Known for its unique Healthy Pet Deductible that shrinks to zero over time, its genuinely flexible Wellness Rewards, and one of the most comprehensive base plans in the industry. Here’s everything — the features, the real costs, how claims actually work, and what the fine print says.
Embrace is one of the most complete pet insurance products available in the US. Its base accident-and-illness plan includes things other providers charge extra for: hereditary and congenital conditions, behavioral therapy, dental illness, alternative therapies like acupuncture, and vet exam fees. The Healthy Pet Deductible — which automatically lowers your annual deductible by $50 for every claim-free year — is the only mainstream feature that concretely rewards responsible pet owners rather than just promising it. For USAA members and military families, a dedicated discount stacks the value further. The honest trade-offs: the 6-month orthopedic waiting period is longer than some competitors (though waivable with a vet exam at enrollment), the dental illness cap is $1,000 per year which falls short for complex oral surgery, and like every insurer, Embrace’s premiums rise as your pet ages.
These are the most-searched questions about Embrace pet insurance — including the ones buried in fine print that actually determine what you pay when your pet needs care.
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How much does Embrace pet insurance cost? Average: ~$39/month dogs · ~$27/month cats · Range: $22–$150+/month depending on pet, age, breed, zip, and coverage choicesEmbrace starts around $22/month for cats and $38/month for dogs with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and a $10,000 annual limit — but those are entry-level configurations for young, healthy, average-sized pets in mid-cost US markets. The real cost depends on five variables: your pet’s age (premiums rise with each birthday), breed (high-risk breeds like Bulldogs, Great Danes, and Golden Retrievers cost more), your zip code (urban and West Coast markets run higher), the deductible you choose ($100–$1,000/year), and your annual coverage limit ($5,000 to unlimited in select states). Add-ons for prescription drug coverage and vet exam fees each add to the monthly figure. The Wellness Rewards add-on runs $25–$58/month depending on your tier ($300, $500, or $700 annual allowance). For a large-breed dog in a high-cost state with comprehensive coverage and add-ons, full monthly cost can reach $100–$150+. Run your actual quote at embracepetinsurance.com — the calculator is accurate and takes about 90 seconds.
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Who underwrites Embrace pet insurance? American Modern Insurance Group — AM Best A+ rated · Subsidiary of Munich Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers · Policies written by American Modern Home Insurance Company in most states, American Southern Home Insurance in FloridaThis matters because it’s the company actually paying your claims. Embrace itself is the administrator and customer-facing agency — the entity that answers your phone calls, processes your claims, and runs your portal. But the financial backstop is American Modern Insurance Group, which has been in business since 1965 and carries an AM Best A+ (Superior) rating — a distinction held by fewer than 10% of all property and casualty insurers in the US. American Modern is a subsidiary of Munich Re, a global reinsurance giant with over 38,000 employees across 50+ locations worldwide. This institutional backing is meaningfully stronger than what several competing pet insurers can point to, and it matters most in the scenario you’re actually insuring against: a very large claim when your pet faces a serious illness or injury.
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How does Embrace pet insurance work? You pay your vet upfront · Submit claim through app or portal within 90 days · Embrace processes in 5–15 business days · Reimbursement by direct deposit or check at your chosen rate (70%, 80%, or 90%) after your annual deductibleEmbrace works on a reimbursement model — you pay the vet bill when it happens, then submit the invoice to Embrace. No pre-authorization is required before treatment (except for very specific elective situations). Any licensed veterinarian, specialist, or emergency clinic in the US qualifies — there’s no network. You file through the Embrace mobile app or the my.embracepetinsurance.com portal by uploading your itemized invoice. Most claims are reviewed within 5 to 15 business days, with simpler claims frequently faster. Once approved, reimbursement comes via direct deposit or check. The formula is: Embrace pays your chosen reimbursement percentage (70%, 80%, or 90%) of the eligible bill amount, minus whatever remains of your annual deductible. That deductible resets each policy year — and shrinks by $50 every year you don’t file a claim through the Healthy Pet Deductible feature.
