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Geico Pet Insurance Review (2024)


Our Take on Geico Pet Insurance

Geico’s pet insurance, administered through Embrace, is a solid option for dog or cat owners looking to protect themselves from unexpected vet bills. Geico’s accident and illness plan is very comprehensive, covering some expenses that other companies don’t, like exam fees, lab tests and genetic conditions. You also have the option to add routine care coverage with the wellness plan.

Overall, Geico’s pet insurance offers good coverage at a competitive rate for the industry.

Geico Pet Insurance at a Glance

Our Pick for Geico Members
4.5
Pros Offers several plan customization options Usually processes claims within two business days Wellness coverage add-on available for routine care Cons Administers plans through a partner company, Embrace Does not lock in monthly premiums

Geico Pet Insurance vs. Competitors

Are you wondering how Geico’s pet insurance stacks up against its competitors? Compare top companies below:

Company Monthly Cost Star Rating Accident Waiting Period BBB Rating Visit Site
$14-$61
4.5
48 hours A+ EXPLORE PLANS
$15-$30
4.8
2 days* B- EXPLORE PLANS
$34-$75
4.5
14 days A- EXPLORE PLANS
$18-$44
4.8
14 days N/R EXPLORE PLANS
$39-$73
4.7
48 hours A+ EXPLORE PLANS
$45-$90
4.3
15 days A+ EXPLORE PLANS
$24-$54
4.0
15 days A+ EXPLORE PLANS
$16-$65
3.4
14 days A+ EXPLORE PLANS
$28-$59
4.8
3 days A+ EXPLORE PLANS
Company BBB Rating Monthly Cost Star Rating Accident Waiting Period Visit Site
A+ $14-$61
4.5
48 hours EXPLORE PLANS
B- $15-$30
4.8
2 days* EXPLORE PLANS
A- $34-$75
4.5
14 days EXPLORE PLANS
N/R $18-$44
4.8
14 days EXPLORE PLANS
A+ $39-$73
4.7
48 hours EXPLORE PLANS
A+ $45-$90
4.3
15 days EXPLORE PLANS
A+ $24-$54
4.0
15 days EXPLORE PLANS
A+ $16-$65
3.4
14 days EXPLORE PLANS
A+ $28-$59
4.8
3 days EXPLORE PLANS
No results were found.

Are Embrace and Geico The Same Pet Insurance?

Because Embrace and Geico have a partnership, when you click to get a pet insurance policy on Geico’s website, you are redirected to Embrace to sign up for a policy. Even if you get a quote by first visiting Geico’s website, you will manage your policy through Embrace’s member portal, MyEmbrace.


What Does Geico Pet Insurance Cover?

Geico offers pet insurance plans in partnership with Embrace to help provide coverage for your pet. We’ve highlighted available plans and coverage options in the sections below.

Accident and Illness Plan

The accident and illness plan offers comprehensive coverage for various accidents and illnesses your pet could experience. Note that this plan is only available to pets ages 14 and under.

This plan covers the following:

  • General, specialist and emergency care
  • Hospitalization
  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments
  • Chronic conditions
  • Dental trauma
  • Prescription drugs
  • Genetic conditions
  • Exam fees
  • Congenital conditions
  • Allergies, including allergy testing
  • CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs
  • Lab tests and biopsies
  • Physical therapy, including hydrotherapy

Accident-Only Plan

Embrace also offers an accident-only plan that, as the name suggests, only covers accidents. It does not cover illnesses or chronic conditions. This policy has no age limitations — pets ages 15 and older do not qualify for accident and illness coverage, only accident-only. However, if your pet is already enrolled in an Embrace plan before they turn 15, they can continue under that same policy.

This plan covers:

  • Foreign body ingestion
  • Getting hit by a car
  • Prescription medications for covered accidents
  • Poisoning
  • Bloat
  • Torn cruciate ligament
  • Cuts and lacerations

Wellness Rewards for Routine Care Plan

The Wellness Rewards for Routine Care plan is a coverage add-on that can help you reduce the cost of training, grooming and other basic pet care. Geico recommends this optional add-on for puppies and kittens, as routine care costs are highest for young pets.

Coverage includes the following and more:


Geico Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

While Geico offers three plans through its partnership with Embrace — accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness — you can customize your policy by choosing your deductible amount, reimbursement rate and annual coverage limits. The amounts you select will determine what you pay for a premium each month.

For example, if you choose a higher annual deductible, lower coverage limit and lower reimbursement percentage, your monthly cost will be lower. However, you will probably pay more out-of-pocket in the event your pet needs care.

We’ll cover the options Geico offers for pet insurance deductibles, coverage limits and reimbursement rates, and how each factors into your policy, below.

Deductible Options

Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance coverage kicks in. When you select a pet insurance policy through Geico, you will have the following options for your annual deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000.

