This estimate is built from sample Embrace quotes published by NerdWallet (Katy, Texas, May 2026: $250 deductible, $5,000 annual limit, 80% reimbursement). Your own quote depends on your ZIP code, breed, age and the options you pick, so treat the result as a ballpark, not an offer.
Embrace Pet Insurance at a Glance
| Feature | Embrace accident & illness | Embrace accident-only (pets 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80% or 90% | 90% (fixed) |
| Annual deductible | About $100 to $1,000 (options vary by state) | $100 (fixed) |
| Annual limit | Several options, up to unlimited | $5,000 (fixed) |
| Accident waiting period | None: accident coverage starts on the effective date | None |
| Illness waiting period | 14 days | Not applicable |
| Orthopedic waiting period (dogs) | Varies by state; hip dysplasia, cruciate injuries, patellar luxation and IVDD are excluded if signs appear in the first 180 days. Can be shortened with a vet exam | Not applicable |
| Enrollment age | 6 weeks to 14 years | 15 years and older |
| Dental illness | Included, up to $1,000 per year | Accidental dental injuries only |
| Exam fees | Optional add-on | Not included |
| Prescription drugs | Optional add-on | Not included |
| Wellness add-on | Wellness Rewards: $300, $500 or $700 per year (not in Rhode Island) | Not available |
| Underwriter | American Modern Insurance Group companies (including American Modern Home Insurance Company) and American Southern Home Insurance Company | |
Coverage is subject to each policy’s terms, exclusions and state availability. Embrace publishes state-specific terms, so always read the sample policy for your state before you enroll.
How Much Does Embrace Pet Insurance Cost?
Embrace says most of its customers paid about $20 to $70 a month for dogs and $10 to $30 a month for cats in 2026. Where you land in that range depends on species, breed, age, ZIP code, deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit.
NerdWallet’s May 2026 sample quotes show how much breed and age matter (Katy, Texas; $250 deductible, $5,000 limit, 80% reimbursement):
| Pet | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic shorthair cat | $19/month | $35/month |
| Maine Coon cat | $25/month | $46/month |
| Medium mixed-breed dog | $39/month | $69/month |
| Golden retriever | $54/month | $94/month |
| French bulldog | $84/month | $146/month |
For context, the industry-wide average for accident and illness coverage was about $62 a month for dogs and $32 for cats in 2024, according to NAPHIA. Our pet insurance cost guide breaks those averages down by size and age.
What’s Covered and What’s Not
Typically covered on accident & illness plans
- Accidents: swallowed objects, broken bones, bite wounds, cuts that need stitches
- Illnesses, including cancer, infections, digestive problems and chronic conditions diagnosed after enrollment
- Hereditary and congenital conditions, subject to waiting periods
- Diagnostics such as bloodwork, X-rays, MRI and ultrasound, plus surgery and hospitalization
- Dental illness such as gum disease and fractured teeth, up to $1,000 a year, with no dental exam required to qualify
- Curable pre-existing conditions, once your pet has been symptom- and treatment-free for 12 months
Typically not covered
- Incurable pre-existing conditions (for example diabetes or allergies that began before coverage)
- Routine care such as vaccines, checkups and cleanings, unless you add Wellness Rewards
- Exam fees and prescription medications, unless you buy those add-ons
- Breeding and whelping, cosmetic procedures, DNA testing and stem cell therapy
Wellness Rewards
Wellness Rewards is Embrace’s optional add-on for routine care. It is not an insurance policy: it reimburses everyday costs up to a yearly allowance of $300, $500 or $700, with no deductible and the full amount available from day one. Eligible items include exams, vaccines, parasite prevention, dental cleanings, spay/neuter, microchipping, grooming, training, supplements and prescription diets. Unused funds don’t roll over, so it only pays off if you’d spend the money anyway.
From diminishing deductible to Healthy Pet Discount
Embrace has long been known for its “Healthy Pet Deductible,” which lowered your deductible by $50 for each policy year without a claim reimbursement. Embrace’s help center now says this feature is being phased out and replaced by a Healthy Pet Discount: a premium discount (5% after the first qualifying year, 10% after the second) for policies whose yearly claims stay under $300. Check which version applies in your state when you get a quote.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Flexible reimbursement, deductible and annual limit choices, including an unlimited option
- No waiting period for accidents
- Dental illness included up to $1,000 a year
- Curable pre-existing conditions can become eligible after 12 symptom-free months
- Orthopedic waiting period can be shortened with a vet exam
- Flexible Wellness Rewards allowance that covers items many wellness plans skip (grooming, training, supplements)
- Accident-only coverage available for pets 15 and older
Cons
- Exam fees and prescription drugs cost extra
- New accident and illness enrollment stops at age 14
- Dental illness capped at $1,000 a year
- The Healthy Pet Deductible is being phased out
- Claims take about 10 to 15 business days, according to NerdWallet
- Wellness Rewards not available in Rhode Island
How Claims Work
- Pay your vet as usual and ask for an itemized invoice.