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Does Embrace pet insurance cover end of life? Yes — euthanasia for humane reasons related to a covered accident or illness is included in the accident plan · End-of-life care costs (palliative treatment, final hospitalization) are covered under the accident-and-illness base plan · Cremation and burial are not covered under standard plansEnd-of-life decisions are already one of the most emotionally difficult things a pet owner faces — having insurance coverage that actually pays when it matters is genuinely important here. Embrace’s accident plan specifically lists euthanasia for humane reasons related to a covered accident as an included benefit, with no separate add-on required. The accident-and-illness plan covers the final medical costs associated with a terminal illness diagnosis and palliative care. What is not automatically covered: cremation, burial, and memorial expenses. Unlike Lemonade which offers a separate end-of-life and remembrance add-on, Embrace currently covers the medical end of the equation but not the remembrance costs. If you want cremation and burial covered, check whether your specific state’s policy terms include any death benefit provision and ask Embrace directly about current options.
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How do I log in to my Embrace pet insurance account? Login portal: my.embracepetinsurance.com · Mobile app: available on iOS and Android, search “Embrace Pet Insurance” · Phone: 1-800-511-9172 if you’re locked out or have login issuesThe primary account portal is my.embracepetinsurance.com — this is where you file claims, track claim status in real time, view your policy documents, update payment information, and access your Wellness Rewards balance. The mobile app (iOS and Android) mirrors the portal’s functionality and is the fastest way to submit a claim immediately after a vet visit — photograph your invoice, answer a few questions, and submit within minutes. If you’re experiencing the login issues that some users report (the “Embrace pet insurance website not working” search that comes up often), try clearing your browser cache or switching browsers before calling. Common issues include saved passwords not matching after a portal update and session timeouts after extended inactivity. If the website is genuinely down, Embrace’s phone team can process claims and answer account questions at 1-800-511-9172.
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How do I file a claim with Embrace? Submit through the app or portal within 90 days of the vet visit · Upload your itemized invoice · Claims processed in 5–15 business days · Track status in real time through your accountThe claim process is genuinely straightforward. After your vet visit, log into the Embrace app or portal, select “Submit a Claim,” upload a clear photo or scan of your itemized vet invoice, and answer a few short questions about the visit. You don’t need pre-authorization. You have 90 days from the date of service to submit the claim — missing that window means you absorb the cost regardless of coverage. Embrace reviews most claims within 5 to 15 business days. For claims that touch anything in your pet’s medical history, additional records may be requested. If a claim is denied, you receive a written explanation. Embrace notes that 92% of submitted claims qualify for coverage — that figure is meaningful because most denials in pet insurance involve pre-existing conditions or items outside the policy scope, not arbitrary rejection of covered treatments. For claims processing that exceeds 10 business days, there is a dedicated claims support phone line.
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How do I cancel Embrace pet insurance? Call 1-800-511-9172 to cancel · Free look period: cancel within 30 days for a full refund if no claims filed · After 30 days: pro-rated refund on unused premium · Cancel anytime — no long-term contractEmbrace is a month-to-month product with no multi-year contract. Cancellation is initiated by phone at 1-800-511-9172. Within the first 30 days, if you have not filed any claims, you receive a full premium refund — the “free look” period. After that, cancellation produces a pro-rated refund for any unused portion of your current policy term. There is no cancellation penalty or fee. If you’re canceling because you’re unhappy with a claim outcome, consider requesting a formal internal appeal before canceling — some owners who filed an appeal after an initial denial had the decision reversed when additional vet documentation was provided. If you’re canceling to switch providers, be aware that any conditions documented during your time with Embrace will be pre-existing for your new insurer. Timing the switch before any new conditions appear in your pet’s records is the strategically smart move when changing insurers.
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What is the Healthy Pet Deductible — and does it really work? Yes — it really works · Every claim-free year: your annual deductible automatically drops by $50 · Starting at $500: reaches $0 after 10 consecutive claim-free years · Resets to original amount if you file a claimThis is the feature that genuinely separates Embrace from most competitors. Every policy year that you complete without filing a single claim, Embrace automatically reduces your annual deductible by $50 — at no cost and with no action required on your part. Start at a $500 deductible, stay claim-free for three years: your deductible is now $350. Stay claim-free for ten years: it’s $0. The practical effect compounds over time for owners of genuinely healthy pets — your effective out-of-pocket on any claim shrinks year after year. The strategic implication: don’t file small claims. If your deductible is $500 and a vet visit costs $200, filing the claim isn’t worth it — you won’t receive a reimbursement (you haven’t met your deductible) and you reset the Healthy Pet Deductible clock. Save Embrace claims for bills that actually exceed your deductible by a meaningful margin. This is the only mainstream pet insurance mechanism that turns a pet’s good health into a concrete financial reward.
