Table of Contents
Having a sick pet can be a heartbreaking experience, and the mounting vet bills only add to a pet owner’s anxiety. Considering that 50% of all dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer and 60% of dogs over 9 will develop heart issues, it is likely that your canine companion will need veterinary care at some point. In this Embrace pet insurance reviews round-up, we'll cover the benefits, coverage, and cost of this pet insurance plan.
Having insurance for your dog can give you some extra peace of mind during a trying time. Although a new concept to American dog owners (only 1% currently have insurance for their pets), insurance has become increasingly common as the options for treatments, surgeries, and medications have continued to expand.
As medical technology increases, so too do veterinary bills. For this reason, pet insurance has started to become indispensable for caring owners.
Embrace pet insurance, which is one way to keep your dog protected in case of accident or illness. This Embrace pet insurance review will show you that their plans are customizable, so you can choose what is best for your pet’s needs and budget. Embrace makes pet insurance more accessible than ever for every dog parent and continues to expand both its offerings and ease of use.
We culled through hundreds of Embrace pet insurance reviews to find out what dog owners really think about their coverage, plans, and the overall value of this insurance. Is it worth the monthly premiums? Let's find out!
RELATED: 19 Tips for Picking the Best Pet Insurance Plan [Infographic]
Embrace Pet Insurance Reviews:
Benefits, Coverage, Costs, and Value
An Overview
Embrace was founded in 2003 by Laura Bennett (who also happens to be the first pet actuary in America) and Alex Krooglik with an award-winning idea at the Wharton Business Plan Competition. Both Bennett and Krooglik are immigrants from Britain and Australia, respectively, where pet insurance is much more common (close to 25% of pet owners in Britain have insurance, by comparison).
Seeing the opportunity here in America, they began to build their own pet insurance company. By 2006, Embrace sold its first policy. Embrace has continued to grow exponentially and, as of June 2017, covers 100,000 dogs and cats, making it one of the largest pet insurance companies in the United States.
Embrace is underwritten by American Modern Home Insurance Company and American Southern Home Insurance Company in Florida. It also has partnered with the Armed Forces to cover military members’ pets. As they continue to expand, so too do their offers, discounts, and benefits.
Flexible Plans for Your Needs
Information from Embrace pet insurance reviews is great, but if the company doesn't offer a plan that will meet your needs, it won't matter how good the value is. The main strength of Embrace insurance is its flexibility in coverage.
They offer one main package for accidents and illness, and owners can choose between various maximums and deductibles to suit their budget. There is a $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000 maximum and an annual deductible of $100, $200, $300, $500, and $1000. Also, reimbursements vary based on your choice, from 65% to 80% and 90%.
Embrace’s basic plan includes an impressive variety of expenses, including:
- Breed-specific conditions
- Diagnostic testing
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Exam fees
- Emergency and specialist care
- X-rays and ultrasounds
- Behavioral therapy
- Alternative therapies
- Chronic and congenital conditions
Not only does this policy cover traditional medical treatment, but holistic ones as well. Especially when it comes to pain management, it may be necessary to have holistic treatments that can be costly. Being able to have flexibility in treatment makes Embrace an attractive choice.
Embrace’s flexibility for more coverage means that you can get more use out of your insurance and save you money.
If your pet requires more coverage, Embrace does offer additional packages, such as wellness coverage. In their additional wellness rewards, you can have:
- Vaccinations
- Spaying/neutering
- Wellness check-ups
- Microchipping
- Prescription diet food
- Nutritional supplements
- Obedience training
- Anesthetic teeth cleaning
- Grooming
- Nail clipping
- Pet activity monitors
- Cremation/burial
The Wellness Rewards covers various preventative procedures, surgeries, and medications in addition to the above services. Many of the procedures covered, such as teeth cleaning, will help protect your pet’s health in the long run. However, most owners are hesitant to do them because of the initial cost.
Many Embrace pet insurance reviews state that owners were only able to have these wellness procedures done because they had insurance to cover the cost. Having it covered in an insurance policy not only means a healthier, happier pet but also saves costly treatment in the long run.
RECOMMENDED: The Ultimate Guide to Pet Insurance
Discounts and Rewards
Another positive aspect mentioned in Embrace pet insurance reviews is their various discounts and rewards. Embrace offers a $50 credit towards your deductible for every year that you do not need to use insurance. They will waive your deductible if you go enough years without submitting a claim, and this discount is rewarded to all members no matter the policy.
