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Dog Insurance Provider Comparison

Embrace vs. Pets Best Dog Insurance: Which Fits?

Comparing Embrace and Pets Best pet insurance? Both offer accident-and-illness protection, but their plan structures, optional benefits, veterinary exam-fee provisions and payment arrangements can differ.

Review Embrace's customizable coverage and Wellness Rewards alongside Pets Best's Essential, Plus and Elite options and available direct veterinary payment. Compare waiting periods, claim terms and personalized costs using your dog's age, breed and US ZIP code.

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Dog owner researching Embrace and Pets Best pet insurance options
Head-to-Head Comparison

Embrace vs. Pets Best: The Main Differences

Embrace and Pets Best both provide insurance products designed to reimburse eligible veterinary expenses. However, they take different approaches to plan customization, optional services and how certain veterinary charges are covered.

Embrace advertises customizable annual limits, deductibles and reimbursement rates. Its broader accident-and-illness coverage includes several treatment categories, with certain benefits such as exam fees available as options. Embrace also offers Wellness Rewards for eligible routine expenses.

Pets Best publishes multiple accident-and-illness plan levels, commonly described as Essential, Plus and Elite. Published plan materials distinguish these levels by benefits such as veterinary exam fees and rehabilitation or complementary treatment. Pets Best also offers an Accident Only plan and optional preventive-care coverage.

The key buying question is not simply which brand has more advertised features. It is which state-applicable policy offers the benefits your dog needs at a price and out-of-pocket risk you can manage.

Comparison accuracy matters

The features below reflect publicly available provider materials. Product versions, benefit options, underwriters and waiting periods can change or differ by state. Confirm the final quote, declarations page and sample policy directly with each insurer.

Provider Overviews

Embrace Pet Insurance vs. Pets Best: What Each Offers

Both can be relevant options for dog owners, but their plan designs and certain financial features differ.

Provider 01

Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace focuses on customizable accident-and-illness coverage with optional services and a separate routine-care program.

  • Customizable accident-and-illness insurance.
  • Published annual limits from $2,000 to unlimited, subject to availability.
  • Deductibles and 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement choices.
  • Veterinary examination fees available as an optional benefit.
  • Published dental illness, hereditary-condition and complementary therapy benefits, subject to policy terms.
  • Wellness Rewards for certain eligible routine expenses.
  • Specific orthopedic waiting-period provisions may apply.
View Embrace Official Dog Insurance →
Provider 02

Pets Best Pet Insurance

Pets Best offers tiered accident-and-illness products, accident-only coverage, optional routine care and an available veterinary direct-payment process.

  • Accident & Illness and Accident Only options.
  • Essential, Plus and Elite tiers described in provider materials.
  • Plus includes certain exam-fee benefits in the published tier design.
  • Elite adds specified rehabilitation and complementary-treatment benefits.
  • Annual limits including an unlimited option in published plan materials.
  • Optional routine-care benefits.
  • Vet Direct Pay may be available when requirements are satisfied.
View Pets Best Official Coverage →
Side-by-Side Policy Comparison

Embrace vs. Pets Best: Coverage, Benefits and Limits

Use this table to identify differences worth checking in your actual quotes. The final contract controls what is covered.

