A Vet's Review of Embrace Pet Insurance

by Frances Wilkerson, DVM

This review discusses coverage and payout structure

To get the most from this review, please read the Guide to Pet Insurance first.
For a detailed look at Embrace, see Embrace's Comparison Sheet.



Overview

Embrace has offered pet insurance since 2006. This review refers to the following plans: Budget, Everyday, Complete, Customizable.


Coverage Overview

In general, Embrace Pet Insurance covers examinations, diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, and hospitalization for accidents/injuries and illnesses as long as the condition is not pre-existing, has not occurred during the waiting period, and you have not reached your maximum payout.

Coverage for prescription medications must be purchased as an additional add-on.

Non-routine dental coverage is limited.


Coverage For Chronic Diseases & Continual Coverage For Chronic Diseases

Embrace Pet Insurance covers chronic diseases and provides continual coverage for chronic conditions as long as your pet is not showing signs and the disease has not been diagnosed or suspected prior to enrollment or during the waiting period.

However, the maximum reimbursement you can receive in any given year after the first 12 months of occurrence for continual care of chronic conditions is 25% of your policy annual maximum.

Payout for continual care of chronic conditions should not be limited. You should have full access to your maximum payout as these tend to be some of the most costly medical conditions.


Hereditary & Congenital Coverage

Hereditary and congenital conditions, including hip dysplasia are covered by Embrace Pet Insurance as long as your pet is not showing signs and the disease has not been diagnosed or suspected prior to enrollment or during the waiting period.

Some hereditary and congenital conditions, however, can be chronic. The maximum payout that you can receive in any given year after the first 12 months of occurrence for continual care of a chronic conditions is 25% of your policy's annual maximum.

This may not be enough for some ongoing conditions.



Cancer Coverage

Embrace covers cancer conditions as long as your pet is not showing signs and the disease has not been diagnosed or suspected prior to enrollment or during the waiting period.

However, treatments and diagnostic monitoring for some cancers can be an on-going process. The maximum payout that you can receive in any given year after the first 12 months of occurrence for continual care of a chronic cancer condition is 25% of your policy's annual maximum.

This may not be enough for some cancerous conditions.

In addition, if your pet has been diagnosed or treated for cancer before your policy effective date or during the waiting period, your pet will not be covered for any further incidences of any type of cancer in any location in the body.


Coverage For Breed Specific Conditions

Embrace covers breed specific medical conditions, as long as your pet is not showing signs and the disease has not been diagnosed or suspected prior to enrollment or during the waiting period.

However, the maximum payout that you can receive in any given year after the first 12 months of occurrence for continual care of a breed specific condition condition is 25% of your policy's annual maximum.

This may not be enough for some breed specific conditions.



Maximum Payout Structure

Embrace has an annual maximum payout structure. The highest annual maximum that Embrace offers is $15,000 per year which is a good amount. Unfortunately, the maximum reimbursement you can receive in any given year after the first 12 months of occurrence for continual care of chronic conditions is 25% of your policy annual maximum.

This may not be enough for some ongoing conditions. Your full maximum payout amount should be available for use on whatever comes up for your pet. There should be no percentage limits or cut off points. (See: Picking the Right Maximum Payout)



Summary of Coverage and Payout Structure

Gotchas

  • Covers chronic diseases, but continual coverage for these conditions is limited to 25% of your annual maximum each year
  • Covers hereditary & congenital conditions (including hip dysplasia), but continual coverage for these conditions is limited to 25% of your annual maximum each year
  • Covers cancer, but continual coverage for these conditions is limited to 25% of your annual maximum each year, and if your pet has been diagnosed or treated for cancer before your policy effective date or during the waiting period, your pet will not be covered for any further incidences of any type of cancer in any location in the body.
  • Prescription medication coverage is an additional add-on
  • Non-routine dental coverage is limited



Good Points

  • Strong underwriter
  • Coverage when travel out of state or to Canada or Mexico
  • Offers a varienty of annual max payouts that will meet most people's "Worst Case Scenario Costs"



Additional Comments:

  • Make sure you understand what the waiting periods are.
  • Make sure you understand their bilateral conditions policy.
  • Make sure you understand any requirements that you must adhere to to maintain coverage.
  • Make sure you read the terms and conditions to get a thorough understanding of all exclusions.
  • Make you call the company to understand how and when your premium can increase.
  • If you change plan levels, there is a possibility that all medical conditions present under the old plan will be considered pre-existing in the new plan. Make sure you ask the company if this is the case.
  • Pre-existing conditions can be based on symptoms alone, a diagnosis is not needed. For example, if your pet had a cough before you applied for pet insurance and this cough was discussed and written in the pet's medical record, there is the possibility that all future cough conditions, no matter what the cause, would be considered pre-existing - even if there was no treatment given. Make sure you ask the company if this is the case.
  • Pet insurance companies are businesses. The top priority of any business is to make a profit for their stakeholders. Pet insurance companies can and may change your rates and terms to meet that top priority. A change of business ownership or underwriters can also be a catalyst for changes in your rates and terms.

    When you purchase pet insurance make sure you have a realistic understanding of this and how it can affect you.


Additional Reviews:

AKC | ASPCA | Embrace | Healthy Paws | PetFirst | PetPlan | Pets Best | Purina | Trupanion | VPI | 24 Pet Watch


**Disclaimer:This review is meant to supplement not replace your own due diligence. Please read all terms and conditions of the pet insurance plan before you buy.

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