What is pet insurance?
(asking for a best friend)
Why do you need pet insurance?
Because pets don't do predictable.
Your dog swallows a chicken bone left on the sidewalk, your cat decides the houseplant is a snack. Pet insurance helps make unexpected care more manageable, so when something happens, cost doesn’t have to be the first thing you think about.
The earlier you start, the more is covered
Insuring your pet as soon as possible helps avoid pre-existing condition exclusions.
Accidents will happen
Pets are unpredictable. Socks for a snack. An unexpected fall. Coverage means you’re ready for anything.
$4,383
Average surgery cost for dog foreign body ingestion¹
Pet care can be costly
Modern veterinary care is amazing, but it is expensive, with costs increasing more than 60% over the last decade.²
Once you’re enrolled, here’s how it works
Embrace covers more of your pet
Coverage varies by plan, but pet insurance is generally designed to help with unexpected veterinary care, from accidents and illnesses to diagnostics, treatment, and recovery.
What pet insurance doesn’t cover
There are several areas not normally covered by pet insurance like elective procedures, prescriptions, and breeding care. Pre-existing conditions are not covered, but Embrace treats curable ones differently.⁵
Extra layers of protection are available with Wellness
Adding a Preventative care plan helps you get paid back for routine treatments and wellness visits that keep your pet healthy.
What you need to know
Pet insurance basics:
Pet insurance deductible
A deductible is the amount you cover before insurance chips in.
Reimbursement percentage
The percentage you’ll get back from your claim after your deductible is met. At Embrace, this amount is figured after your deductible, meaning your copay is less.
Annual coverage limit
The coverage limit is the max amount they'll chip in for your pet's vet bills each year, after your deductible is all taken care of.
Premium
The monthly price you pay for your pet insurance policy. Your premium is based on things like your pet’s age, breed, location, and the coverage you choose.
Copay
The percentage of the covered allowable charge for which you are responsible per pet. This is not reimbursable under your policy.
Key factors that impact your costs
37%
of pet owners went into debt over pet costs in 2024 and 68% of them say a veterinary emergency was to blame⁶
$61,000
Potential lifetime vet expenses for a single pet⁷
44%
Increase in the cost of veterinary care since 2019⁸
From vet bill to reimbursement
If the zoomies take a wrong turn, here’s how a broken-leg bill could stack up and how much you could get back.
Breakdown:
Here’s what a broken-leg bill and reimbursement might look like if you have an Embrace pet insurance plan with a $300 deductible, $15,000 max annual payout, and 90% reimbursement rate.
Covered care Cost Diagnostics & treatments $3,539.00 X-ray $350.00 Pain killer $50.00 Cefazolin injection $50.00 Sedation $100.00 Anesthesia $1,200.00 Surgery $1,789.00 Prescription medication $62.00 Amoxicillin $32.00 Loxicom $30.00 Total bill for covered services:$3,601.00What you get back$2,940.00Most claims are reimbursed in 5 days
| Covered care | Cost |
|---|---|
| Diagnostics & treatments | $3,539.00 |
| X-ray | $350.00 |
| Pain killer | $50.00 |
| Cefazolin injection | $50.00 |
| Sedation | $100.00 |
| Anesthesia | $1,200.00 |
| Surgery | $1,789.00 |
| Prescription medication | $62.00 |
| Amoxicillin | $32.00 |
| Loxicom | $30.00 |
Most claims are reimbursed in 5 days
Let’s get your pet covered
30-day money-back guarantee*
10% multi-pet discount**
No obligation, see your price in just 2 minutes
FAQs
You have questions? We’re here to answer.
Pet insurance is a handy safety net for our furry friends, but it’s not without a few quirks: Coverage may exclude pre-existing conditions, there are waiting periods, costs (premiums, deductibles, co-pays) can add up, choosing the right plan can be complex, older pets might have higher costs or limited coverage, and basic plans may not cover routine care. So, it's essential to weigh these factors when considering pet insurance.
Disclosures
¹ Based on Synchrony study from 2026; link to study
² Based on the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2026
³ Exam fee coverage is an optional add-on that can be purchased with your accident/illness policy.
⁴ Prescription coverage is an optional add-on that can be purchased with your accident/illness policy.
⁵ Waiting periods, deductibles, co-insurance, benefit limits, and exclusions may apply; link to full terms.
⁶ Based on Embrace internal claims data from 2024
⁷ Based on Synchrony study from 2025; link to study
⁸ Based on report by DUTCH from 2026; link to report
*Assuming no claims have been filed
** NY and WA residents receive 5% (not 10%)