Of course if your pet pal gets sick, you as a responsible owner would see to it that your animal receives the medical help it needs. Just think a random bite to your dog or cat could end up in bills beyond your biggest nightmares!



Insurance is a smart idea, whatever pet you have to keep those clinic fees in check. Just imagine too if your dog bites someone else - that would make you liable - but luckily some insurance covers this too.

The pet insurance industry is small in the USA, and Embrace Pet Insurance, like all other US-based companies, permits the owner to choose the clinic of their preference and some even insure you abroad!

Flexibility, quality and affordability are key to the Embrace Pet insurance policy. You aren't pigeonholed into Type 1, 2 or 3, you make those all-important choices about the level of cover you want for your pet.

Many companies have a standard set of bases covered such as compulsory surgery, hospital stays, blood and lab tests, any meds your animal doctor writes you a script for, initial vet visits and any follow up appointments.

Aspects which may not be covered are as minor as vaccinations, worming and complementary therapies, but they also may include serious considerations such as genetic and chronic disease.

The people at Embrace put the needs of the pet and their owners first, and tried to come up with a better quality insurance product. The USA does not take up pet insurance like other nations in the world, for example one in five of the animal-loving Brits' pets are covered; thanks to easy claim procedures and few complaints. There is an entire cycle of goodwill with vets knowing it's a positive move for the client, suggesting the product and the client taking it up because they know their pet will be covered.

Insured pets tend to visit the clinic more often as their owners know they won't get stung with a huge bill, so they tend to deal with problems when they are minor rather than leaving them to get bigger. The benefits of this do not need to be spelt out.

Embrace also looks for the cheapest option for pet insurance for their clients. They don't recommend routine cover because they state the premiums would cost more than the treatment.

Routine cover usually entails yearly check ups, deworming, spaying and neutering and so on. That's not to say they don't support routine care - they just want the cheapest and most affordable deal for the customer.

Some points to muse over though; if your pet has a pre-existing condition, it is not a good bet that it will be insured. Plus you have to wait for a designated period before you can claim for illness or injury. When your dog gets hit by a car it's a bit too late to think insurance is a good idea, but some people think that way!

You love your home, so you insure it to keep it safe, you love your pet, so isn't pet insurance a good idea too? People always think it won't happen to them or their pet, but then get caught out with some tough decisions over life or death treatment. That isn't a situation you would like to find yourself in, is it?