Feature Embrace Pets Best
Primary medical plan Customizable Accident & Illness coverage Accident & Illness in published Essential, Plus and Elite tiers
Accident-only coverage Available for certain pets, including some older or otherwise ineligible pets Published Accident Only product
Eligible new illnesses Covered according to accident-and-illness policy terms Covered according to accident-and-illness policy terms
Accidental injuries Eligible treatment, subject to policy conditions Eligible treatment, subject to policy conditions
Hereditary conditions Published benefits subject to prior-condition exclusions Published benefits subject to prior-condition exclusions
Veterinary exam fees Optional coverage available; verify exact benefit Published Plus and Elite tiers include qualifying accident-and-illness exam fees
Rehabilitation Certain eligible complementary treatment benefits described in medical coverage Elite tier includes specified rehabilitation and complementary benefits in published materials
Prescription medication Review the selected prescription benefit and covered medications Included for eligible conditions under published accident-and-illness tiers, subject to terms
Dental illness Published dental illness coverage with applicable limits and exclusions Published dental coverage, with treatment and tooth-specific eligibility requirements
Wellness / routine care Optional Wellness Rewards program Optional routine-care products
Annual deductible Customizable; current dog materials advertise $200–$1,000 choices Published plan materials include choices from $50–$1,000; verify current availability
Reimbursement rate 70%, 80% or 90% advertised 70%, 80% or 90% described in published plan materials
Annual limit Published options up to unlimited Published options up to unlimited
Accident waiting period Provider advertises accident coverage from the effective date in applicable products Example policies specify 3 days; state-specific rules control
Illness waiting period 14 days in published standard materials; check your state 14 days in example policies; check your state
Orthopedic / cruciate rules Published policy terms include 180-day exclusions for specified conditions, with applicable exceptions Sample policies include 6-month cruciate provisions; state-specific exceptions may apply
Pre-existing conditions Generally excluded; review provisions for qualifying curable conditions Generally excluded; review any applicable cured-condition provisions
Direct veterinarian payment Typically reimbursement to the policyholder Vet Direct Pay option subject to provider agreement and insurer requirements
Claims Online and app-based submissions described Online and app-based submissions described
Cheaper provider Depends on personalized quote Depends on personalized quote

Reviewed October 2026. Provider features and policy examples are not substitutes for a state-specific quote and contract. Published tiers and options may vary.

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Understand the Plan Design

Pets Best Essential, Plus and Elite vs. Embrace Customization

A significant difference is how certain benefits are packaged. Pets Best has published three accident-and-illness tiers, while Embrace emphasizes customizing a primary medical policy and selecting optional benefits.

01

Pets Best Essential

The published Essential tier addresses eligible accidents, illnesses, surgery, cancer, hereditary conditions and prescriptions, while certain other benefits may not be included at this level.

02

Pets Best Plus

Plus adds specified accident-and-illness veterinary examination fees under the provider's published tier description. Confirm whether your selected state plan uses the same structure.

03

Pets Best Elite

The published Elite tier includes qualifying examination fees and adds defined rehabilitative, acupuncture or chiropractic treatment benefits, subject to contract terms.

How Embrace differs

Embrace offers customizable medical plan settings, including annual limits and reimbursement choices, with certain benefits such as eligible exam fees available as options. Compare the fully configured Embrace quote with the Pets Best tier that most closely matches its benefits—not simply the least expensive base product.

Important Cash-Flow Difference

Embrace vs. Pets Best Claims: Does Direct Vet Pay Matter?

Most pet insurance works by reimbursement. You pay the veterinarian, submit an eligible claim and receive money back after the insurer applies the policy's deductible, coinsurance and limits.

Embrace describes submitting claims through its app or online account, followed by reimbursement to the policyholder when the claim is approved.

Pets Best offers a Vet Direct Pay arrangement that can allow an eligible claim payment to be directed to the veterinarian. This may help with the cash-flow burden of a large veterinary bill, but the veterinarian must agree and the insurer's documentation and processing requirements must be met.

Direct payment is not the same as immediate approval, cashless treatment or 100% bill coverage. Owners remain responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, excluded charges and other amounts not paid by the insurer.

Before relying on this feature, ask your veterinary hospital whether it will participate and request the current procedure from Pets Best.

Waiting Periods and Exclusions

Embrace vs. Pets Best Waiting Periods: What to Verify

Waiting periods are especially important for dog owners concerned about orthopedic conditions. Embrace's published policy terms describe extended restrictions for certain conditions, including cruciate ligament disease, intervertebral disc disease, patellar luxation and hip dysplasia.