Reimbursement Rates

Each time you submit a claim for a vet bill, you will be reimbursed a percentage of that amount based on the rate you select. Geico offers rates of 70%, 80% or 90% for pet insurance plans.

Annual Coverage Limits

The annual limit on your policy is the maximum amount your provider will payout for claims you file each year. Geico offers the following coverage limits: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000 or unlimited.

Geico Pet Insurance Exclusions

As with any insurance policy, your pet’s coverage will include exclusions. Geico pet insurance (administered through Embrace) does not cover the following:

  • Preexisting conditions
  • Preventative care like wellness exams and vaccinations
  • Alternative therapies like acupuncture
  • Boarding costs
  • Treatment costs that arise due to ignoring a veterinarian’s recommendation
  • Injuries deliberately inflicted by anyone in your household
  • Injuries or illnesses caused by neglect
  • Cosmetic or elective procedures, including declawing or tail docking

This list of exclusions is not exhaustive. You can review Embrace’s terms and conditions for a full list of coverage exclusions.

If you’re worried that a preexisting condition may prevent your pet from qualifying for insurance coverage, Geico offers a free medical history review for your cat or dog. A review can help clarify what your insurer will and will not cover based on your pet’s unique health history. You can then choose to continue your policy or cancel it and receive a prorated refund.

Geico Pet Insurance Waiting Periods

All pet insurance policies require a waiting period before new policyholders can file a claim. When you get pet insurance through Geico, you must wait 14 days before you can file a claim for illnesses and 48 hours before you can file a claim for accidents. The waiting period for orthopedic conditions is six months.

Waiting periods are meant to prevent pet owners from enrolling in a new policy and fraudulently filing a claim for a pet with a preexisting condition. By helping to fight fraud, waiting periods help keep rates lower for everyone.


Geico Pet Insurance Cost

The cost of your monthly pet insurance premium will vary depending on where you live, the size and breed of your pet, your pet’s age and your pet’s health history. On average, you can expect to pay around $30 a month if you have a dog and around $15 a month for a cat with Geico pet insurance. 

To give you a more specific idea of Geico pet insurance costs, we collected quotes for a variety of common cat and dog breeds. The chart below includes estimated monthly costs to cover a pet in Raleigh, N.C. under an accident and illness plan. The estimates include a $5,000 annual reimbursement limit, a $750 deductible and a 70% reimbursement rate.

Animal Breed1-year-old4-year-old6-year-old9-year-old
Labrador retriever$41.30$45.30$51.96$69.72
Medium mixed-breed dog$27.53$30.20$34.64$46.48
Beagle$38.93$42.69$48.97$65.71
Bloodhound$53.41$58.57$67.19$90.16
Mixed-breed cat$10.46$13.49$16.14$21.06
Maine Coon cat$16.90$21.79$26.07$34.01
Persian cat$16.90$21.79$26.07$34.01
Domestic shorthair cat$10.46$13.49$16.14$21.06

Note: The city you live in can drastically change your monthly pet insurance premium, so we recommend getting a customized quote for your pet. 


Discounts and Deals

Geico offers an annual discount if you pay for an entire year of pet insurance upfront. You can also get 10% off the cost of your plan if you enroll multiple pets.


Geico Pet Insurance Reviews

To better understand the customer experience, we researched hundreds of reviews on sites like the BBB, Google Reviews and Trustpilot. Since Geico administers its pet insurance through a partnership with Embrace, we’ve included both positive and negative reviews from Embrace policyholders below.

Customers who wrote positive reviews on Trustpilot praised the company’s easy-to-navigate mobile app, quick communication and fast claims processing.

“I have nothing but positives concerning my experience with Embrace during the entire process of Abby’s CCL [cranial cruciate ligament] surgery and rehab. The app is easy to use, communication is excellent and payments are quick. Coverage denial for an issue found during preexisting condition review was satisfactorily narrowed after more information was presented. Could not be more pleased.” — Craig

“Embrace is an awesome company — not only is coverage better than other pet insurance companies, but the employees honestly care about helping the customer. Recently, clarification was needed on a submitted invoice and the representative working on the claim reached out to my vet for clarification — awesome customer service!” — Judith

Most negative customer reviews on Trustpilot mentioned high monthly rate hikes and delays in claims approval.

“I have never had a problem with Embrace because I never had to put in a claim, but I just recently canceled my policy because it keeps raising my rates. Last year (in 2022), it raised [my rate] and I got it lowered by raising my deductible. Now this year my rates jump up by $40 per month. Was with Embrace for seven years, never filed a claim and now I can no longer afford it.” — Henry

“Terrible experience with processing claims. Everything is a preexisting condition and delayed, delayed, delayed. I feel [Embrace] is reaching in order to not pay out! [Embrace] claims it’s unable to retrieve medical history, but in this day and age, I find that laughable. I will not be renewing my pet policy, nor do I trust this company.” — Rhea


Geico Pet Insurance Reputation and Claims Payout

Both Geico and Embrace hold an A+ ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), although Geico is not accredited. The two companies have over 100 years of combined experience, with 84 years from Geico and 19 from Embrace.

