GEICO Pet Insurance Review 2023 – Pros, Cons, & Verdict
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In This Review: Our Review | Pricing & Plans | Coverage | Deductibles & Claims | FAQ | Conclusion
Geico is one of the largest pet insurers in the United States, and offers insurance for pets through Embrace Pet Insurance, which is a popular veterinary insurance option for cats and dogs. Geico itself is not the name of the pet insurance, but rather the administrator for Embrace Pet Insurance—who can provide you with more information on the insurance plans than Geico.
Geico and Embrace Pet Insurance teamed up in 2006, and offer nose-to-tail coverage plans for your pet—ranging from comprehensive coverage plans to wellness rewards. In this article, we will cover all the insurance policies and coverage plans that Embrace Pet Insurance has to offer through Geico.
We give Geico Pet Insurance a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Geico Pet Insurance Review
- Offers three wellness options
- Choose your coverage
- Budget-friendly pet insurance
- Flexible cover plans
- Insures both dogs and cats
- The insurance policies are not serviced by Geico
- Does not offer unlimited annual benefits
- Geico only administrates Embrace Pet Insurance policies
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About Geico Pet Insurance
Geico and Embrace Pet Insurance partnered up in 2006. Through this partnership, highly rewarding pet insurance plans are available for pet owners to choose from, which can be purchased through both Geico and Embrace Pet Insurance. Though there is the option of purchasing from Geico, who administrates Embrace Pet Insurance policies, there is no benefit or incentive offered for signing up for the insurance through Geico.
Customizable and budget-friendly insurance coverage plans for dogs and cats are available to choose from. Once you sign up for Embrace Pet Insurance through Geico, you will need to speak to one of their customer service representatives for the claims process. They offer a wide variety of insurance plans, and cover many different services, but there are no unlimited annual benefits that lower the premiums.
Geico’s pet insurance has limited plans for dogs and cats with pre-existing incurable health conditions, and their insurance options are limited for senior dogs and cats. With that being said, Geico’s pet insurance still offers many benefits, discounts, and wellness plans to cover your dog and cat. Unfortunately, dogs or cats with existing and untreatable conditions cannot be covered by Geico pet insurance, as with most pet insurance companies.
This makes Geico’s pet insurance great for many pet parents, though not a good option for pet owners looking for good insurance coverage for their old or sick dogs and cats. Embrace Pet Insurance’s plans for dogs start at around $30 to $40 per month, with the fee being lower for cats at around $15 to $20 per month.
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Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2023)
Pet Insurance Cost Comparison
| Company | Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs | Sample Monthly Cost For Cats | Learn More |
| Lemonade | $10 | $10 | Get Quote |
| Spot | $17 | $11 | Get Quote |
| Wagmo | $20 | $13 | Get Quote |
| Trupanion | $59 | $30.88 | Get Quote |
| Fetch | $35 | $25 | Get Quote |
Base Policy
Your dog or cat’s eligibility for this pet insurance can only be determined after it has been underwritten online or on the phone. Geico’s pet insurance policies will need to be discussed with someone who works at Embrace Pet Insurance and are issued by the American Modern Insurance Group.
They have certain limits on their insurance plans—such as for dogs who have pre-existing conditions—and they will not cover vet visits for cosmetic procedures, or any injuries or illnesses to the pet through intentional neglect or pregnancies.
Their insurance plans mainly cover dental illnesses and genetic conditions that are congenital or breed-specific, along with cancer treatments, or chronic, preventable, or orthopedic conditions. Geico’s pet insurance does covers complementary treatments and rehabilitation, along with hospitalization and emergency care.
They will also pay for prescription drugs if the condition has been covered, and the medication is used to manage or treat the condition. They do not cover routine veterinary visits, such as a wellness check-ups, which is important to consider before applying for one of their insurance policies.
Customizations
Geico’s pet insurance plans range from affordable to expensive—depending on the type of insurance plan you choose once you get a quote.
Plans
Geico’s pet insurance plans cover breed-specific, chronic, and congenital conditions. They also offer three wellness plans for unexpected vet bills. This means that you can get a flexible routine care plan that covers grooming, veterinary, or training costs. The wellness policy plans vary from a $250 allowance, a $450 allowance, and a $650 allowance per policy year.
The wellness rewards amount can be renewed after each policy year, which allows you to personalize it to meet your and your pet’s needs. They offer one policy to protect your pet, and the plan covers dental, chronic, prescriptions, hospital stays, and surgery, which saves you from having to look through different policy plans.
The accident-only pet insurance plan is a better option for dogs and cats who are older and have pre-existing health issues. The basic coverage policy starts as low as $7 to $14 for dogs and cats, which is one of their cheapest insurance plans.
Coverage
The annual reimbursement for Geico’s pet insurance is limited to only $30,000, and the limit is higher for dogs or cats that are prone to accidents. Like most pet insurance companies, they do not cover pre-existing conditions. The insurance plans cover the most important procedures and exam fees, but they do not cover vaccinations, microchipping, spay and neutering, and holistic care. These procedures that they do not cover fall into the wellness rewards plan instead.