Pets Best example policies document a three-day accident period, a 14-day illness period and a six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament events. Specific contracts and state endorsements may change these provisions. Some policies describe limited circumstances for a waiting-period reduction or waiver.

Do not assume a veterinarian's early examination automatically waives a waiting period. Verify the timing, qualifications and required submission process with the insurer before enrollment.

Medical symptoms arising before coverage begins or during an applicable waiting period may affect future claims. The wording for bilateral conditions and certain chronic disorders is also particularly important.

Switching insurers can create new medical-history risks

A condition that qualified under your previous policy might be treated as pre-existing by the replacement insurer. Compare exclusions and new waiting periods before canceling current coverage, especially for dogs with ongoing treatment.

Routine Veterinary Care

Embrace Wellness Rewards vs. Pets Best Routine Care

Both brands offer optional products for certain routine expenses, but wellness programs should be evaluated separately from accident-and-illness insurance.

Embrace Wellness Rewards

Embrace publishes a routine-care program that reimburses certain eligible preventive expenses, including some veterinary, training and grooming services. Review the selected allowance, additional cost and current eligibility rules.

Pets Best Routine Care

Pets Best offers optional preventive-care benefits for specified services, such as wellness examinations and vaccinations. Review its current benefit schedule, reimbursement allowances and state availability rather than assuming every routine expense qualifies.

Compare financial value, not just the list of wellness services

Calculate what you would pay for the wellness option versus the value of eligible routine-care benefits your dog is likely to use. Preventive-care reimbursement does not replace emergency illness or accident protection.

Price and Out-of-Pocket Costs

Is Embrace or Pets Best Cheaper for Dog Insurance?

There is no reliable universal price winner. Your dog’s breed, age, residential ZIP code, selected annual limit, deductible, reimbursement rate and optional benefits can influence the quote from each company.

Start with comparable accident-and-illness coverage. Choose matching reimbursement percentages and deductibles where possible, and use similar annual payout limits. Then review whether exam fees, rehabilitation or other treatment categories need to be added to create a fair comparison.

Pets Best's tier design can make the lowest-priced level different from an Embrace configuration with optional exam fees. A cheaper quote may be narrower, and a higher-priced quote does not automatically provide better reimbursement on every eligible veterinary bill.

Also review any transaction fees, available discounts, renewal pricing and changes to coverage when your dog ages. Compare both the initial payment and the possible long-term financial exposure.

Current premiums require current personalized quotes

No live Embrace or Pets Best quote was generated for a specific dog or ZIP code in this comparison. The example below is educational and is not an actual price or claim result from either provider.

Illustrative Reimbursement

How Would a $4,000 Eligible Vet Bill Be Reimbursed?

Suppose a policy has an unpaid $500 annual deductible and reimburses 80% of eligible expenses after that deductible. If the full $4,000 bill is eligible and no other limit applies, the illustrative reimbursement would be $2,800.

The owner would retain $1,200 in this example. An actual claim may differ because of excluded expenses, examination fees, policy limits or a different calculation method.

When comparing Embrace and Pets Best, check whether the covered services match, how each deductible is applied and whether one quote includes benefits the other excludes.

Illustrative Claim Only

Eligible vet bill $4,000
Remaining deductible − $500
After deductible $3,500
Example reimbursement rate 80%
Illustrative payment $2,800

This is not a quote or guarantee of reimbursement by either provider.

Dog owner comparing Embrace and Pets Best insurance documents and coverage details
Before You Choose

Embrace vs. Pets Best Quote Comparison Checklist

Use the same dog details and similar benefits so you can identify meaningful differences.

