How to Cancel Embrace Pet Insurance 2026 — When to Keep vs. Drop Coverage

Updated March 2026 • 8 min read

Pet insurance sounds like a safety net — until you realize you're paying $30-100+/month and the fine print excludes half of what your pet actually needs. Embrace is one of the better pet insurance companies, but "better" in the pet insurance industry is a low bar. Before you cancel, you need to understand the pre-existing condition trap that makes switching or dropping coverage risky.

How to Cancel Embrace Pet Insurance

Method 1: Call Embrace

1. Call 1-800-511-9172
2. Tell them you want to cancel your policy
3. They'll ask why (retention attempt) — be direct
4. Request written confirmation of cancellation and your effective end date
5. Ask about any pro-rated refund for unused premium

Method 2: Email

1. Email service@embracepetinsurance.com
2. Include your policy number, pet's name, and account email
3. State: "I request immediate cancellation of policy [number]. Please confirm the effective cancellation date and any applicable refund."
4. They typically respond within 1-2 business days

Method 3: Through Your Account

1. Log into my.embracepetinsurance.com
2. Go to Policy Details
3. Look for cancellation or policy change options
4. Note: some policy changes may require calling — Embrace prefers phone cancellations

Understanding Embrace's Refund Policy

• Within 30 days of purchase: Full refund (if no claims filed)
• After 30 days (annual plan): Pro-rated refund for unused months, minus any claims paid
• Monthly plans: Coverage ends at end of current billing period — no mid-month refund
• Embrace's "Healthy Pet Deductible": If you've been building up your shrinking deductible, you lose that progress when you cancel

The Pet Insurance Math Problem

Here's the uncomfortable truth about pet insurance economics:

• Average pet insurance cost: $50-80/month for dogs, $30-50/month for cats
• Average annual vet bill: $400-600 for dogs, $200-400 for cats
• Lifetime insurance cost (dog, 12 years): $7,200-11,520
• Average lifetime vet costs (dog): $15,000-20,000 (including emergencies)
• What insurance pays after deductibles and exclusions: Typically 50-70% of eligible claims

Pet insurance is only "worth it" if your pet has a major emergency or chronic condition. For routine care, the math almost always favors self-insuring — putting the premium amount into a dedicated savings account instead.

The Self-Insurance Alternative

• Open a separate HYSA (Ally, Marcus, or Wealthfront — all free)
• Auto-transfer your old premium amount monthly
• Only touch it for vet emergencies — not routine checkups
• Use CareCredit or Scratchpay for large bills while your fund builds (0% APR options available)

When You Should Keep Pet Insurance

• Young pet with no pre-existing conditions: Coverage is cheapest and most comprehensive
• Breed prone to expensive conditions: Bulldogs (breathing), German Shepherds (hips), Golden Retrievers (cancer)
• You couldn't absorb a $5,000-10,000 emergency bill: Insurance is for catastrophic protection
• Your pet has chronic conditions already covered: Switching insurers would make these pre-existing (uninsured)

When You Should Cancel

• Your pet is healthy and young with no chronic conditions
• You have savings that could cover a $5K-10K emergency
• Your premiums have increased significantly with renewals (Embrace raises rates as pets age)
• You've calculated your total premiums paid vs. claims reimbursed and you're deeply negative
• Your deductible is so high that you'd pay most costs out of pocket anyway

If You Switch Instead of Cancel

Switching pet insurers means new waiting periods (typically 14 days for accidents, 6 months for orthopedic, 14 days for illness) and any conditions diagnosed under Embrace become pre-existing and excluded by your new insurer. If you switch:

• Keep Embrace active until the new policy's waiting period ends
• Get your complete medical records from your vet
• Compare: Lemonade Pet (cheaper, AI claims), Trupanion (direct vet pay), Healthy Paws (fast claims)
• Read the new policy's pre-existing condition definition carefully