Founded in 1936, GEICO is one of the top insurance providers in the country. In addition to home, auto, liability, and renters insurance, GEICO also provides pet insurance through Embrace pet insurance, which has been specializing in comprehensive pet health coverage since 2003.
Business Insider's personal finance team compared GEICO pet insurance to the best pet insurance policies on the market. While we found it to be pricier than some competitors, its standout features, such as the wellness package, make it worth considering.
Pros and Cons
GEICO Pet Insurance Pros
- Policies are issued by Embrace, a highly-rated pet insurance companies
- Coverage includes alternative treatments and behavioral therapy
- 24-hour vet helpline to answer any health-related questions
- Offers an optional wellness rewards program
- Includes spaying and neutering in the wellness plan
- Coverage for curable pre-existing conditions after pets are symptom- and treatment-free for 12 months
- 10% multi-pet discount
GEICO Pet Insurance Cons
- GEICO policyholders do not get special discounts
- Limits pets 15 years and older to accident-only plans
- More expensive than competitors
- Limited information available on Geico's website
- No prescription food coverage
Get a Quote
$100 - $1,000
70%, 80%, or 90%
- Coverage includes behavioral therapy and alternative treatmnts
- Optional wellness plan includes spay/neutering
- Coverage for curable pre-existing conditions after 12-month waiting period
- Unlimited coverage options
- 10% multi-pet discount
- Relatively high premiums
- Accident-only plan is not customizable
- Prescription drug coverage is only available as add-on
- Prescription food coverage not included
Founded in 1936, GEICO is one of the top insurance providers in the country. In addition to home, auto, liability, and renters insurance, GEICO also provides pet insurance through Embrace pet insurance, which has been specializing in comprehensive pet health coverage since 2003.
Compare GEICO Pet Insurance
- Offers pet insurance with unlimited coverage
- Offers deductibles of as low as $50 and as high as $1,000 annually
- Company partners with large insurance companies like GEICO
- Rates can be extremely affordable for pets of all breeds
- Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, DC
- Alternative and holistic treatments may not be included
- Customer reviews indicate claims processing may take longer
- $12 premiums for basic care
- Add-ons available for other preventative care
- Comprehensive mobile experience for claims and support
- Only available in 37 states and Washington DC
- No 24/7 telehealth line for veterinary advice
Lemonade offers auto, homeowners, renters, pet, and life insurance. It's been around since 2015 and is known for offering some of the lowest rates. Lemonade ranks on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction surveys for renters insurance, however, it doesn't rank for life and homeowners insurance.
Lemonade Pet Insurance- Discounts for bundling policies and having multiple pets
- Starts at $10 a month
- Offers a discount for enrolling in an annual payment plan
- Wellness plans and accident and illness plans available
- Available in all 50 states with comprehensive coverage options
- Coverage available for senior dogs and cats
- Pets have to be at least 8 weeks for coverage
- Does not offer coverage for exotic pets
Spot pet insurance provides comprehensive pet insurance, including an allowance for end-of-life memorials. Some plan upgrades cover dental cleanings and other costly services.
Spot Pet InsuranceGEICO Pet Insurance Overview
Where GEICO Pet Insurance really stands out is in the breadth of coverage offered by its accident and illness plan. Besides the standard items that most competitors provide, like diagnostic testing, surgery, and hospitalization, the plan also covers behavioral therapy, dental services, and prosthetic and mobility devices. Its optional wellness plan also covers spaying/neutering fees. Plus, GEICO offers multiple ways to customize a policy to meet your pet insurance needs and your budget.
Signing up and submitting claims with Embrace is relatively quick and easy through its mobile app, which is a huge plus if you prefer to manage things online.
However, GEICO Pet Insurance, which is provided through Embrace, may not be the best fit if you're looking to enroll pets that are over 14 years old. Pets 15 and older can only be enrolled in an accident-only plan. Another downside of GEICO Pet Insurance is that its prices are higher than average compared to those of other top pet insurance companies.
GEICO Pet Insurance Plans Available
GEICO does not underwrite the pet policies it sells. Instead, it partners with Embrace to cover your cat or dog in case of an unforeseen injury or illness. If you click a link to get a rate quote on GEICO's website, you'll be redirected to Embrace to finish the rest of the quote process.
GEICO currently offers two pet insurance plans in partnership with Embrace: an accident & illness plan and an accident-only plan.
Accident & Illness Plan
If your pet is between 6 weeks and 14 years old, you may qualify for GEICO's most popular pet insurance policy: the accident and illness plan. You can customize your policy with annual reimbursement limits of $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, and unlimited. You can also select an annual deductible of $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000, and choose a reimbursement percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90%.