  • Enter the correct dog breed or mix.
  • Use the same date of birth and residential ZIP code.
  • Compare accident-and-illness policies first.
  • Match annual deductibles where available.
  • Match reimbursement percentages.
  • Choose comparable annual payout limits.
  • Check exam-fee coverage and add-on costs.
  • Compare prescription and rehabilitation benefits.
  • Review dental illness rules.
  • Review orthopedic and cruciate waiting periods.
  • Check bilateral and pre-existing condition exclusions.
  • Compare Wellness Rewards and routine-care allowances.
  • Ask about direct veterinary payment requirements.
  • Check claims submission and appeal procedures.
  • Save dated quotes and state-applicable policies.
Prepare to Compare Quotes →
US State and ZIP-Code Comparison

Embrace vs. Pets Best in Your State: Why Location Matters

Insurance premiums, policy forms, waiting periods and certain coverage options may differ by state. Compare Embrace and Pets Best using the same residential ZIP code and current policy documents.

Veterinary access matters too. If your dog might need emergency treatment, an orthopedic specialist, oncology care or rehabilitation, examine whether those services qualify under the contract and whether the available clinic accepts any direct-payment arrangement.

California — Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco

Obtain California-specific quotes and policy forms. Check waiting periods, exam-fee benefits and annual limits. Confirm whether a preferred veterinary hospital will participate in any direct-payment arrangement.

Texas — Houston, Dallas and Austin

Compare matching financial settings at your Texas ZIP code. Check accident, illness and orthopedic rules, along with reimbursement and emergency-treatment benefits.

Florida — Miami, Orlando and Tampa

Review Florida-applicable policy provisions and obtain personalized premiums. Consider emergency and specialist care in addition to exam fees, optional wellness coverage and available payout limits.

New York, Pacific Northwest and Rural Areas

Review state-specific contracts carefully and consider specialist access. If the nearest advanced veterinary facility requires travel, transportation or lodging may not qualify for reimbursement.

These examples describe practical insurance-shopping considerations, not verified city-level prices, participating clinics or specific state coverage guarantees.

Choosing Between the Providers

Which Is Better: Embrace or Pets Best?

Both providers may suit different needs. Instead of ranking one as universally better, choose based on the benefits and cost shown in your actual quotes.

Embrace May Be a Better Fit If…

You prefer its customizable accident-and-illness design, relevant complementary benefits, optional exam fees or Wellness Rewards structure. Check the selected premium and orthopedic provisions before deciding.

Pets Best May Be a Better Fit If…

You prefer the available Essential, Plus or Elite benefit structure, need a particular deductible or annual-limit option, or want to explore Vet Direct Pay with a willing veterinary provider.

Our comparison principle

Choose the provider whose issued policy best matches your dog's medical needs, budget and claims preferences. A lower premium, more generous marketing language or an optional benefit alone does not determine the better overall policy.

Simple Three-Step Comparison

How to Compare Embrace and Pets Best Fairly

01 Get Matching Quotes

Enter the same dog details, ZIP code and matching deductible, reimbursement and annual limit selections wherever possible.

02 Review Benefit Differences

Compare exam fees, prescriptions, rehabilitation, dental care, waiting periods, medical-history rules and claims options.

03 Verify Before Enrollment

Read the state-specific policy, confirm the effective date and total premium, and save any written clarification before purchasing.

Related Dog Insurance Resources

Continue Your Embrace vs. Pets Best Research

Use these guides to understand policy comparisons, provider reviews and how to prepare consistent insurance quotes.

Embrace vs. Pets Best FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Embrace vs. Pets Best Pet Insurance

Answers about costs, plan tiers, claims, waiting periods, exam fees and medical coverage.

Is Embrace or Pets Best better for dogs?

Neither is universally better. Embrace emphasizes customizable coverage and Wellness Rewards, while Pets Best publishes tiered plans and an available direct veterinary payment option. The better choice depends on your actual quote and state policy.

Which is cheaper, Embrace or Pets Best?

Premiums depend on your dog's age, breed, ZIP code and selected coverage. Compare current quotes using matching deductible, reimbursement, annual limit and benefit settings.

What are the Pets Best Essential, Plus and Elite plans?

