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Allstate Pet Insurance Review ( 2024 Guide)

In our Allstate Pet Insurance review, we gave the company a 4.1 out of 5.0 and the Best For Bundling Insurances Pet Insurance Provider award.

Serving over 16 million people across more human-oriented insurance sectors, Allstate knows what it takes to help customers protect their assets from the unexpected. When it comes to the healthcare of our animals, inflated veterinary costs expose pet owners to an incredibly hairy category of financial risk — one that Allstate now backs by offering premium pet health insurance options through a partnership with Embrace pet insurance. 

Our exclusive evaluation of Allstate pet insurance reviews every whisker of its policy details to help you gauge whether or not this provider suits your pet’s coverage needs, including: 

  • Overall rank
  • Base plan variations
  • Average monthly premiums for cats and dogs
  • Annual coverage limits, reimbursement percentages, and deductibles
  • Policy inclusions and exclusions
  • Preventative care 
  • Discounts
  • Verified customer reviews

Allstate Pet Insurance Review: Overall Rating

4.1

The Bottom Line

One thing we want to underscore before delving deeper into this provider review is that Allstate pet insurance is actually managed by Embrace and its third-party underwriter, American Modern Insurance Group. So, even though you can purchase a policy through an Allstate agent, enrollment and all other plan management matters will have to be addressed through Embrace. Because of the bundling incentives Allstate offers to those who combine more than one of its policies, the standout benefit of purchasing pet insurance through Allstate rather than just heading straight to Embrace is essentially reserved for those who already hold another policy like home, auto, or life insurance.

Allstate Pros & Cons

Pros Discounts for bundling multiple Allstate policies Diminishing deductibles Complimentary medical history review Five-day average for claim reimbursement turnround
Cons Upper age limits on accident-illness coverage eligibility $5,000 annual maximum on accident-only Potential for customer confusion because of the policy’s connection to three different companies

Allstate Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage

Embrace offers an entirely new breed of made-to-order pet insurance featuring an exclusive vanishing deductibles program and plan customizations galore. With five different options for both annual maximums and deductibles, plus three incremental reimbursement rates of up to 90% cash back per year, pet owners can shape and reshape their monthly premiums into price points that best suit their budgets. 

But, before you can begin playing around with the cost variables within your control, Embrace will ask you to share a few pieces of information about you and your pet that cannot be manipulated to achieve a lower premium. All related answers should be stuff you’ll know off the top of your head, like where you and your pet live in the United States, in addition to your pet’s species, breed, and age. 

Your geographic location will allow Embrace to appraise your pet’s healthcare expenses based on local veterinary costs, which vary per region. No matter the pet insurance provider you use, someone who lives in a major city like Los Angeles, California, will face slightly higher premiums across the board than another pet owner seeking the same coverage from a small town in  Idaho. More densely populated areas naturally carry higher insurance rates.

Everything you’ll be prompted to answer about your pet will be used to curate a premium that accurately reflects your pet’s own healthcare liabilities. For example, purebred animals are at a higher risk for hereditary and congenital conditions than mixed breeds, hence why a German Shepard may cost more to cover than a mutt. 

Likewise, a 12-year-old cat is more susceptible to age-induced health problems than a hearty 2-year-old cat. Embrace simply wants to know the animals it’s covering to best prepare for the odds against them. 

Plans and Costs

On average, the monthly rate of an Embrace policy costs between $30-$40 for dogs and $15-20 for cats, contingent on how comprehensive of a plan you build. Embrace’s base coverage clauses are split between accident-only and accident-illness, with the option to tack on a non-insurance preventative care allowance through its trademark Wellness Rewards program. 

Accident-only

With a modest payout maximum capped at $5,000 per year as well as a fixed annual deductible of $100 and a reimbursement rate of 90%, Embrace’s accident-only policy is admittedly far less workable customization-wise than its accident-illness coverage. 

Aside from their differences in coverage breadth, accident-only and accident-illness also deviate in age inclusivity. Whereas accident-illness will disqualify your cat or dog for initial enrollment after its 15th birthday, accident-only allows pets of all ages to register. 

