What’s the best pet insurance – Pets Best or Embrace?
Different pet parents will have different priorities when it comes to insuring their animals. For some, price may matter most. For others, it may be the conditions covered. Both offering attractive plans at affordable prices, Pets Best and Embrace aren’t far apart in many areas. We hope this guide helps you work out the ways in which one company might be the wiser option for you. We strongly suggest that you also use our super-speedy pet insurance quote page and review pages, which will help you decide which pet insurance plan is best for you.What do the plans cover?
Embrace and Pets Best both offer accident and illness plans covering things like chronic, congenital and hereditary conditions. Pets Best won’t cover alternative therapies (Embrace will) but will offer coverage to pets in wheelchairs and with mobility issues. Embrace covers dental illness and accidents, and vet exam fees at no extra cost. Embrace covers hip dysplasia in their plan but only if the animal is less than six years old when it's registered. Pets Best is more lenient, covering older pets with hip dysplasia as well. The waiting period for hip dysplasia is significantly shorter at Pets Best as well: two weeks compared with six months. Pets Best also offers a no-deductibles wellness plan, starting at $16 a month, which will cover the cost of your pet’s microchipping, neutering/spaying, vaccinations and more. Embrace offers a Wellness Rewards add-on, which similarly takes care of grooming, neutering, vaccinations, and preventative treatments. If you take this out, you get $25 from Embrace every year, which is nice. There are three levels: $250, $450 or $650 per policy year. Both main plans cover many common illnesses and conditions that a pet can suffer from, such as:- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Cataracts
- Cruciate injury
- Dental disease
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Ear infections
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastroenteritis
- Kidney disease
- Limping
- Liver disease
- Lymphoma
- Pancreatitis
- Seizures
- Vomiting
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual coverage options | $5,000, Unlimited | $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 |
| Deductible options | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 |
| Reimbursement options | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
| When does coverage start? | 3-14 days | 2-14 days |
| Maximum age at sign up | No maximum | 14 years for illness, no max for accident |
| Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost? | ||
| Are dental accidents covered? | ||
| Are dental illnesses covered? | ||
| Is there a wellness plan offered? | ||
| Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service? | ||
| End of life coverage | ||
| Is there a multi-pet discount offered? | ||
| Is there a charge for paying monthly? | ||
| Is there an app to make claims? |
*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement
Are there any exclusions?
Both Embrace and Pets Best have the standard exclusion for pre-existing conditions. With Embrace, however, the policy can cover these pre-existing conditions if they are curable and the pet goes 12 months without treatment or symptoms. It’s always best to read the full list of exclusions before signing up for any pet insurance plan.How expensive are Pets Best and Embrace?
Embrace is generally more costly than Pets Best but much will depend on the way that you balance out the cost of your deductibles, and whether you want to adjust your reimbursement limit. Embrace premiums are more expensive if you pay monthly versus annually. Pets Best's aren't but it charges you $2 for every transaction so, in effect, it's the same thing and you'll save money by paying quarterly or annually. To be sure of an exact comparison for your pet, however, use our quote calculator. | | |
|---|---|---|
Medium Mixed 3 months old in Los Angeles
| $26.69 per month | $31.79 per month |
Golden Retriever 3 years old in San Diego
| $46.30 per month | $64.34 per month |
Chihuahua 6 years old in New York City
| $45.11 per month | $83.11 per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 months old in San Antonio
| $8.38 per month | $13.18 per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 year old in Jacksonville
| $11.60 per month | $13.98 per month |
Medium Mixed
3 months old in Los Angeles
$5,000 annual coverage
Golden Retriever
3 years old in San Diego
Unlimited annual coverage
Chihuahua
6 years old in New York City
Unlimited annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 months old in San Antonio
$5,000 annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 year old in Jacksonville
Unlimited annual coverage
Coverage options may vary.
Do Pets Best or Embrace offer discounts?
Embrace offers a multi-pet discount, giving you 10% off your bill, and a 5% discount for active or former members of the military. Pets Best offers a 5% discount for additional pets and for military. One of the benefits of choosing Embrace is that your deductibles decrease the longer you go without making a claim. For every claimless year, you’ll see the figure go down by $50, meaning it could easily reach $0.Are the plans customizable?
Embrace offers annual limits between $5,000 and $30,000. You can also choose five deductible options between $200 and $1,000. At Pets Best you can add a wellness plan for a little bit extra every month, and customize your reimbursement percentage and deductible amount. There are two annual limits ($5,000 and unlimited) and the insurer has one more deductible option than Embrace’s five options: Pets Best offers $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000.How do I make claims?
Paying via the app is an option with Embrace. You could also go via the dedicated section of its website or email your documents. It advises that money will be with you sooner if you opt for the direct deposit model of reimbursement. Pets Best says the same thing about its direct deposit option. It too has a customer center and an app, and requires proof of the payment to your vet. It might also be possible for Pets Best to pay your vet directly (see FAQs below).Are they easy to contact?
Of course. Embrace HQ is in Ohio and it's available on the phone (800 511 9172), by email, and on social media. You can reach Pets Best by phone (877 738 7237) or – if you’re that way inclined – fax (866 777 1434). It's based in North Carolina.Customer reviews
People who use Embrace are generally extremely happy with the service they receive, praising it for efficiency and compassion. While there are some grumblings about the amount of time claims can take to be dealt with, these comments are the minority. Similarly, Pets Best reviewers are a contented bunch, speaking highly of the company’s speedy claims procedures. Some have complaints about the way in which claims have been handled but the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.Our Pets Best rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Our Embrace rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Frequently asked questions
People ask us a lot of different questions about the pet insurance providers we work with. It’s the smart thing to do because no two insurers are the same. Here are some common questions (and the answers!).What are the waiting periods?
There is very little in it here: Embrace has a speedy two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day wait for illnesses, while Pets Best customers wait three days for accidents and 14 days for illness cover to kick in.
Do the plans include behavioral treatments?
Embrace’s does, and a standard Pets Best policy will include consultations and or medications prescribed by a vet.
Is there a maximum age for enrolment?
At Embrace it is 14 years old for illness, but there's no maximum age for accident cover. Unusually, Pets Best has no upper age limit.
Do they need my pet’s medical records?
Yes, both will. Embrace ask for a year’s worth of records, requiring records going back to your first vet visit with a pet if it is new. Pets Best seems not to specify the length of time required.
Will the insurer pay the vet directly?
Embrace won't but Pets Best might. If your vet is willing, they can sign a release form for Pets Best's Vet Direct Pay service, which means that you only need pay what you owe depending on your deductible and reimbursement levels, and Pets Best will pay your vet the rest – if the claim is successful. Check with your vet.
Is my pet covered in other countries?
Embrace covers them globally for up to six months. Pets Best offers coverage in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Do they have a vet telehealth service?
Yes, they both do.