Our Expert Verdict
Embrace stands out in the pet insurance industry by pairing extensive medical protection with customer-centric policy structures like its diminishing deductible. Founded in 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio, the company has spent over two decades refining its coverage, offering vital perks such as standard examination fee coverage and dedicated dental illness protection.
While starting premiums of $14/mo make baseline coverage accessible, rates for older pets and comprehensive add-ons can climb quickly. Even so, the combination of customizable deductibles, high reimbursement tiers, and strong preventive care options makes Embrace one of the most well-rounded insurers on the market.
- Pet parents seeking included exam fees and dental illness coverage
- Owners of healthy pets who can leverage diminishing deductibles
- Households wanting flexible non-insurance wellness budgeting
- –Budget shoppers looking for flat, lifetime-locked premium rates
- –Owners of pets with chronic, pre-existing conditions
Rating Breakdown
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Diminishing deductible
- Covers exam fees
- Wellness Rewards
Cons
- –Waiting period for orthopedic
- –Prices rise with age
1Coverage Details
Embrace offers a comprehensive accident and illness plan covering diagnostic tests, emergency surgeries, prescription medications, and chronic care management. Unlike many rival policies that charge an additional fee to cover diagnostic visit charges, Embrace includes veterinary exam fees directly within its core policy terms.
Another significant highlight is Embrace's approach to oral health. While most insurers limit dental payouts strictly to accidental trauma, Embrace covers dental illnesses such as periodontitis, gingivitis, and root canals up to $1,000 per policy year.
Key coverage highlights include:
- Included examination fees for both accidents and illnesses
- Up to $1,000 per year for dental illness treatment
- Broad coverage for hereditary conditions, cancer therapies, and rehabilitation
2Plan Options & Pricing
Embrace provides flexible configurations designed to match diverse household budgets, with basic catastrophe-focused cat plans starting as low as $14/mo. Rates for dogs and older pets naturally scale higher, reflecting veterinary actuarial risk by breed and location.
To complement standard accident and illness protection, policyholders can enroll in the optional Wellness Rewards program. This non-insurance add-on functions as a budgeted spending account that reimburses routine preventive costs like vaccinations, grooming, and microchipping dollar-for-dollar.
Annual benefit maximums range from modest limits to high-cap coverage options, allowing owners to determine precisely how much financial exposure they want to retain.
3Deductibles & Reimbursement
Policyholders can calibrate their out-of-pocket exposure by choosing an annual deductible between $200 and $1,000. Reimbursement percentages are equally adaptable, offering selections of 70%, 80%, or 90% of eligible veterinary expenditures.
The policy's signature benefit is the Healthy Pet Deductible. For every policy year you do not receive a claim payout, Embrace automatically lowers your annual deductible by $50, rewarding pet owners who prioritize long-term preventive health.
Over several consecutive claim-free years, this diminishing deductible can bring your out-of-pocket obligation down to zero, substantially softening the blow of future major medical procedures.
4Exclusions & Waiting Periods
Like all major pet insurers, Embrace excludes pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, breeding costs, and organ transplants. However, Embrace distinguishes between incurable conditions and curable conditions that have been symptom-free and unmedicated for at least 12 months.
Waiting periods for coverage activation are reasonable compared to industry benchmarks. Accident coverage activates just two days following enrollment, while illness protections require a standard 14-day waiting period.
Orthopedic conditions in canines carry an extended six-month waiting window. However, policyholders can significantly shorten this restriction by completing an orthopedic exam waiver with their veterinarian within the first 14 days of coverage.
5Claims Process
Embrace facilitates straightforward digital claims management through its MyEmbrace portal and mobile app. Policyholders settle their bill with the vet directly, submit an itemized receipt alongside relevant medical notes, and track the evaluation status online.
Routine claims are typically processed within 10 to 15 business days. Once approved, reimbursements are disbursed quickly via direct deposit or traditional paper check based on user preferences.
For large emergency expenses that exceed a pet owner's immediate cash flow, Embrace also offers direct vet payment. If your veterinary hospital agrees to coordinate with Embrace, the insurer can pay the clinic directly before discharge.
6Customer Experience
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Embrace delivers reliable customer support via dedicated phone agents, secure messaging, and live web chat. Their customer care team is staffed by knowledgeable pet advocates who provide compassionate guidance during stressful medical events.
The digital experience is polished and user-friendly, allowing policyholders to adjust coverage terms, check diminishing deductible balances, and update billing methods in a few clicks.
While user feedback is predominantly positive regarding policy transparency and claim consistency, some users report longer processing timelines during peak claim periods, making digital submission through the app the preferred channel.
About Embrace
Embrace offers comprehensive accident and illness coverage that includes exam fees, dental illness and behavioral therapy. Its standout feature is the diminishing deductible, which drops by $50 for every year without a claim.
Owners can add Wellness Rewards, a flexible budgeting tool for routine care such as vaccines, grooming and training. Embrace also offers an accident-only plan for older pets.
Embrace suits owners who want broad coverage and rewards for healthy years.
