Overview
Embrace is the configurable plan. Annual maximums from $5,000 to unlimited, deductibles from $200 to $1,000, reimbursement 70-90% — mix and match to hit your budget. The optional Wellness Rewards add-on bundles vaccines, exams, dental cleanings, and flea prevention into the monthly bill (usually $19-$52/month extra).
Embrace is one of the few major insurers that covers dental illness (periodontal disease, tooth abscesses, oral surgery) as a standard benefit — not just dental injury from accidents. That's a real advantage for small breeds prone to dental problems, which most of the Yorkies, Maltese, and Chihuahuas on Long Island.
The biggest drawback is the orthopedic waiting period: 6 months for new policies, or 14 days if you do an early orthopedic exam by your vet. For new puppy owners, that's a real consideration — if your puppy tears an ACL in month 4, you're out of pocket for surgery.
Owners who want flexibility on annual max, deductible, and optional wellness — and who care about dental coverage.
✓ Strengths
- →Covers dental illness as standard (not just injury)
- →Highly customizable plan structure
- →Optional Wellness Rewards add-on for preventive care
- →Diminishing deductible — decreases $50/year for claim-free years
- →Short accident waiting period (2 days)
- →Decreases premiums for multi-pet households
⚠ Drawbacks
- →6-month orthopedic waiting period (can be shortened with vet exam)
- →Doesn't cover exam fees by default (add-on available)
- →Mid-pack pricing — not cheapest, not premium
- →Annual max caps available (only unlimited tier removes them)
- →Doesn't cover bilateral conditions if one side existed pre-enrollment
Pricing on Long Island
Wellness Rewards add-on: $19-$52/month additional
Plan structure
What's covered
Our take
Skip Embrace if: Owners who want the absolute simplest plan (try Healthy Paws), or who only want catastrophic coverage and don't care about dental.
Pick Embrace if: Owners of small breeds prone to dental issues, owners who want everything bundled (wellness + accident + illness), price-conscious owners wanting customizable coverage.
Fine print to know
- Orthopedic waiting period can be reduced to 14 days with an early orthopedic exam by your vet.
- Wellness Rewards is not insurance — it's a budgeting tool. You get back exactly what you paid in if you use it fully.
- Diminishing deductible resets if you make a claim.
Get a real quote for your pet
Pricing varies by breed, age, and ZIP. Always quote on the carrier's own site.
Visit Embrace →We don't take commissions from insurers. This is an independent review.