If you need to file a claim, you can do so online through your MyEmbrace login or by using the Embrace Pet Insurance app. You can also file a claim via fax, mail or email, but you’ll need to use a claim form (which is available on the MyEmbrace web page or app).

When filing your claim, you’ll need to submit your pet’s complete invoice for veterinary care. The invoice must include the total amount you were charged, discounts, taxes and any costs for other pets (if applicable).

Embrace typically processes claims within 10 to 15 business days of filing — however, claims are frequently processed quicker. Additionally, wellness rewards payouts are typically processed in under five business days. You can track your claim status through your MyEmbrace login online or in the Embrace Pet Insurance app.


Geico Pet Insurance Availability

Geico pet insurance is available in all 50 U.S. states. However, the city or state where you live may affect your overall rate.

Use the dropdown below to find the top pet insurer in your state.


Is Geico Pet Insurance a Good Choice?

All pet parents should consider purchasing a pet insurance policy for their dog or cat. Pet insurance can potentially save you thousands of dollars in vet expenses, giving you peace of mind that you can afford your pet’s care. Geico administers its pet insurance through Embrace, a well-established and trusted pet insurance provider. Embrace’s policies are very comprehensive, and its premiums are on-par with the industry standard.


Frequently Asked Questions About Geico Pet Insurance

It’s good to have pet health insurance for added peace of mind and protection. Pet insurance can help protect you from paying out of pocket for costly vet visits when your pet is unexpectedly injured or diagnosed with an illness.

The accident and illness plan, administered through Embrace, does not cover routine checkups at the vet. However, if you add on the wellness rewards coverage, routine care is covered.

Geico offers two pet insurance plans through Embrace, the accident and illness plan or an accident-only plan. You also have the option to add the wellness rewards program to your coverage, which helps you pay for routine animal care.

If you are a pet owner, Geico can help cover your vet bills with a pet insurance policy administered through Embrace. If your pet has a qualifying condition, your policy will cover either 70%, 80% or 90% of your vet bill after you pay your deductible.

In addition to offering pet insurance through its partner company, Embrace, Geico offers home insurance, auto insurance, car insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance and more insurance products.


Methodology: Our System For Rating Pet Insurance Companies

We review each pet insurance company based on factors most important to pet parents like you. To inform our reviews, we surveyed 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. Our process includes in-depth industry research about each provider, such as comparing coverage options, gathering quotes online to determine pricing and reading reviews to assess customer service. 

We then score each provider on a 100-point scale and divide the final score by 20 to calculate an overall rating out of 5.0 stars. Here are more details about the factors we consider when reviewing pet insurance providers:

  • Monthly pricing (25%): To assess pricing, we collect sample quotes for medium-mixed breed and purebred dogs and cats, ranging from four years old to one year old. Providers earn the most points in this category for offering affordable coverage and a multi-pet discount. 
  • Plans (15%): The best pet insurance companies offer a range of plans to give customers the option to choose the coverage that is best for their pet. Companies offering accident and illness plans, accident-only plans, and wellness or preventive care add-ons earn full points in this category. We also look at coverage limits and award the most points for policies with unlimited coverage. 
  • Covered treatments (15%): According to our survey of pet owners, coverage is one of the most important factors when shopping for pet insurance. Companies with a breadth of included treatments and unique coverages receive more points in this category than providers with more standard or general policies.
  • Customization options (10%): Customizing your pet insurance policy can help lower your cost. Providers that offer more annual limit, deductible and reimbursement rate options earn the highest scores in this category.
  • Customer care (10%): Respondents to our survey also valued customer service when comparing pet insurance providers. We score each company based on its website accessibility and overall usability, customer service availability, mobile apps, money-back guarantees and veterinarian telehealth options, awarding points to insurers with more customer experience offerings.
  • Industry reputation (10%): We review up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and score companies based on years of industry experience and state availability.
  • Waiting periods (10%): Companies with shorter accident, illness and orthopedic waiting periods between the time you sign up for coverage and your policy starts score higher in this category.
  • Eligible age (5%): Some companies do not offer policies for pets over a certain age. For this category, we deduct points from providers that have age limits for covered pets.

We use our rating system to compare each company we review and determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. To learn more, read our full pet insurance methodology for reviewing and scoring providers. 


Faith Wakefield is a writer based in North Carolina. She holds economics and English degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, and her work has been featured on EcoWatch, The World Economic Forum and Today’s Homeowner. In her free time, she loves to binge-watch personal finance videos on YouTube, collect books and spend time in nature.

Tori Addison Editor

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

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