- Submit the claim through the MyEmbrace website or app with the invoice and, if requested, medical records.
- Embrace reviews it, subtracts any remaining deductible, then applies your reimbursement percentage.
- You get reimbursed by direct deposit or check. NerdWallet reports a typical turnaround of 10 to 15 business days.
Example: on a $2,000 covered bill with a $250 deductible not yet met and 80% reimbursement, the math is ($2,000 − $250) × 80% = $1,400 back to you, assuming nothing on the bill is excluded.
You can ask Embrace to review your pet’s medical history before you file a first claim, which helps you know early whether anything will be treated as pre-existing.
Who It May Suit, and Who Might Look Elsewhere
Embrace may suit owners who:
- want to fine-tune deductible, reimbursement and limit, up to unlimited coverage
- care about dental illness coverage built into the main policy
- have a pet with a past, resolved problem that could qualify again after 12 symptom-free months
- would use a flexible routine-care allowance
Other insurers might be worth comparing if you:
- have a pet aged 15+ and want illness coverage (Embrace offers only accident-only coverage at that age)
- want exam fees and prescriptions included without add-ons
- live in Rhode Island and want a wellness add-on
Could pet insurance cover a bill like this?
Accident & illness plans typically reimburse 70–90% of eligible vet costs after the deductible, if the condition is not pre-existing and the waiting period has passed. Premiums for dogs average about $62/month and for cats about $32/month (NAPHIA, 2025).
Coverage is subject to each policy’s terms, exclusions and state availability.How It Compares
| Feature | Embrace | Pets Best | Lemonade | Trupanion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reimbursement | 70–90% | 70–90% | 60–90% | 90% |
| Deductible | Annual, ~$100–$1,000 | Annual, $100–$1,000 | Annual, $100–$750 | Per condition |
| Annual limit | Up to unlimited | $5,000 to unlimited | $5,000–$100,000 | Unlimited |
| Max enrollment age (A&I) | 14 | No upper limit | 14 | Before 14th birthday |
| Exam fees | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Not covered |
| Wellness add-on | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Figures from each company’s site and NerdWallet reviews, checked September 2026. See our Pets Best review and Lemonade review for details.
Real Vet Bills It Could Help With
Pet insurance is easiest to judge against real bills. These are typical US price ranges from our cost guides:
- Emergency vet visit: about $500 to $1,500 without surgery (typically around $950), and $2,000 to $8,000+ with emergency surgery
- Dog ACL surgery: $1,000 to $7,300 per knee, about $4,500 for a TPLO on a large dog. This is where Embrace’s orthopedic waiting period rules matter most
- Dog tooth extraction: usually $500 to $2,500 for the whole procedure. Dental illness is covered up to $1,000 a year, but routine cleanings are not
- Dog X-rays: about $150 to $400 at a general vet, a common part of an illness or injury workup
If you’re still deciding whether coverage makes sense at all, our guide Is pet insurance worth it? compares premiums with savings-fund math.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who underwrites Embrace pet insurance?
Embrace policies are underwritten by American Modern Insurance Group companies, including American Modern Home Insurance Company, and by American Southern Home Insurance Company, depending on the state. Embrace administers the policies and handles claims.
What is Embrace's waiting period?
There is no waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. Orthopedic waiting periods for dogs vary by state; hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament injuries, patellar luxation and IVDD are excluded if signs appear in the first 180 days. A vet exam with Embrace’s orthopedic report card can shorten that period.
Does Embrace cover pre-existing conditions?
Incurable pre-existing conditions are not covered. Curable conditions can become eligible once your pet has gone 12 months without symptoms or treatment for them. Embrace offers a free medical history review so you know where you stand.
Is Embrace Wellness Rewards worth it?
Wellness Rewards is an optional routine-care allowance of $300, $500 or $700 a year, not insurance. It makes sense only if you’d spend at least what it costs on eligible items such as exams, vaccines, dental cleanings, grooming or training, because unused money doesn’t roll over.
Does Embrace still have a diminishing deductible?
Embrace’s Healthy Pet Deductible reduced your deductible by $50 for each year without a claim reimbursement. Embrace says it is being phased out and replaced by a Healthy Pet Discount on premiums for policies with yearly claims under $300, so check which applies to your quote.
Is there an age limit for Embrace?
Pets can join an accident and illness plan from 6 weeks up to 14 years old. Pets 15 and older can get Embrace’s accident-only plan, which has a fixed $5,000 limit, $100 deductible and 90% reimbursement.
Not veterinary advice. Prices are estimates for budgeting, not quotes. Ask your veterinarian for a written, itemized estimate. If your pet is injured, in pain or acting unwell, contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital right away.
