Embrace Pet Insurance Review 2026: Is the Pre-Existing Conditions Policy Worth It?
TL;DR — Embrace in 30 Seconds
Verdict: Embrace is the best option for US and Canadian pet owners with pets that have pre-existing conditions — the only major insurer to cover them after a 12-month symptom-free period. It's also well-suited to breeds with known hereditary risks. Not ideal for pets with active, ongoing conditions or owners who want the cheapest monthly premium.
Embrace Pet Insurance is a US-based pet insurer founded in 2003, available in all 50 US states and Canada. Its primary differentiator is covering pre-existing conditions that have been symptom-free for 12 consecutive months — a feature almost no other major insurer offers. The affiliate programme pays $36 per qualified lead (application with payment method), managed via Impact with a 30-day cookie window.
What Makes Embrace Different
Most pet insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions permanently. If your dog had a knee injury in 2023, it will almost certainly be excluded from any new policy you take out in 2026 — for life. Embrace operates differently: a condition your pet had before the policy start date can become eligible for coverage after 12 consecutive months with no symptoms, treatment, or medication.
This single policy detail makes Embrace the only viable option for a meaningful segment of pet owners — specifically, those whose pets have had past health issues that are currently resolved, and those with breeds that carry statistically high risk of certain hereditary conditions.
It's worth noting that Embrace does not cover active, ongoing pre-existing conditions. If your cat currently has diabetes or your dog has an active knee injury, those remain excluded. The 12-month rule applies only to conditions where the animal has been genuinely symptom-free.
Coverage Details
| Feature | Embrace |
|---|---|
| Accidents | ✅ Covered from day 2 |
| Illness | ✅ Covered after 14-day waiting period |
| Hereditary & congenital conditions | ✅ Covered (if no symptoms before policy start) |
| Pre-existing conditions (resolved) | ✅ Eligible after 12 symptom-free months |
| Pre-existing conditions (active) | ❌ Not covered |
| Orthopaedic waiting period | 6 months (can waive with vet exam) |
| Wellness cover | Optional Wellness Rewards add-on |
| Annual limit options | $5,000 / $8,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 / Unlimited |
| Deductible options | $200 / $300 / $500 / $750 / $1,000 (annual) |
| Reimbursement | 70% / 80% / 90% |
Who Embrace Is Right For
✅ Best for
- Pets with past (resolved) health issues
- Breeds with hereditary risks: French Bulldogs, Goldens, Labs, Cavaliers
- Owners who want flexibility to adjust annual limits and deductibles
- US and Canadian pet owners specifically
- Owners who want wellness cover as an add-on
❌ Not ideal for
- Pets with active, ongoing chronic conditions
- Budget-conscious owners looking for the lowest monthly premium
- Australian or UK pet owners (Embrace covers US/CA only)
- Owners who want direct vet payment (Embrace reimburses you after the fact)
The Honest Alternative
If you're in the US or Canada and your pet doesn't have any pre-existing conditions, Healthy Paws may offer better value — its unlimited lifetime coverage with no per-incident or annual limits is a genuine differentiator, and its claims process (typically reimbursing within 2 days via the app) is consistently rated faster than Embrace's. If you want the fastest claims process and no payout cap, start there. If pre-existing condition coverage matters, come back to Embrace.
Pricing: What to Expect
Embrace's premiums vary by species, breed, age, location, and the deductible/limit/reimbursement combination you choose. As a rough guide for a 3-year-old Labrador in the US:
- Basic cover ($5,000 limit, $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement): approximately $45–65/month
- Mid-tier cover ($10,000 limit, $300 deductible, 90% reimbursement): approximately $75–100/month
- Comprehensive ($unlimited, $200 deductible, 90% reimbursement): approximately $110–145/month
Premiums increase as your pet ages. Embrace increases premiums annually — this is standard in the industry, but it's worth understanding that a policy that costs $60/month now may cost $120/month when your dog is 10.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Embrace cover pre-existing conditions? ▾
How does Embrace's claims process work? ▾
Is Embrace available in Australia or the UK? ▾
What is the Embrace Wellness Rewards add-on? ▾
Sources: Embrace Pet Insurance Policy Documents 2026 · Impact Affiliate Programme Terms · HonestPetCover AU Market Guide