Regardless of how minimalistic this accident-only policy is, you’ll still have the option to build it out with Embrace’s non-insurance Wellness Rewards add-on for keeping pace with routine care expenses. Until you reach that stage of the enrollment process, below are eligible emergency scenarios considered standard at this first plan level:

  • Lacerations and abrasions
  • Burn injuries
  • Getting hit by a car
  • Ingestion of foreign objects or toxic substances
  • Abnormal bloat
  • Cruciate ligament tears
  • Prescription medications (as needed for treatment of eligible incidents)

Accident-Illness

Embrace’s accident-illness policy is its most popular product, given that it virtually covers more potential injuries and ailments than it excludes. Including the treatment for the emergencies mentioned above, this catch-all coverage option covers:

  • Office consultation and vet visit fees
  • General, specialist, and emergency care
  • Hospitalization and surgery
  • Biopsies, lab work, and other diagnostic tests
  • Intradermal skins or RAST allergy testing
  • MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds
  • Chronic conditions — epilepsy, diabetes, allergies, etc.
  • Cancer treatment — radiation, stem-cell therapy, and chemotherapy
  • Dental trauma and illness like periodontal disease, root canals, gingivitis, oral mass excisions, tooth extractions, etc. (max. $1,000 per year) 
  • Congenital conditions
  • Genetic/hereditary conditions — hip and elbow dysplasia, intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), patellar luxation, hyper- and hypothyroidism, brachycephalic syndrome, etc. 
  • Physical therapy and complimentary treatments 

Wellness Rewards 

Among its most impressive features is the Embrace-exclusive Wellness Rewards plan add-on. Rather than offering standard insurance-based preventative care riders, Embrace introduces a new form of routine coverage to the dog show, with an allowance tool that allows policyholders to choose from three annual amounts — $250, $450, or $650 per policy year. With no item-specific limits, this exclusive feature allows a pet owner to freely use up to their selected amount to help pay for:

  • Wellness exam fees 
  • Vaccinations and titers
  • Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
  • Spay/neuter surgery
  • Fecal and routine blood tests
  • Microchipping
  • Nutritional supplements and prescription diet food
  • Grooming and nail trims
  • Preventative dental care
  • Medicated shampoos
  • Gastropexy
  • Hip dysplasia exams, radiographs, or other OFA testing
  • Routine anal gland expression
  • Wearable pet activity monitors
  • Training
  • Reiki, massage therapy, acupuncture
  • Cremation or burial

There are a few inclusion overlaps between the accident-illness policy and the Wellness Rewards program, which is intentionally integrated by Embrace in an effort to maximize coverage opportunities for those enrolled in just accident-only.

Because policyholders can use their wellness allowance on any service as often as they need per policy term, accident-illness enrollees aren’t paying twice for coverage overlaps. Say, for example, your dog started to experience a lot of dental decay a few months after your policy start date; you can use your entire selected allowance on routine dental cleanings if you so please. 

One caveat with this stipend system is that your selected allowance is non-transferable and only available for spending within an annual policy window. In other words, if you don’t exhaust your preventative care funds within that 12-month time frame, it won’t roll over into the next policy period or be reimbursed, so make sure to use up those available credits accordingly. Wellness Rewards is active and ready to use from the day of signup, so there’s no need to worry about waiting periods.

Samples of Prices for Four Species/Breeds

To give you a better idea of how Embrace premiums might vary in cost from pet to pet, we’ve collated a sampling of actual direct quotes from Embrace based on common pet personas.

Regardless of species or breed, these samplings are based on a fictional pet owner located in Seattle, Washington, with a 2-year-old pet, and who selects Embrace’s most intermediate plan customizations of an 80% reimbursement rate, up to $10,000 in annual coverage, and a deductible of $500 per year.

For variables with Wellness Rewards factored in, we selected the $450 annual maximum.

Species/BreedSample Price for Medium Mixed Breed DogSample Price for Golden Retriever (Dog)Sample Price for Domestic Shorthair CatSample Price for Domestic Mediumhair Cat
Accident and Illness Plan$44.14 per month$66.21 per month$23.94 per month$23.94 per month
Accident and Illness Plan with Preventative Care$79.56 per month$101.63 per month$59.36 per month$59.36 per month
Accident and Illness Plan with Vet Fees and Physical Therapy Coverage$79.56 per month$101.63 per month$59.36 per month$59.36 per month

Deductibles 

Embrace has five deductibles of $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $30,000 for customers to choose from at enrollment. Remember, if you select a higher deductible to reduce your month-to-month expenses, larger upfront veterinary costs could come back to nip you in the bud if you end up needing to file a claim. 

