible by up to $50 per year.
- You can choose any licensed vet to provide treatment, meaning you’re not locked into using an Embrace-approved vet.
- The company offers a wide range of options, including reimbursement, deductibles, and annual coverage.
- Embrace’s policies have a waiting period of two days for accidents.
- You can use a mobile app to make claims, which leads to less time spent on completing complex forms.
Cons
- Embrace’s plans don’t cover supplements or prescription pet foods.
- The company only offers insurance for cats and dogs.
- There’s a six-month waiting period for orthopedic coverage, though you can reduce this wait with a vet visit.
Embrace Pet Insurance Plans
Embrace offers two types of insurance plans:
- Accident and Illness
- Accident-Only
You may also be able to add Wellness Rewards to either of these plans.
Accident and Illness
An Accident and Illness plan offers some customization. The accident coverage applies to vet care for issues including cuts, animal bites, vehicle-related accidents, gastric torsion, burns, dental trauma, fractures, and bloat.
The illness coverage applies to most conditions, including dental illnesses, chronic conditions, allergies, and cancer.
Unfortunately, Embrace’s Accident and Illness plans don’t cover preexisting conditions in most cases. However, the plan may offer cover if your pet hasn’t experienced symptoms in over a year or Embrace deems them cured.
The illness portion of the plan is also customizable, allowing you to select deductibles, maximum payouts, and the percentage of medical bills the plan reimburses. Dental illnesses are covered up to a maximum of $1,000 annually.
Accident-Only
Embrace’s Accident-Only policy offers the same deductible and coverage as the Accident and Illness policy, minus any coverage related to illnesses.
It may be a suitable option if your pet isn’t prone to common conditions. Note that Embrace automatically enrolls any pet over the age of 15 into this plan, as these animals don’t qualify for Accident and Illness coverage.
Wellness Rewards
You have the option to add Wellness Rewards to most Embrace policies, unless you live in Rhode Island. This policy addition pays for many routine treatments, such as vaccinations and flea prevention.
Wellness Rewards don’t include co-payment, with your spending not counting toward your main plan’s deductible.
Embrace designs this plan to save you $25 per year. For example, a Wellness Rewards plan with a $200 annual allowance should cost you $175 per year. This setup could cause a problem if you spend less than $175 on qualifying treatments annually.
As such, your decision to add Wellness Rewards to your plan hinges on how much you expect to pay for the treatments it covers.
State Availability
Embrace offers per insurance in all 50 American states and the District of Columbia. Its Wellness Rewards policy is available in most states, with Rhode Island being the sole exception.
What Does Embrace Pet Insurance Cover?
Accident and Illness
- Diagnostic tests
- Any exams, treatment, surgery, or hospitalization related to accidents or illnesses
- Dental illnesses up to $1,000 annually
- Prescription medication
- Congenital conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Treatments prescribed by oncologists, behavioralists, and similar veterinary specialists
- Complementary treatments, such as laser therapy and acupuncture
- Treatments for bloat
Accident-Only
- Exams, treatment, surgery, or hospitalization that results from an accident
- Diagnostic tests
- Prescription medication in every state except New York
- Treatment for bloat
Wellness Rewards
- Spaying and neutering
- Wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Pet training
- Prescription diet foods
- Nutritional supplements
- Preventatives for ticks, fleas, and heartworms
- Burial or cremation
- Microchipping
- Nail clipping
- Grooming
- Preventative teeth cleaning
What Doesn’t Embrace Pet Insurance Cover?
Of course, Embrace’s plans don’t cover everything that may cause you to take a trip to the vet with your furry friend. Neither the Accident and Illness nor the Accident-Only plans cover the following:
- Any illness or injuries that occur due to banned activities, such as mistreatment, fighting, or racing
- Preexisting conditions, unless Embrace considers the condition cured or symptoms haven’t shown for at least one year
- Wellness care
- Any expenses related to pregnancy or breeding
- Cosmetic procedures such as tail docking or ear cropping
- Supplements or prescription pet food, unless you have the Wellness Rewards plan
Furthermore, the Accident-Only plan doesn’t cover any of the above in relation to illnesses. Also note that you can receive coverage for wellness care, supplements, and prescription pet food if you add Wellness Rewards to your plan.
Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
Your cat or dog must be at least six weeks old before Embrace will consider them for any of its policies. Thankfully, the company doesn’t set any maximum age limits. However, pets aged 15 or over are only eligible for Accident-Only coverage, though you can still add Wellness Rewards to these plans.
Insurers tend to apply waiting periods before coverage activates. Embrace is no different, as it applies the following waiting periods before your plan kicks in:
- Two days for accident coverage
- 14 days for illness coverage
- Six months for orthopedic work
You can reduce the waiting period for orthopedic work to 14 days if you take your pet for an orthopedic exam after applying for coverage.
Still, the company’s standard six-month waiting period may mean that Embrace isn’t the right choice for you if your pet experiences regular orthopedic issues.
It’s also worth noting that there’s no waiting period in place for any treatments covered under the Wellness Rewards plan.
Embrace Insurance Costs
Now that you know what an Embrace policy covers, you need to know about the financial side of things. The good news is that Embrace offers plenty of customization options, allowing you to tailor your insurance policy to your pet’s needs.
You can choose a deductible of between $200 and $1,000 with Embrace. A deductible is how much you pay toward vet bills before the policy’s reimbursements kick in.
As for reimbursements, Embrace offers the following choices:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
Of course, selecting a higher reimbursement rate leads to higher premiums. As such, you need to balance the possibility of your pet facing high vet bills against the cost of premiums for each reimbursement option.