Embrace also gives discounts, including a 5% discount for spaying or neutering your pet (you can even have it applied after starting your policy if you spay or neuter your pet afterward), paying annually for additional pets and members of the military and veterans.
There is also a 5% discount offered in their PennHIP program. They check for hip dysplasia and offer a discount to dogs who meet their bilateral score cutoff.
It is even possible for employers to offer Embrace insurance to their employees at a discount. Embrace offers more discounts than the typical pet insurance company, so it is worth considering.
Managing Your Policy
Because of Embrace’s size and innovation, they have also made managing pet insurance easier than ever. In 2015, they launched MyEmbrace. It is an online customer portal that allows owners to change and update their policies, submit and check on claims, and manage their payments and reimbursements.
They also offer a service called VetLive, where any policyholder can ask one of their licensed veterinarians any question 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is free for anyone and can also be accessed online. Embrace’s online presence makes their policies even more attractive for their ease of use.
Getting a quote from Embrace is also a user-friendly process. It can be done online or over the phone and completed within minutes. All it takes is filling in information about your pet (such as name, breed, sex, and date of birth) and answering some questions to see if you qualify for any one of their discounts.
From there, you select the number of pets you would like to have covered (plus the same above information about any additional pet) and the level of coverage you would like for each one. After filling out billing and personal information, you are done.
There are representatives to speak with if you need help at any point, and your information can be saved if you decide to get insurance later. With how simple it is to get an accurate quote, there really is no reason not to at least look into Embrace insurance.
Lastly, there is no lifetime limit for how much they will cover. They also do not charge any one-time or service fees, so you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time with no surprises.
MORE: 3 Providers of Best Insurance Plans for Dogs
Things to Keep in Mind Before Purchasing a Plan
One of the main drawbacks noted in Embrace pet insurance reviews is its lack of prescription coverage. Typically, most pet insurance companies cover prescriptions, which is a costly expense most pet owners will incur at some point during their pet’s life. Not having that covered will likely be an additional financial burden on owners who are already paying for insurance.
Embrace does offer prescription coverage at an additional cost. Because it is not automatic, owners may find that they end up having to pay more than expected to add that coverage, which most insurance companies consider a basic expense. However, there are some owners who do not need or want medication for their pets, such as those who like more holistic alternatives for their pets, so that may not be a drawback for them.
Although coverage does protect your pet for an unlimited amount over his lifetime, there is no option for unlimited coverage in any given year. The highest amount of coverage is $15,000, which is typically more than enough for a dog. So, for most owners, that is not a problem.
Another drawback that some consumers noted in Embrace pet insurance reviews is its customer service phone hours. Based in Ohio, they are not always available for owners in different time zones and with limited hours.
There is also no live chat online, so if you cannot contact them by phone, you will need to reach them over email. Most of the information (and even customer service itself) can be accessed online, however, so this inconvenience can often be avoided for most pet owners.
Keep in mind as well that Embrace only covers dogs ages 14 and under. There does seem to be a common complaint from owners over what qualifies as a pre-existing condition in their pet. For instance, if a pet has one knee injury prior to coverage, then any future knee complication, even if it was a knee that had no prior problems, will not be covered.
It is important, then, for an owner to assess the needs of their dog prior to getting insurance. If your dog is older and already has numerous health issues, they may not be covered for as much as a younger dog or puppy.
As far as price comparison, Embrace does have more a premium price tag than other pet insurances. However, Embrace does offer more coverage and peace of mind for owners. Many owners find the extra spent each month well worth it to make sure their pet is cared for well when they need it.
Embrace Pet Insurance Review: Is It Worth It?
Any pet insurance is a smart option for a caring, modern, budget-conscious owner. Not being able to care for your pet properly because of finances or finding yourself in debt because of an unexpected accident or illness can weigh heavily on most dog owners. Buying insurance for your pet is a great way to enhance long-term health and protect yourself financially.
When it comes to different pet insurance providers, Embrace is a reputable company with worthwhile options, affordable costs, and pet-friendly plans. Other Embrace pet insurance reviews are quite clear when they say it is an excellent option for most pet owners, too. The company's comprehensive coverage gives owners more discounts than the typical plan and can not only help when your pet is sick but also has options for keeping your pet healthy to prevent serious illness.
READ NEXT: 19 Tips for Picking the Best Pet Insurance Plan [Infographic]