What this plan covers:
- Congenital and genetic conditions like allergies or hip dysplasia
- Common illnesses like ear infections, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Chronic conditions such as diabetes
- Dental trauma
- Cancer treatment
- Hospitalization and emergency care
- Lab tests and biopsies
- Physical therapy
- Diagnostic testing like MRIs, X-rays and ultrasounds
- Alternative therapies
- Orthopedic conditions
- Specialist care such as oncologists and behaviorists
- Surgeries, including anesthesia and rehabilitation
What this plan doesn't cover:
- Pre-existing conditions (though curable conditions may be covered)
- Routine or preventative care
- Injury or illness resulting from neglect, cruelty, or fighting
- Breeding
- Spay/neuter
Accident-Only Plan
The accident and illness plan isn't available to pets aged 15 years and older, but the accident-only plan is. Embrace's accident-only plan is non-customizable and comes with a $100 annual deductible, a 90% reimbursement, and a $5,000 annual coverage limit.
What this plan covers:
- Bloat
- Getting hit by a car
- Foreign body ingestion
- Torn cruciate ligament
- Poisoning
- Cuts and lacerations
- Prescription drugs for covered conditions
What this plan does not cover:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Chronic Conditions
- Illnesses
- Breed-specific and genetic conditions
- Cancer
- Congenital Conditions
- Dental Illness
Additional Coverage Options offered by GEICO
Like many other pet insurance providers, GEICO offers optional add-ons to further customize your standard policy. Through Embrace, which handles GEICO's pet insurance, you can choose additional coverage options like the Wellness Rewards plan, exam fee coverage, and prescription drug add-on.
Wellness Rewards Program. The Wellness Rewards Program reimburses the cost of many preventative care services, like grooming, spay/neuter surgery, and dental cleanings, up to an annual limit of $250, $450, or $650. Here are more details on what it comes:
- Wellness exams and vaccinations/titers
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
- Routine gland expression
- Grooming
- Medicated shampoos
- Toenail trimming
- Training
- End-of-life benefits
- Spay/neuter
- Microchipping
- Blood and fecal tests
- Preventative dental cleaning
- Alternative treatments
- Nutritional supplements
- Prescription diet food
- Exam Fee Coverage. Reimburses all exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses.
- Prescription Drug Coverage. Reimburses prescriptions used to treat or manage covered conditions.
How Much Does GEICO Pet Insurance Cost?
Your GEICO Pet Insurance cost depends on your pet's age, sex, species, and breed. It will also vary based on the deductible, reimbursement, and annual limit you choose.
To get a better idea of how much GEICO pet insurance costs, we'll look at how much a pet owner living in New York City would pay in pet insurance premiums. We chose New York City for our quotes because it is one of the most expensive places to receive vet care, which insurance premiums will reflect. Your premiums will likely be lower than the prices below.
Business Insider acquired the following dog insurance quotes for a GEICO plan with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and $10,000 annual limit:
| Breed | 2-year-old (monthly) | 6-year-old (monthly) |
| French Bulldog | $138.48 | $183.39 |
| Labrador Retriever | $90.25 | $119.51 |
| Golden Retriever | $90.25 | $119.51 |
| German Shepherd | $90.25 | $119.51 |
| Standard Poodle | $104.77 | $138.75 |
| Mixed Breed Medium (31-50 lbs) | $60.17 | $79.68 |
Let's go over premiums for a New York City cat covered under a GEICO plan with a $500 deductible, 80% coinsurance, and $10,000 annual limit:
| Breed | 2-year-old (monthly) | 6-year-old (monthly) |
| Ragdoll | $61.82 | $78.01 |
| Maine Coon | $61.82 | $78.01 |
| Devon Rex | $61.82 | $78.01 |
| Exotic | $61.82 | $78.01 |
| Persian | $61.82 | $78.01 |
| Mixed Breed | $61.82 | $78.01 |
How to Purchase and Manage a GEICO Pet Insurance Policy
Since GEICO partners with Embrace Pet Insurance, you'll be directed to Embrace's website to get a quote, select a plan, and complete your purchase. Embrace will ask you to provide details about your pet, such as breed, age, sex, and species, to generate a personalized quote. And if you insure more than one dog or cat, Embrace offers a 10% multipet discount.
After buying your policy, you can manage it through the MyEmbrace customer portal or the Embrace Pet Insurance app. These platforms let you easily submit and view claims, add pets and change coverage, download policy documents, and reach out to the customer service team. The Embrace Pet Insurance mobile app is available on both the App Store and Google Play.