Fortunately, Embrace members are given an automatic opportunity to save big through Embrace’s diminishing deductible advantage program. For every year that policyholders are able to go without filing a claim for reimbursement, Embrace will reward their pet’s good health standings with a $50 reduction in their annual deductible. Of course, this policy is not meant to discourage pet owners from seeking proper medical attention for their pets if need be, but Embrace also aims to reward its customers for preemptively seeking out healthcare coverage, even if their pets don’t need it right away. 

Say an Embrace policyholder has had a good streak of a few claim-free years, so much so that their deductible has been reduced to zero. Once they zero out their deductible due, no more reductions will be applied to their account. They’ll be able to hold onto that free deductible until a claim is eventually filed. After that, their deductible will reset to its original value at the start of the next policy period, and the diminishing deductible cycle will repeat. 

Preventative Care Limits

Offering an atypical non-insurance wellness plan, Embrace does not hold its customers to per-items benefit caps. Policyholders who decide to tack Embrace Wellness Rewards onto their base policies have free range to choose how, where, and when they use up their annual allowances toward preventative care as long as they keep under or equal to their selected annual maximums. 

Covered ItemAnnual Limit
Wellness Exam$250, $450, or $650
Heartworm Test$250, $450, or $650
Internal Parasite or Fecal Test$250, $450, or $650
Blood work$250, $450, or $650
Three Vaccines$250, $450, or $650
Total $250, $450, or $650

Coverage Exclusions

Embrace’s base policies exclude any coverage for veterinary expenses related to:

  • Preventative care — wellness checkups, vaccinations, parasite prevention, spay/neuter, grooming, etc. 
  • Alternative therapies — reiki, magnet therapy, hydrotherapy, prolotherapy, ozone hyperbaric oxygen, electroacupuncture, chiropractic adjustment, massage, bicom, TENS, and nutritional counseling.
  • More than one removal of an ingested foreign object or substance per policy period
  • Boarding and kenneling services
  • Any treatment costs that conflict with instructions from your veterinarian
  • Any treatment costs due to deliberate abuse or gross neglect by you or other guardians of your pet
  • Any treatment costs due to organized fighting, commercial guarding, racing, etc.
  • Elective cosmetic procedures — tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, orthodontics, etc. 
  • Natural supplements, vitamins, and all foods (prescribed or not)
  • Treatment for conditions with preventative vaccines available, which you explicitly rejected 
  • Independent veterinary consultation or exam fees
  • Organ transplants
  • Genetic/chromosomal testing (if not being used for a larger diagnosis)
  • Breeding, pregnancy, whelping, or queening
  • Avian, swine, or any type of flu

Plan Customizations

Accident-Illness

  • Annual payout limit: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $30,000
  • Deductible: $200, $300, $500, $750, or $1,000
  • Reimbursement rate: 70, 80, or 90%

Accident-Only

  • Annual payout limit: $5,000
  • Deductible: $100
  • Reimbursement rate: 90%

Discounts

Aside from the multi-line discount exclusively available to Allstate customers who bundle at least two types of policies, Embrace offers a few other savings opportunities of its own:

  • 10% Multiple Pet Discount — Got more than one furry family member? By enrolling a minimum of two pets in any Embrace policy, you’ll receive 10% off your premium. 
  • 5% Military Discount — Embrace supports the military community by offering an exclusive 5% off to honor those who have served or are currently serving our country in any U.S. Armed Forces. Proof of military status will be required to receive this discount. This discount is not available in New York or Tennessee per state restrictions. 
  • 10% Employee Benefits Discount — Companies around the country are adding pet insurance to their employee benefits schedule. People can worry less about their pets and stay focused at work when they know their pets are insured. Businesses that partner with the Embrace Employee Benefits program entitle their employees to an additional 10% discount. This offer is not available in New York, Tennessee, Florida, or North Dakota per state restrictions.

