When it comes to insuring your beloved pet, it’s essential to choose the right insurance plan that provides comprehensive coverage and meets your specific needs. In this article, we will compare Embrace and Nationwide Pet Insurance, two popular insurance providers in the market, to help you make an informed decision for your furry friend.
1. Nationwide Pet Insurance Limits How You Spend Your Wellness Funds
Nationwide’s wellness plan imposes certain restrictions on how you can utilize your wellness funds. If you have any remaining funds allocated for specific types of care, such as vaccinations, those funds do not roll over for general use. Once your pet’s vaccination needs are met, the unused funds are lost.
In contrast, Embrace’s Wellness Rewards® is an optional plan that reimburses routine and preventative veterinary, grooming, training, and vaccination costs. With Embrace, there are no limits on how you spend your wellness funds, except for the yearly max you choose. Additionally, any pet aged six weeks or older, regardless of the state you reside in, can avail of Embrace’s wellness plan.
2. Embrace Offers One Easy Comprehensive Policy
Nationwide Pet Insurance offers two accident and illness plans: Major Medical and WholePet®. These plans differ in terms of coverage, waiting periods, and additional features. For instance, WholePet allows members to customize their policy options, such as reimbursement percentage, to suit their pet and budget. However, Major Medical only partially covers some conditions like cherry eye.
On the other hand, Embrace offers a single accident and illness policy that covers almost everything, providing pet parents with greater clarity and peace of mind regarding their coverage.
3. Nationwide’s Age Limits are More Restrictive
Embrace allows dogs and cats as young as six weeks to enroll in their accident and illness policy and wellness plan. Furthermore, pets of any age can enroll in new coverage until they reach 15 years old. After 15, pets can enroll in an accident-only plan.
In contrast, Nationwide’s pet insurance plans do not allow pets older than ten years to enroll. However, they do cover dogs and cats as young as six weeks under their policies.
4. Nationwide Pet Insurance has Breed-specific Exclusions
Nationwide’s WholePet covers congenital and hereditary conditions, provided they are not pre-existing, and does not exclude coverage based on breed. Embrace also covers congenital and hereditary conditions with every accident and illness policy, as long as they are not pre-existing. Additionally, Embrace does not exclude coverage based on breed.
5. Embrace Offers Coverage for Congenital Conditions
Nationwide’s WholePet plan covers congenital conditions and developmental defects, as long as pets do not exhibit symptoms before coverage begins. Embrace’s accident and illness policy also covers congenital conditions and developmental defects, as long as pets do not exhibit symptoms before coverage begins.
6. Embrace Doesn’t Use a Benefit Schedule For Reimbursement
Nationwide’s WholePet policy reimburses a direct percentage of the veterinary bill, ranging from 50% to 90%, based on the chosen policy. Similarly, Embrace’s accident and illness policy reimburses a direct percentage of the veterinary bill, ranging from 70% to 90%, based on the chosen policy.
7. Embrace Offers a Longer Refund Period
Nationwide pet insurance only refunds the full premium if the policy is cancelled within the first ten days. In contrast, Embrace offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, provided no claims have been paid.
8. Medical Waste Fees are Covered with Embrace
Nationwide pet insurance does not cover medical waste fees in its policies. Although this charge may not be a significant portion of the veterinary bill, it can accumulate quickly if your pet requires frequent visits. Embrace includes medical waste fee coverage in its policy at no extra cost.
9. Embrace’s Wellness Rewards Covers Grooming
Nationwide pet insurance does not reimburse grooming expenses under its Pet Wellness plans. However, with Embrace’s Wellness Rewards plan, you can receive 100% reimbursement for grooming, nail trims, and bathing costs, up to the annual allowance you select.
10. Nationwide Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover Preventable Conditions
Nationwide’s WholePet plan covers treatment for certain preventable conditions like flea infestations, heartworm, lice, ticks, and other internal or external parasites, regardless of whether your pet is on preventative medication. Embrace, on the other hand, covers treatment for internal or external parasites, even if they could have been prevented.
11. Nationwide Pet Insurance has Illness Exclusions
Nationwide’s WholePet covers anal gland infections, while Embrace considers an infected anal gland as an illness and covers its treatment and even removal, as long as the condition is not pre-existing.
12. Nationwide Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover Behavioral Conditions
Nationwide’s WholePet plan provides coverage for behavioral problems, as long as the issue is not pre-existing. In contrast, Embrace covers behavioral problems, including consultations, therapy, and follow-up visits, as long as the issue is not a pre-existing condition.
13. Nationwide Pet Insurance Doesn’t Accept Pre-certifications
Pre-certifications involve submitting an estimated cost of a procedure to your pet health insurance company to determine coverage and reimbursement amounts before proceeding with the treatment. While not mandatory, Embrace is happy to review estimates as a form of pre-certification, providing you with peace of mind. Nationwide pet insurance requires the invoice to be submitted after you pay the veterinarian.
14. Nationwide Pet Insurance Charges More at Signup
Nationwide pet insurance charges the first and second month of premium at signup, regardless of the plan chosen. In contrast, Embrace only charges one month of premium at a time.
15. Both Nationwide and Embrace Pet Insurance Don’t Require a Claim Form
Both Nationwide and Embrace offer convenient claim submission processes. When submitting a claim through MyEmbrace or the Embrace Pet Insurance app, no claim form is needed. Simply follow the prompts and upload photos of your invoice or the invoice emailed to you by your vet. This fast, easy, and paperless process simplifies the claims process for pet owners.
Please note that if you prefer to submit a claim via email, fax, or mail, Embrace requires your pet’s unique claim form along with a copy of the invoice. You can find the necessary documents in your MyEmbrace account.
FAQs
Q: Can I customize my coverage with Embrace Pet Insurance?
A: Embrace offers a comprehensive accident and illness policy that covers a wide range of conditions. While customization options are available with Nationwide’s WholePet plan, Embrace simplifies the process with a single policy covering almost everything.
Q: Does Embrace Pet Insurance cover behavioral conditions?
A: Yes, Embrace covers behavioral problems, including consultations, therapy, and follow-up visits, as long as the issue is not pre-existing.
Q: Does Nationwide Pet Insurance have an age limit for enrollment?
A: Yes, Nationwide’s pet insurance plans do not allow pets older than ten years to enroll. In contrast, Embrace allows pets as young as six weeks to enroll in their accident and illness policy and wellness plan.
Conclusion
Choosing the right pet insurance policy is crucial for the well-being of your beloved companion. While Nationwide and Embrace Pet Insurance both offer comprehensive coverage, Embrace stands out with its flexible age limits, coverage for preventable conditions, and inclusive policies. By considering your pet’s specific needs and your budget, you can make a well-informed decision and provide your furry friend with the protection they deserve.
Remember, the right insurance coverage ensures that your pet receives the best care possible, allowing you to focus on creating wonderful memories together.