Most pet insurance companies strip out the best benefits and make you pay for them as add-ons. Embrace includes the following in its standard accident-and-illness policy — no extra charge required.
- Injuries and accidents: Broken bones, lacerations, swallowed objects, accidental poisoning, bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
- Illnesses: Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, UTIs, ear infections, digestive conditions, neurological conditions, respiratory disease
- Hereditary and congenital conditions: Hip dysplasia, heart defects, brachycephalic issues, eye conditions — covered if not pre-existing
- Diagnostic tests: Blood panels, X-rays, MRI, ultrasound, urinalysis, biopsies
- Surgery and hospitalization: Emergency surgery, specialist procedures, post-operative care, in-hospital monitoring
- Prescription medications: Drugs prescribed to treat a covered condition — included in the base plan (though removable to reduce premium)
- Vet exam fees: The office visit fee charged for the vet’s time — included in most Embrace plans (can be removed to lower premium)
- Behavioral therapy: Vet-recommended treatment for anxiety, phobias, aggression — included without a separate add-on
- Dental illness: Tooth infections, periodontal disease, extractions — up to $1,000 per year
- Alternative therapies: Acupuncture, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, physiotherapy — if performed by a licensed vet
- Euthanasia: For humane reasons related to a covered condition or accident
- Wellness Rewards ($25–$58/month): Annual allowance ($300, $500, or $700) for routine care — vaccines, wellness exams, flea/tick prevention, dental cleanings, grooming, training. Unlike most wellness plans, there are no individual per-item caps — you use the pool however you need it. Unused allowance does not roll over.
- The prescription drug and exam fee add-ons: These are actually included in the standard plan in most states — but can be removed if you want to reduce your monthly premium. If you’re on a tight budget, removing them saves money; just know you’ll pay those costs out-of-pocket.
- Pre-existing conditions — any documented condition before your policy effective date. Curable conditions (UTIs, ear infections, kennel cough) may be reconsidered after 12 symptom-free months; incurable conditions (diabetes, allergies, chronic joint disease) remain excluded permanently.
- Breeding, pregnancy, and whelping costs
- Cosmetic and elective procedures
- Injury or illness from fighting, racing, or mistreatment
- DNA testing or cloning
- Prescription food and dietary supplements — unless you add the Wellness Rewards product, which covers these under its flexible routine care allowance
- Bilateral conditions on the pre-enrolled side — if a cruciate ligament on the left knee was injured before enrollment, that specific side stays excluded. The right knee, if injured after enrollment with no prior history, would be covered.
Embrace has a 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions in dogs — that means cruciate ligament tears, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and similar structural problems are not covered for the first six months of your policy. For large breeds where orthopedic issues are statistically common (Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands), six months is a long exposure window where you’d absorb the full cost of what could be a $4,000–$8,000 surgery.
The solution is unique to Embrace: within 14 days of enrolling, have your vet perform a brief orthopedic wellness exam. Your vet essentially certifies that your dog shows no signs of joint disease at the time of enrollment. If the exam comes back clean, Embrace reduces the orthopedic waiting period from 6 months to 14 days — matching the standard illness waiting period. The exam typically costs $50–$100 and pays for itself many times over if your dog ever needs orthopedic treatment. Embrace calls this the “orthopedic report card.” Schedule it the same week you activate your policy. Large-breed owners who skip this step and then have their dog tear a cruciate at month 4 have no recourse — the claim will be denied.