Allstate Pet Insurance State Availability

Allstate pet insurance, as serviced by Embrace, is licensed to provide nationwide coverage in all 50 states, including Washington, D.C. Even if your pet gets sick or hurt while you’re traveling domestically, Embrace will still cover eligible incidents as long as a licensed veterinarian treats your pet. Reimbursement rates may vary depending on state-specific veterinary costs.

Allstate Pet Insurance Reviews

When digging through verified Embrace pet insurance reviews, we found it to have an overall satisfied customer base, with plenty of policyholders reporting a hassle-free claims process and reimbursement for veterinary expenses in two shakes of a tail. However, year-over-year premium increases seemed to leave a few customers a bit disappointed. 

As always, to keep an impartial angle, we’ve highlighted both positive and negative reviews so you can see both sides of the Embrace customer experience: 

“I had an excellent experience receiving information from our AllState insurance agent for all our insurances, but then I researched best pet insurances to find Embrace on the top…I closed the deal and picked an excellent package for our new baby girl, Athena, a Doberman Pinscher. She turns six weeks next week. She will have her first vet, wellness appointment, vaccinations, and fecal test. We are so excited to keep her healthy and have the peace of mind knowing she is covered 100%.” —Angelique N., Trustpilot

“Fast money and great. My puppy, Nala, has had multiple overnight animal hospital stays and Embrace made the claim process very simple and streamlined. The reimbursement checks arrived fast, and customer service is top-notch!” —Alex A., Trustpilot

“My clumsy pup tore his ACL, and I went through my regular vet that then sent me to a surgeon who performed the surgery immediately. After eight weeks, he had a follow-up round of X-rays, so I was out more money. I organized all the paperwork and receipts, uploaded them through the portal, and was paid out EXACTLY the amount that I had calculated… I had the money from the surgery reimbursed to me after one phone call to them!” —Anne Marie A., Trustpilot

“I’ve been pleased with the coverage so far, but am not a fan of how much [my policy] increases in price every single year. I’m not sure that just putting this money in a savings account wouldn’t have been a wiser way to go…” —Vicki M., Trustpilot

Allstate Pet Insurance vs. Competitors

Interested in seeing how Allstate ranks against our top picks for pet insurance providers? This table details how it stacks up against our top providers in terms of score, monthly cost, and more.

Best For Star Rating Monthly Cost Link
Spot Spot Most Inclusive
$22-$80 Compare Quotes
Lemonade Lemonade Most Affordable
$16–$30 Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance ASPCA Pet Insurance Most Experienced
$18–$44 Compare Quotes
Fetch Pet Insurance Fetch Pet Insurance Most Comprehensive Coverage
$22-$38 Compare Quotes
Embrace Embrace Best for Discounts Offered
$23-$85 Compare Quotes
Healthy Paws Healthy Paws Best for Chronic Conditions
$24–$54 Compare Quotes
Figo Figo Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
$25-$54 Compare Quotes
Spot
Logo Spot
Best For Most Inclusive
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$80
Compare Quotes
Lemonade
Logo Lemonade
Best For Most Affordable
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $16–$30
Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance
Logo ASPCA Pet Insurance
Best For Most Experienced
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $18–$44
Compare Quotes
Fetch Pet Insurance
Logo Fetch Pet Insurance
Best For Most Comprehensive Coverage
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$38
Compare Quotes
Embrace
Logo Embrace
Best For Best for Discounts Offered
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $23-$85
Compare Quotes
Healthy Paws
Logo Healthy Paws
Best For Best for Chronic Conditions
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $24–$54
Compare Quotes
Figo
Logo Figo
Best For Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $25-$54
Compare Quotes
Company
Monthly Cost
Star Rating
Best For
Age Max
Waiting Period
$22-$80
Most Inclusive
None
14 days
$16–$30
Most Affordable
14
14 days for illness, 48 hours for accidents
$18–$44
Most Experienced
None
15 days
$22-$38
Most Comprehensive Coverage
$23-$85
Best for Discounts Offered
14
14 days for illness, 48 hours for accidents
$24–$54
Best for Chronic Conditions
14
15 days
$25-$54
Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
None
14 days for illness, 1 day for accidents

Final Thoughts

Our 2022 Allstate pet insurance review closes out with a provider ranking of 4.1 out of 5. While Embrace’s diminishing deductibles and unique wellness reward program keep its policies up top in the industry, we felt that having proprietorship divided across three different companies might make customer service needs a bit more complicated for policyholders.