- Dental illness: Extractions, gingivitis, and root canals with no dental exam required
- Breed-specific, congenital, and genetic conditions: Conditions that a pet is born with or is due to a genetic defect, like allergies, hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc disease
- Cancer: All related testing and cancer treatments
- Preventable conditions: Lyme disease, parvo, and parasites
- Chronic conditions: Long-term illnesses and injuries, such as diabetes or arthritis
- Orthopedic conditions: Broken bones, osteosarcoma, and ligament tears (all covered after a 6-month waiting period)
Geico Price Comparison for Dogs and Cats
Dogs are more expensive in the companies’ insurance policies in comparison to cats.
| Golden Retriever | American Shorthair Cat | |
| Male or Female | Female | Male |
| Age | 2 years | 4 years |
| Location | Colorado | Georgia |
| Reimbursement Level | 70% | 70% |
| Annual Deductible | $750 | $750 |
| Annual Max | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| Price per month | $42.37 | $14.46 |
| Breed Name | Under 1 | 5 Years Old |
| Boston Terrier | $33.11 | $33.77 |
| Tabby Cat | $17.47 | $23.37 |
| Boxer Mix | $44.88 | $45.78 |
Deductibles & Claims
| % of Medical Expenses | Annual Deductible | Maximum Coverage |
| 70% | $750 | $5,000 |
| 80% | $1,000 | $8,000 |
| 90% | $750 | $10,000 |
The annual deductible coverage starts from $200 to $1,000—with a $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $30,000 annual reimbursement limit—with three percentages at 70%, 80%, to 90%, depending on your plan and coverage options, according to your pet’s medical needs.
What Does Geico Cover?
| Coverage Item | Annual Limit |
| Emergency room care | $1,000 |
| Surgery and hospitalization | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Dental illness | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Orthopedic | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Nursing care | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Specialist care | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Veterinary exam fees | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Prescription medications | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Diagnostic imaging and testing | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Breed-specific conditions | $5,000 to $15,000 |
The annual limit for each coverage item depends on the type of plan you have, but the maximum annual limit is $30,000. These annual limits can be discussed in more detail with someone from the company.
- Dental illnesses
- Breed-specific, congenital, and genetic conditions
- Chronic conditions
- Cancer
- Preventable conditions
- Orthopedic conditions
- Vet visit fees
- Tests, procedures, and treatments
- Follow-up care
- Accidents and injuries
- Dogs and cats with pre-existing conditions
- DNA testing or cloning
- Avian flu or nuclear war
- Routine veterinary care
- Deliberate injuries
- Injury or illnesses from dog fighting, neglect, cruelty, or racing
- Breeding, whelping, and pregnancy
- Cosmetic procedures (e.g., tail docking, claw removal)
- Choice procedures (e.g., neutering, spaying, microchipping, and vaccinations)
- Stem cell therapy (if not medically necessary)
Pre-Existing Conditions
The pre-existing conditions that Geico’s pet insurance differentiates between are incurable and curable pre-existing conditions, as some pet insurance companies do not cover them, but Geico’s pet insurance covers anything new or unrelated. Some curable conditions that are temporary and eligible for coverage include respiratory infections, bladder infections, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Reoccurring and incurable pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and allergies are not included in Geico pet insurance coverage if they were diagnosed, or if your pet showed symptoms at the end of the waiting periods.
Waiting Periods
Geico’s pet insurance has a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, and a 2-day waiting period for accidents. Some conditions, such as orthopedic conditions for dogs, have a 6-month waiting period. Though this is quite long, it can be reduced if your veterinarian completes the orthopedic waiver form given by Geico’s pet insurance. Once you have activated the insurance policy, the waiting period is ready, unless the condition is pre-existing and not covered in the form.
Reviews from Customers
Let’s take a look at some of the positive reviews for Embrace Pet Insurance.
“I knew that I wanted to support Madison’s fight, and that Embrace was there to give me the financial capability to do it. Having Embrace meant that I could say, ‘We’re going until Madison is done.’ As long as he’s fighting, we’re fighting.” – Christina, for whom Embrace Pet Insurance reimbursed $12,023 out of $15,374 in vet bills.
“I cannot thank Embrace enough! Embrace took care of my claims in a timely manner, and they did everything they said they would.” – Carla, for whom Embrace Pet Insurance reimbursed $3,187 out of $4,369 in vet bills.
FAQ
Is Geico Pet Insurance the Same As Embrace Pet Insurance?
Geico is the administrator for Embrace Pet Insurance, so they are the same thing. By signing up for Geico’s pet insurance, you will be taken to the Embrace Pet Insurance website to talk to a representative and get a quote for your pet.
Does Geico’s Pet Insurance Cover Purebreds?
Geico’s pet insurance covers a variety of different purebred dogs, along with mixed breeds of various sizes, broken down into a weight category.
How Does Geico Pet Insurance Work?
Geico’s pet insurance offers nose-to-tail coverage for your pet, and you will get a customizable plan according to your dog’s age, breed, and overall health. You pay monthly for pet insurance per pet, and they will reimburse you where necessary. If they cannot cover some vet visits, you will earn wellness point rewards.
What Types Of Pets Does Geico Pet Insurance Cover?
Geico’s pet insurance only covers dogs and cats, and they do not include exotic pets, or other small animals under their insurance policies.
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Our Verdict
Overall, Geico’s pet insurance is good pet insurance to consider. Not only do they offer a variety of different plans, ranging from affordable to expensive, they also offer wellness rewards for procedures they do not cover in their insurance policy. Geico administrates Embrace Pet Insurance, and it is no different from signing up for the insurance company through either website.
If you are looking for a responsive and helpful pet insurance company that offers wellness rewards and covers many necessary medical procedures for dogs and cats, then Geico and Embrace Pet Insurance are worth looking into.
- Hepper acknowledges that it is not licensed as an insurance agent, and therefore will not offer any advice regarding insurance, nor recommend a particular coverage, policy, or insurance company.