| Feature | 💚 Embrace | Spot | Trupanion | Lemonade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Pet Deductible | ✅ Only one that has it | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Exam fees included base | ✅ Yes (removable) | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ No | ❌ Add-on only |
| Behavioral therapy base | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ Add-on only |
| Dental illness base | ✅ Yes ($1K cap) | ❌ Add-on | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ Add-on |
| Alternative therapies | ✅ Yes (base) | ⚠️ Add-on | ❌ No | ❌ Add-on |
| Unlimited annual coverage | ✅ Select states | ✅ All states | ✅ Yes | ❌ Max $100K |
| Max reimbursement | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| Direct vet payment | ⚠️ Select clinics | ❌ No | ✅ Best in class | ❌ No |
| Accident waiting period | 2 days (shortest) | 2–14 days | 0 days | 2 days |
| Ortho waiting period | 6 mo (waivable) | 14 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Curable pre-existing | ✅ After 12 mo clear | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Underwriter strength | AM Best A+ / Munich Re | ▲ Solid | A+ | New carrier |
| USAA discount | ✅ ~5% | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Wellness add-on quality | ✅ Best in class (flexible pool) | ⚠️ Per-item limits | ❌ None | ✅ Good |
| Claims processing | 5–15 business days | ~7 days | ~5–7 days | ~50% instant |
Most pet insurance wellness plans work like a coupon book: “$50 toward annual exam, $30 toward vaccines, $15 toward fecal test.” Each item has its own individual cap, and you can’t redirect money between categories. If your pet doesn’t need a particular item that year, that money is simply gone.
Embrace Wellness Rewards works differently. You pay a monthly add-on fee to receive an annual allowance — $300, $500, or $700 — that you spend on any covered routine care item, with no per-item limits. Covered items include: wellness exams, vaccines, titer tests, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, dental cleanings, bloodwork, spay/neuter, microchipping, grooming, prescription food, nutritional supplements, and even training classes. You choose how to allocate the money across whatever your pet actually needs that year. There is no deductible and no waiting period for wellness claims.
The catch: unused allowance does not roll over. If you buy the $500/year plan and only spend $300, the remaining $200 disappears at renewal. This is not insurance — it’s a prepaid reimbursement pool. Use it intentionally: tally your expected routine care costs before choosing a tier. If your pet reliably needs $400/year in wellness care, the $500 plan makes sense. If you’re unsure, start lower.
Across Trustpilot (10,800+ reviews), BestMoney, and verified independent forums, several things show up consistently in positive Embrace reviews. Customer service is routinely described as responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely compassionate — not a scripted phone tree. One reviewer described a 45-minute call with an Embrace representative who walked through both a website issue and a renewal question with patience and empathy. The 92% claim approval rate is cited by the company itself and is consistent with what reviewers describe: covered claims generally get paid. The Wellness Rewards flexibility draws particular praise from owners who use it for training, grooming, and supplements that per-item wellness plans wouldn’t have covered. The Healthy Pet Deductible is rarely mentioned until owners have been with Embrace for several years — then it becomes the feature they cite most when recommending the company to friends.
- Premium increases at renewal: The most common complaint — and it’s an industry-wide reality, not unique to Embrace. As pets age, premiums rise to reflect higher statistical risk. Embrace’s response to a Trustpilot complaint about this was transparent: increases are based on the pet’s age, the duration of the policy, and rising veterinary costs industry-wide. Knowing this upfront helps — the jump from a 3-year-old dog’s premium to a 7-year-old’s premium can be significant.
- The 8% claim denial rate matters: When Embrace says 92% of claims qualify, that means 8% don’t. Denials primarily involve pre-existing conditions, items outside the policy scope (prescription food in the base plan, for example), or claims filed outside the 90-day window. The denial rate isn’t arbitrary — but it does catch owners who didn’t read their policy before assuming something was covered.
- No direct vet payment at most practices: You pay the bill at the vet and wait 5–15 business days for reimbursement. For a $4,000 emergency surgery, that means floating the full cost on a credit card for up to two weeks. Trupanion handles this better with true direct-pay at checkout. This is the single operational area where Embrace’s process creates real hardship for owners without emergency savings.
- Website and app outages: The “Embrace pet insurance website not working” search exists because it occasionally happens. The portal and app have had reliability issues that frustrate owners trying to file claims promptly. Phone claims are an option when the website is down — 1-800-511-9172.
Possibly — and this is where Embrace’s approach is genuinely more owner-friendly than most insurers. Embrace distinguishes between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions. A prior ear infection is considered curable. If your pet completes 12 consecutive months after enrollment with no treatment, no symptoms, and no vet mention of ear issues, a future ear infection becomes coverable. Embrace will actually conduct a free Medical History Review at your request immediately after you enroll — they’ll go through your pet’s prior records and tell you specifically what is and isn’t pre-existing under your policy. Most owners find this far less ambiguous than waiting until a claim arrives to find out what’s excluded. Request it within the first week of enrollment.