Also, other than Allstate-exclusive bundling incentives, it doesn’t make much sense for those not already enrolled in Allstate insurance to pursue pet healthcare coverage through this provider if it’s managed by Embrace.

About Allstate Pet Insurance

Established in 1931, Allstate Corporation has dominated multiple sectors of the insurance industry, offering an array of essential protective solutions including homeowners’, renters’, auto, and life insurance to millions of customers across the United States. Upon entering the pet insurance game in 2020, Allstate joined Embrace in an affinity partnership to present a pet healthcare option for its current policyholders and appeal to pet owners new to the world of insurance and looking for a trusted brand name to start with. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a claim with Allstate?

Because your pet insurance policy is not an official Allstate product, all plan management and claims processes are handled by Embrace. We recommend using the MyEmbrace app for a convenient, trackable claims process to jump-start the reimbursement process. Your mobile app will guide you through the entire submission process with on-screen instructions. These step-by-step prompts will ask you to identify your vet, upload an invoice or receipt with all itemized expenses, and select the reason for medical care. Once your claim is received, Embrace can take up to 15 business days to produce a reimbursement, which is made available in the form of a check or via direct deposit.

Does Allstate offer exotic pet insurance?

No. Allstate’s pet insurance coverage, administered by Embrace, only insures cats and dogs for reimbursements.

Will Allstate pet insurance also cover animal damage?

No. Damage caused by your pets to your property or dwelling is not covered by any pet insurance companies, including Embrace. Animal liability insurance is typically included in homeowners’ insurance coverage, which is an insurance product that Allstate offers separate from pet health insurance.

Does Allstate cover pre-existing conditions?

No. Per the terms and conditions of even the best pet insurance companies, any detected health complications, even congenital and genetic conditions, that predate your policy activation period will not be eligible for coverage. 

If you’re unsure about any pre-existing conditions in your pet, Embrace offers a free, in-depth medical history review after you’ve finished signing up to help clarify what will be covered and what won’t.

Will my monthly premium increase year-over-year?

Your monthly premium issued by Embrace is subject to change in accordance with your pet’s age. As older pets become increasingly susceptible to injury and illness as they age, Embrace does instate a gradual augmentation of your monthly rate to compensate for your pet’s heightened risk for healthcare.

Our Methodology

​​Here at Quartz, our research team looks to examine all pet insurance policies and comes up with reviews based on:
  • Coverage
  • Plan options
  • Cost 
  • Reputation
  • Customer service 
  • Species available
  • Wellness benefits 
We’ve created a 5-star rating system to score pet insurance brands based on a 100-point scale. To develop a list of the best pet insurance plans, we looked into plans, rating coverage, claims handling, reimbursements, deductibles, and limitations.  Each factor is weighted differently based on the following factors:
  • Monthly Pricing (25 points): How each pet insurance company charges for their plans is a crucial part of the decision-making process of the customer. Affordable rates and comprehensive coverage are the defining characteristics of providing the best pet insurance.
  • Coverage (20 points): We scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Providers offering broader coverage and more unique treatments received more points.  Pet insurance policies are not offered by all companies for older pets. Providers who have an age limit on the pets they cover were deducted points.
  • Plans (15 points): Pet insurance providers offer accident-and-illness plans, accident-only plans, wellness add-ons, and pet preventive care add-ons, so customers can choose the right plan for their pets. We also factored in costs to achieve the most comprehensible review for your pet’s needs.
  • Customization Options (10 points): You can ensure your pet only gets what they need by customizing your policy. A higher score was earned by providers who offered a greater range of annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
  • Customer Service (10 points): We scored companies based on their website accessibility and usability, mobile apps, and grating points to companies with the most customer experience options.
  • Industry Reputation (10 points): We assessed each company’s industry reputation by reviewing up-to-date BBB ratings and accreditation information, as well as their years of experience in the industry.
  • Waiting Periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident and illness waiting periods scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
Our team revisits each company’s information at the end of every month to make updates and ensure the information is as accurate as possible.