Finally, Embrace applies an annual limit of $30,000, with the minimum being $5,000. The upper reaches of this limit should cover most treatments, though you may need to look elsewhere if you expect your vet bills to exceed $30,000.
Price Comparisons
In the following tables, we highlight the cost of an Embrace policy in Dallas, Texas (zip code 75242) with the following customization options:
- 90% reimbursement rate
- $200 deductible
- $15,000 annual limit
Note that these rates vary between states and will be based on Embrace’s examination of your policy application.
Price Comparison for Dogs
| Dog Breed | Accident and Illness Plan | Accident and Illness + Wellness Plan |
| German Shepherd | ||
| 8-Week Old Puppy | $69.53 | $88.28 |
| Five Years Old | $75.79 | $94.54 |
| Senior | $89.00 | $115.40 |
| French Bulldog | ||
| 8-Week Old Puppy | $106.69 | $125.44 |
| Five Years Old | $116.30 | $135.05 |
| Senior | $136.57 | $155.32 |
| Labrador Retriever | ||
| 8-Week Old Puppy | $69.53 | $88.28 |
| Five Years Old | $75.79 | $94.54 |
| Senior | $96.65 | $115.40 |
| Golden Retriever | ||
| 8-Week-Old Puppy | $69.53 | $88.28 |
| Five Years Old | $75.79 | $94.54 |
| Senior | $89.00 | $107.75 |
| Poodle | ||
| 8-Week Old Puppy | $46.35 | $65.10 |
| Five Years Old | $50.53 | $69.28 |
| Senior | $64.43 | $83.18 |
Price Comparison for Cats
| Cat Breed | Accident and Illness Plan | Accident and Illness + Wellness Plan |
| Domestic Shorthair | ||
| 8-Week-Old Kitten | $20.78 | $39.53 |
| Five Years Old | $30.39 | $49.14 |
| Senior | $47.27 | $66.02 |
| British Shorthair | ||
| 8-Week-Old Kitten | $33.57 | $52.32 |
| Five Years Old | $49.09 | $67.84 |
| Senior | $83.08 | $101.83 |
| Exotic | ||
| 8-Week-Old Kitten | $33.57 | $52.32 |
| Five Years Old | $49.09 | $67.84 |
| Senior | $83.08 | $101.83 |
Possible Discounts
Embrace offers several discounts you can use to reduce the cost of your pet insurance. These discounts include the following:
- A 5% military discount
- Note that this discount isn’t available to pet owners in Tennessee or New York
- A 10% discount for policies that cover multiple pets
Furthermore, paying for your annual premium upfront allows you to avoid Embrace’s monthly billing fee of $1. Thus, you save $12 per year if you buy your coverage annually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Embrace offer a wellness plan?
Embrace offers the Wellness Rewards plan, which covers a wide range of preventative treatments. These treatments include common issues related to pet ownership, such as grooming, spaying, and neutering.
Does Embrace cover preexisting conditions?
Unfortunately, Embrace’s policies don’t cover preexisting conditions. However, you may add the condition to your coverage if your pet hasn’t experienced symptoms or received treatment for it for at least one year. Embrace may also cover an illness if it deems your pet cured of it previously.
Does Embrace cover dental cleaning?
You can get coverage for a dental cleaning as part of Embrace’s Wellness Rewards plan. Unfortunately, the company’s main plans don’t cover dental cleaning.
Does Embrace have any coverage limits?
Embrace has a coverage limit of $30,000 per year. You can choose between multiple coverage options, starting at $5,000, up to this $30,000 limit.
How do I file a claim with Embrace?
Embrace follows a three-step procedure for claims. First, you need to get a copy of your itemized invoice for your vet. This invoice should include the total amount charged for the treatment, plus any discounts, charges for other pets, or taxes that apply.
With your invoice ready, log in to your account on the MyEmbrace mobile app and choose “Select a Claim.” Follow the instructions, upload the vet invoice when prompted, and submit your claim.
Embrace will review the claim and contact you in 10-15 business days. You can track your claim’s progress via the MyEmbrace app.
How long does it Embrace take to pay out?
Assuming you make a successful claim, Embrace pays out within three business days if you choose a direct deposit. If you wish to receive payment via check, it typically takes approximately 10 business days.
How do I cancel a policy from Embrace?
You can cancel Your Embrace policy via phone by calling (800) 511-9172. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] to request cancellation. The insurer outlines its cancellation policy on its website.
Does Embrace cover spaying or neutering?
Embrace doesn’t cover spaying or neutering in its general insurance policies. However, its Wellness Rewards plan offers coverage for both procedures.
Does Embrace cover euthanasia?
An Embrace Accident and Illness policy covers euthanasia under the following conditions:
- The plan covers the condition for which euthanasia is recommended
- Your vet has recommended euthanasia for humane reasons
Note that Embrace doesn’t cover euthanasia for preexisting conditions.
Does Embrace cover hip dysplasia?
Yes, Embrace offers coverage for hip dysplasia as long as your pet develops the condition while under an active policy. Unfortunately, a pet who has the condition before you get insurance isn’t covered because Embrace considers hip dysplasia a preexisting condition.
Is Embrace accepted by every vet?
Embrace’s coverage is accepted by all licensed vets, in addition to many veterinary professionals who provide complementary treatments. Furthermore, Embrace offers coverage for all 50 states, making it easier for you to find a suitable vet.
Does Embrace pay the vet directly?
Embrace doesn’t pay vets directly. Instead, it reimburses you for the costs of your pet’s treatment. You must complete a claim to receive this reimbursement.
