Embrace Pet Insurance
 

Does anybody here have Embrace Pet Insurance? Any complaints or feedback?
Thank you so much!

Yes, before signing a pet insurance contract, be sure you know the in's and out's of the pre-ex clause. That's where they save a lot of money!

I noticed we got a couple months of pet insurance through Gypsy's AKC registration. We haven't decided to continue it or not, we'll make sure and look at the contract closely before signing anything. :)

A lot of pre-ex clauses in medical insurance will deem a condition pre-existing if the policyholder claims for a condition that the contract covers with language like - paraphrasing badly - "A condition is considered pre-existing if it is a condition or symptom for which a prudent person sought or should have sought medical treatment". In human situations, this prevents someone suspecting they are ill not going to the doctor and having to pay in full but, instead of buying an insurance policy and then waiting until the policy is in force to see a doctor. I'm sure pet insurance has language to cover situations like that. And for dogs who've been "cleared" as healthy by an owner's vet-check(unless that vet-check met some type of particular terms of the policy) prior to the policy effective date, no doubt they have language to cover themselves for that situation, should a vet miss a condition that generates claims within a specific time-frame after the effective date.

But accidents and conditions that are generally accepted by the vet community to be those that don't take months to show up should be covered. But read your policy very carefully and ask for clarification in writing by the medical director of the company if you don't understand something prior to signing.

Anybody else with Embrace
 

We recently purchased a policy with Embrace Pet Insurance a few weeks back.They offer a medical history review and after the review they will tell you which conditions are considered pre-existing this way in the future you are not suprised that it will not be covered.I thought this was a great idea and called to see what I needed for this review on Gabby. I needed an orthopedic exam and 1 year of medical records. I scheduled her exam at our veterinarian. I was suprised to find out she has Grade 1 medial patellar luxation. On this orthopedic form the dr. writes in his observation:
R Strifle Grade 1 medial patellar luxation. Grade 1 can be within normal limits for yorkshire terriers. L patella does not luxate. He also checks a box for the rear legs that indicates within normal limits for breed and age.
I recieved the review fro Embrace and they said this:

The following pre-existing chronic conditions shown in Gabby’s vet records are excluded permanently:


Luxating Patellas

Osteoarthritis; this condition is at a greater risk of developing due to the luxating patellas. Future coverage of this condition in other joints will be determined on a case by case basis

Vaccine Reactions



Here is what i dont understand. My vet checks a box saying her rear legs are within normal limits for breed and age and also writes in her observation that a Grade 1medial patellar luxation can be within normal limits for yorkies. So how come they will not cover her patellas if its within normal limits for a yorkie. I am waiting for my vet to call me back to see what he thinks.
I also don't like how they word they will not cover osteoarthritis.Why dont they say we will not cover ostearthritis in Gabby's patellas.Vaccine reactions will not be covered because Gabby once had a shot and she got a bump where they injected.

Sorry to hear about your experience. Iam thinking somewhere in her medical records it states she has allergies.What's care credit?

I guess their medical director or board of directors don't think that that condition can be within normal limits or routine for a Yorkie without possibly leading to a worse grade and/or arthritis from it. And if it might possibly cost them down the line, I'll bet pet insurance is not likely to want to cover it.

I had pet insurance for 2 1/2 years. That's a lot of money. When I finally got to submit something it was oh that isn't covered and that and that. So I cancelled it and opened a tax free savings account putting the same as my monthly insurance cost in the account.
At the end of a year if you don't use the money you at least get interest on it and a nice little doggy bank account for health or "doggy shopping" emergencies. Or money for a second dog

lol@ getting a second dog. I thought about taking what i would spend on a monthly premium prior to getting insurance.The reason i opted for insurance over savings was the fact it would take years and years and years of saving the amount of my premium to cover something serious.

That's why I waited with Teegy. But now I've realised I've put $1200 for one dog on insurance that covered $150 of my bill. You have to pay up front any way and wait for a cheque back. I figured that 1200 can go in an account and I also have my own savings should anything urgent occur.
Major issue on yorkies is their knees and no insurance seems to cover that

I have the same opinion when it comes to insurance for the pups. It sounds like they deny a lot, and the majority of people don't get much out of it. We have a carecredit account, credit card and savings for the dogs should something happen. They would not go without vet care because we can afford it.

However, I wanted to correct you... While LP seems to be a huge issue with yorkies, there are a lot more things that can happen that will cost a LOT more. My friend had a yorkie mix that was run over by a truck. Thankfully, she survived... But she lived at the local university vet hospital for a couple months while they put her back together... It cost my friend over 8k. I don't know if insurance would cover this, but it is something that would be a LOT bigger issue than LP. BTW, my friend paid for this using Carecredit and her dog is again a healthy happy girl :)

That poor dog how awful. Jesus that's a bill and then some.
I guess its something we have to think about when getting a pet. I've had to give up a bottle or two of wine a week for a while to save and get Teegy his wee brother.
It was tough but I survived

To me, part of your post is offensive and I am sure you can imagine what part.

I really hope you aren't talking about me? :eek:

I talked with my vet today about Embrace saying Gabby's luxating petallas would not be covered.First of all it was only one of her petallas not both.He is going to send Embrace a email to try to clear this up and i am hoping they will cover luxating petallas in the future if Gabby ever has problems. Gabby has a grade 1,which is within normal limits for a yorkie. So if normal,why would they exclude her luxating petallas

I can't imagine it's anything I said, I haven't seen anything offensive except I had to sacrifice wine

I hope they accept that it's not pre-existing, my policy actually stated they clearly didn't take care of it whether pre-ex or not

Being tolerant of others' faith, gender, ethnicity, etc., in a public forum without using hurtful terms or slang is just a kinder, gentler way to exchange ideas.

I considered pet insurance for Georgie but never got it. I really don't think it would have covered his luxating patella surgery or his surgery for Atlanto-axial luxation as both would probably be considered pre-existing. We decided to pay out of pocket for the luxating patella surgery and use care credit for the AAL surgery which cost 6k (not including the initial visit and vet visits prior to). You can't go wrong with 6 months interest free using care credit.

Great idea!
 

Great Idea :thumbup: i should have done that from day 1!

Is care credit just a credit card you use strictly for pets?

I don't believe anyone's faith has been offended I would certainly hope people in public forums participate with a thick skin.
I most certainly do.

No, Care Credit can be used for yourself as well if it is needed. I had a *ahem* unnecessary procedure done that wasn't covered by insurance, and I used Care Credit to pay for it. I paid off the balance within 6 months and accrued no interest :D

No it's not Care credit is a credit card people use to pay medical bills and you can also apply to pay your vet bill if paid before 6 months you pay no interest :)

Nope it can be used for medical procedures such as plastic surgery, dental procedures etc...

Is credit care an American thing, Couvers mum I like your "ahem"

:yelrotflmThanks...

From my google search, it appears as though Care Credit is in Canada... But I'm not positive. It's something that would be good to apply for now and have available should something happen. The last thing you want to worry about is getting approved for CC while your dog is sick or hurt :(

Thanks Teegy. Just waiting on my vet to send Embrace a email then i'll contact them to see what they have to say. That sucks that your policy states they will not cover luxating petallas.

Ouch... 6 grand!!!! what is axial luxation?