Genuinely excellent for puppies — the 2-day accident waiting period, the Puppy Wellness Rewards tier, the diminishing deductible that starts compounding value immediately, and the hereditary condition coverage that kicks in before any genetic condition has time to manifest all make early enrollment a strong decision. For senior dogs (8+ years), enrollment requires the accident-only plan if the dog is 15 or older. Dogs between 8 and 14 can still enroll in the accident-and-illness plan, but premiums are meaningfully higher. If your senior dog has a clean health history and you’re starting fresh, Embrace is still viable. If your senior dog has documented health issues, the pre-existing condition exclusions will limit what you can recover. Embrace’s Medical History Review is especially important for senior pet enrollments — get it immediately after purchasing so you know exactly what’s covered before anything happens.
The right deductible choice depends on one thing: how much money you can keep available as an emergency fund. A $100 deductible means Embrace starts paying after the first $100 of eligible expenses — but your monthly premium is meaningfully higher. A $1,000 deductible cuts your monthly cost significantly but means you absorb the first $1,000 of any claim year. The strategic consideration with Embrace specifically: the Healthy Pet Deductible reduces whatever deductible you chose by $50 each claim-free year. Starting at $500 and staying claim-free for three years gets you to $350 effectively — better than starting at $100 and filing small claims that reset the countdown. If you have $1,000–$2,000 in accessible savings, the $500 deductible is often the mathematically sound choice. If your emergency fund is minimal, the $100 or $200 option gives you more protection against getting financially stuck on a medium-sized bill.
You can increase or decrease your coverage terms by contacting Embrace directly. The important caveat: increasing your policy terms triggers re-underwriting. This means your waiting periods effectively reset, and any condition that appeared in your pet’s records between your original enrollment and the modification date may now be treated as pre-existing for the new coverage level. This is a real risk if your pet developed a new condition during your current coverage period. The practical advice: start with comprehensive coverage when you first enroll rather than trying to upgrade later. Decreasing coverage (lowering limits, increasing deductibles) is straightforward and doesn’t trigger re-underwriting — you’re reducing Embrace’s exposure, not increasing it.
- Request the free Medical History Review immediately. Within the first week of your policy, email [email protected] and ask Embrace to review your pet’s prior records and tell you specifically what will and won’t be covered. This eliminates ambiguity before it matters.
- If you have a large-breed dog, book the orthopedic wellness exam within 14 days. Ask your vet for an orthopedic report card exam. This single step reduces the orthopedic waiting period from 6 months to 14 days — potentially saving thousands on a torn cruciate or hip dysplasia diagnosis.
- Set up direct deposit immediately. Don’t wait for a check. Log into my.embracepetinsurance.com and enter your bank details on day one so reimbursements arrive as quickly as possible after an approved claim.
- Don’t file claims under your deductible. Small claims that won’t exceed your deductible reset the Healthy Pet Deductible countdown and produce no reimbursement. Save claims for bills that meaningfully exceed your annual deductible — this is how the diminishing deductible feature actually compounds in your favor over time.
- Download the app and test it before you need it. File a $0 test login, confirm your account credentials work, and know where the claim submission button is before you’re sitting in a vet’s parking lot stressed about a sick pet.
- Know your 90-day claim submission window. Every claim must be submitted within 90 days of the date of service. Missing this window forfeits coverage regardless of whether the treatment was covered. Set a calendar reminder the same week as any vet visit that involves a covered condition.
This guide is independently researched and written for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute insurance advice and is not an endorsement of Embrace Pet Insurance or any competing provider. Coverage details, pricing, plan availability, add-ons, and policy terms change and vary by state — always verify current terms directly at embracepetinsurance.com or by calling 1-800-511-9172 before purchasing. Ratings cited reflect publicly available editorial and customer review data as of mid-2026. The 92% claim approval rate is Embrace’s own published figure. Individual claim outcomes vary. Embrace® is a trademark of Embrace Pet Insurance Agency, LLC. Policies are underwritten by American Modern Home Insurance Company (American Southern Home Insurance Company in Florida), subsidiaries of American Modern Insurance Group, Inc., an AM Best A+ rated subsidiary of Munich Re.