Published Pets Best materials describe Essential as a base accident-and-illness tier, Plus as adding certain veterinary exam fees, and Elite as adding specified rehabilitation and complementary benefits. Available tiers and terms should be verified for your state.

Does Embrace include vet exam fees?

Embrace advertises an optional examination-fee benefit. Confirm whether it is selected and what per-visit limits or exclusions apply to your exact policy.

Does Pets Best offer direct payment to veterinarians?

Pets Best offers a Vet Direct Pay process subject to its requirements and the veterinarian's agreement. It does not remove your responsibility for deductibles, coinsurance or excluded charges.

Does Embrace pay the vet directly?

Embrace's standard claims guidance describes reimbursement to the policyholder after eligible claims are reviewed. Confirm current payment arrangements directly with Embrace before assuming another method is available.

Does Embrace or Pets Best cover hip dysplasia?

Both publish benefits for eligible hereditary or congenital conditions under qualifying illness coverage. Hip-related exclusions, waiting periods and any previous symptoms may affect eligibility.

What are the waiting periods for Embrace and Pets Best?

Published standard materials describe 14-day illness waiting periods for both and additional orthopedic or cruciate-related restrictions. Embrace advertises accident coverage from the effective date for applicable plans; Pets Best example policies use a three-day accident wait. The state-specific contract controls.

Do both providers cover pre-existing conditions?

Both generally exclude pre-existing conditions. Certain cured conditions may be considered eligible under specific policy provisions after required symptom-free and treatment-free periods. Verify the rules and exceptions for each policy.

Does Pets Best include rehabilitation coverage?

Pets Best has published an Elite tier with specified rehabilitative and complementary-treatment benefits. Review the current tier schedule and contract for eligible treatments.

Which has better wellness coverage?

Embrace's Wellness Rewards and Pets Best's routine-care products use different benefit structures. Compare additional costs, qualifying services and reimbursement allowances for the care your dog is likely to receive.

Do Embrace and Pets Best cover dental illness?

Both publish dental treatment benefits, but exclusions, limits and covered procedures differ. Routine cleaning should be evaluated separately from medically necessary dental illness treatment.

Which is better for a senior dog?

Compare enrollment-age rules, available accident-and-illness coverage, chronic-condition benefits and premium costs. Some older dogs may be limited to particular products, and a new policy can exclude existing conditions.

Does my ZIP code affect Embrace vs. Pets Best quotes?

Yes. Both insurers may use permitted location-based pricing factors, while policy forms and certain options can vary by state. Always compare at your real residential address.

Can I switch from Embrace to Pets Best or vice versa?

You can research replacement coverage, but new waiting periods, updated prices and medical-history exclusions may apply. Review the new contract before canceling existing insurance.

Your Next Insurance Comparison

Compare Embrace and Pets Best With Confidence

Embrace and Pets Best offer different approaches to medical coverage, exam-fee benefits, wellness options and veterinary payment. The better choice depends on the details of your dog's quote.

Prepare your dog's age, breed, ZIP code and medical history. Compare similar financial settings, read both state-specific policies and confirm which benefits are actually selected before enrolling.

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Dog owner reviewing Embrace and Pets Best insurance plans and quotes on a laptop

Editorial disclosure: DogInsurance.us provides educational comparisons of US pet insurance products. This page is not the official website or claims portal of Embrace or Pets Best and does not promise policy eligibility, live pricing, claim approval or reimbursement. Insurance details vary by policy, underwriting company, state, pet information and effective date.

Comparison methodology: Public provider materials were reviewed in October 2026. The comparison examines published coverage categories, plan structure, optional benefits, waiting periods, claim-payment arrangements and quote variables. No personal quotes or independent claim-processing tests were conducted.

Official references: Embrace Dog Insurance , Embrace Coverage Information , Embrace Policy Terms Example , Pets Best Coverage , Pets Best Routine Care , and NAIC Pet Insurance Consumer Information .