Note that Embrace's pet insurance policies have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. Waiting periods for orthopedic conditions only pertain to dogs and vary by state. If your pet experiences any conditions during this waiting period, it'll be considered pre-existing and will not be covered by the policy.
How to file a claim with GEICO Pet Insurance
The fastest way to file a pet insurance claim is by submitting all the necessary information through your MyEmbrace customer account online or in the Embrace Pet Insurance app.
When you log into your account, you'll be asked to upload your invoice and select the diagnosis or reason for the vet visit. Once you've done that, Embrace will process your claim in 10 to 15 business days. You can choose to have your covered claims paid by check or with direct deposit.
Other ways to file a claim with Embrace include:
- Email: Send your completed claim form to claims@embracepetinsurance.com
- Fax: Send to (800) 238-1042
- Mail: Send to: Embrace Pet Insurance, PO Box 22188, Beachwood, OH 44122-0188
GEICO Pet Insurance Customer Service and Support Experience
Since GEICO Pet Insurance is administered by Embrace, we reviewed third-party sites to gauge how the company handles customer support. Embrace has an average rating of 4 out of five stars on Trustpilot and a 2.94 on its Better Business Bureau page.
Many customers appreciated how easy and quick it is to submit claims with Embrace. However, we also noticed recurring complaints about unresponsive customer service, including unanswered emails and phone calls. Additionally, some customers reported having to submit medical records multiple times and experiencing long delays in receiving reimbursements. However, it's worth noting that Embrace's positive reviews still outweigh the negative ones.
GEICO Pet Insurance Alternatives
See how GEICO compares to these alternative options for pet insurance coverage: Lemonade and Spot.
GEICO Pet Insurance vs. Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade Pet Insurance is known for its cheap premiums and customizable service. It's specifically far cheaper than GEICO.
That said, Lemonade's base policy is pretty bare, lacking some of the features found in GEICO's plan, like dental illness coverage and behavioral treatments. However, you can add these to your Lemonade plan for extra. Even with these add-ons, Lemonade policies still come out cheaper than GEICO.
Additionaly, Lemonade offers several opportunities to bundle: 10% off if you bundle with its renters, homeowners, auto, condo, or co-op insurance; 5% if you pay annually instead of monthly; and 5% for enrolling multiple pets. So if you prefer to manage all your insurance policies in one place, Lemonade can be an option worth looking into.
However, Lemonade Pet Insurance is only available in 37 states and Washington, DC, whereas GEICO is available in all 50 states.
Read our Lemonade pet insurance review.
GEICO vs. Spot Pet Insurance
If your pet is 15 years or older, Spot Pet Insurance might be a better choice for you. GEICO Pet Insurance has an age limit of 14 years for enrollment in its accident and illness plan, whereas Spot plans have no upper age limits for new enrollments. As long as your pet is at least eight weeks old, you're welcome to apply for coverage.
Another reason you may want to consider Spot is that they cover microchip implantation in all their core plans, while Embrace only covers it in its Wellness Rewards Program.
However, if your pet's dental care is a major concern for you, Embrace may be more suitable. While Embrace and Spot both offer dental coverage, Embrace's dental illness coverage is some of the best you'll find, covering issues like gingivitis, root canals, and periodontal disease. On the other hand, Spot's dental coverage is an accident-only plan and is not as comprehensive.
Read our Spot pet insurance review.
Why You Should Trust Us: What Went into Our GEICO Pet Insurance Review
Business Insider compared GEICO Pet Insurance's policy types, benefits offered, and exclusions with dozens of popular and highly-rated pet insurance companies. We also considered other factors, like ease of sign-up, reimbursement levels, and available add-ons, to help us create an unbiased and thorough review of the company.
Besides comparing GEICO with other pet insurance providers on the market, we gathered information from third-party sites like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau to give us a complete picture of the company and customer sentiments.
If you're interested in our evaluation process, read the full methodology for how Business Insider rates pet insurance to learn more.
GEICO Pet Insurance FAQs
To cancel your pet insurance policy, email a cancellation request to hello@embracepetinsurance.com or call (800) 511-9172.
No. Embrace isn't owned by GEICO. GEICO simply partners with Embrace to offer accident and illness as well as accident-only pet insurance policies.
While GEICO doesn't cover incurable pre-existing conditions, curable conditions are eligible for coverage after your pet is symptom- and treatment-free for 12 months.
Yes, GEICO has a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. It does not have a waiting period for accidents.
