We like Embrace’s Healthy Pet Discount Program as a unique way to save on an accident and illness policy. If your claim reimbursements are less than $300 per pet in the year prior to the discount period, you’ll be eligible for a 5% discount in the first year and 10% in the second year for each pet. Embrace will automatically apply the savings to your annual payment or monthly bill.
Embrace offers a good range of customizable options, such as several annual maximum coverage limits and deductible amounts. It also offers an accident-only plan for budget-minded pet owners.
There’s coverage for behavioral therapy and alternative therapy, such as hydrotherapy, chiropractic and acupuncture. For treating conditions like tendon injuries, Embrace covers stem cell treatments. Embrace policies also provide financial assistance for end-of-life expenses. Customers can also access a 24/7 pet health line, which can come in handy for late-night medical questions.
Embrace’s average rates for mixed breed dogs ($75/month) are about average in our evaluation. Its rates for purebred dogs ($119/month) are well above the average of $90/month among the companies we analyzed. However, Embrace still scored very well in our analysis thanks to the robust coverage provided.
Our survey of current Embrace customers found that 89% are somewhat satisfied to completely satisfied with customer service, which is average for the companies in our evaluation. We also found that 88% of current customers would recommend Embrace, which is also average. But only 75% of Embrace customers who have made claims are somewhat to completely satisfied with the claims process, compared to an average of 83%.
Pros
- Routine wellness plan available.
- Multi-pet (10%) and military (5%) discounts.
- Covers dental illnesses.
- Mobile app gets very good user reviews.
Cons
- Coverage for vet exam fees is at an additional cost. Some insurers include this in their base coverage.
- 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions, but it can be reduced to 14 days with an orthopedic exam.
- No option to pay the vet directly.
Embrace’s Types of Plans and Coverage
Embrace—included in our best pet insurance companies list—pet insurance offers an accident and illness plan, which covers the widest range of problems and is the most common type of pet insurance plan. It also offers an accident-only plan and an optional wellness plan.
Accident and Illness Insurance
Here are the types of problems that you can expect an accident and illness plan from Embrace to cover:
Accident-Only Insurance
Embrace also offers an accident-only policy, which covers problems such as injuries from getting struck by a vehicle, swallowing foreign objects and torn cruciate ligaments.
Keep in mind, if you purchase an accident-only policy, you won’t be covered for problems typically included in an accident and illness plan. For example, an accident-only policy won’t cover common illnesses like ear infections, diarrhea and vomiting.
Embrace Add-Ons
Embrace also offers an optional Wellness Rewards plan. This is not an insurance plan, but you can purchase a reimbursement level for qualified preventative care expenses, which can help you save money over the course of a 12-month period.
Here’s how it works: You’ll pick a reimbursement level of $250, $450 or $650 per year. You will then be charged a monthly amount for the plan. For example, a $250 reimbursement level costs $18.25 per month, which equals $225 for a year. That means you can save up to $25 in preventative health care costs.
Reimbursable items and services include:
- Wellness exam fees
- Vaccinations
- Microchipping
- Flea, tick and heartworm preventatives
- Nutritional supplements
- Spay/neuter surgery
- Fecal and routine blood tests
- Grooming (including toe nail trimming)
- Medicated shampoos
- Routine anal gland expression
- Gastropexy
- Preventative teeth cleaning
- Prescription diet food
- Training
- Hip dysplasia exams, radiographs or other OFA testing
- Routine chiropractic care
- Reiki, massage therapy and acupuncture
- Wearable pet activity monitors
- Cremation or burial
What Embrace Does Not Cover
Here are some problems that are not covered by Embrace pet insurance:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding, pregnancy and whelping
- DNA testing or cloning
- Cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping or declaw removal (unless medically necessary)
- Stem therapy that is not medically necessary
- Injuries caused deliberately by you or any person who lives in your household
- Injuries or illness caused by fighting, racing, cruelty or neglect
- Avian flu or nuclear war
Embrace Pet Insurance Coverage Levels
Maximum Annual Limit
The cap on the reimbursement your insurance company will pay in a given year is known as the annual coverage limit. Embrace has one coverage limit:
- $5,000
- $8,000
- $10,000
- $15,000
- Unlimited
Deductible Options
The amount you have to pay before your coverage begins to reimburse you for expenses is your deductible. Embrace offers the following deductible options:
- $100
- $250
- $500
- $750
- $1,0000
Reimbursement Options
When you pay up front for a pet’s medical expenses, you will then submit a claim for reimbursement for problems covered by your policy. You can select a reimbursement level of:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
What Are Embrace’s Pet Insurance Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions?
Embrace has the following waiting periods:
- Accident coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase your plan.
- 14-day illness waiting period.
- Six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions.
The six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions can be reduced to 14 days if you complete an orthopedic exam and waiver process. The orthopedic exam must be completed within the first 14 days of your pet insurance policy. If it is not completed within the first 14 days, the waiting period will be reduced to the day of your dog’s orthopedic exam.
You can enroll your dog or cat in Embrace’s accident and illness plan up to age 15. After age 15, your pet is eligible only for an accident-only plan.
| Company | Accident waiting period | Illness waiting period | Special waiting period |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pets Best Elite plan
|
3 days
|
14 days
|
6 months for cruciate ligament conditions
|
|
1 day
|
14 days
|
6 months for cruciate ligament conditions (can be waived with an orthopedic exam)
|
|
|
Chewy Essential Plus plan
|
5 days
|
14 days
|
None
|
|
Embrace
|
Begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase your plan
|
14 days
|
6 months for orthopedic conditions (can be waived with an orthopedic exam)
|
How Much Does Pet Insurance From Embrace Cost?
Embrace pet insurance costs an average of $52 per month for a dog and $42 per month for a cat, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The average cost of Embrace pet insurance is $75 per month for a dog and $63 per month for a cat for unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.
Embrace Price Comparison for Dogs
| Dog breed | Average cost per month for puppies age 3 months | Average cost per month for dogs age 3 years |
|---|---|---|
|
Beagle
|
$90
|
$94
|
|
Bulldog
|
$154
|
$162
|
|
Dachshund
|
$73
|
$77
|
|
French bulldog
|
$154
|
$162
|
|
German shepherd
|
$90
|
$94
|
|
Golden retriever
|
$100
|
$105
|
|
Labrador retriever
|
$100
|
$105
|
|
Mixed breed (large)
|
$81
|
$86
|
|
Mixed breed (medium)
|
$62
|
$65
|
|
Mixed breed (small)
|
$54
|
$57
|
Embrace Price Comparison for Cats
| Cat breed | Average cost per month kittens age 3 months | Average cost per month for cats age 3 years |
|---|---|---|
|
Abyssinian
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Bengal
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Bombay
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
British shorthair
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Exotic shorthair
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Maine coon
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Mixed breed
|
$48
|
$58
|
|
Persian
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Ragdoll
|
$54
|
$64
|
|
Siamese
|
$54
|
$64
|
About Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance is a Cleveland-based company underwritten by American Modern Insurance. The company began as a pet insurance concept and won the 2003 Wharton Business Plan Competition. In 2006, Embrace sold its first pet insurance policy. Today, Embrace provides insurance for pet owners nationwide.