Health insurance helps most people control the out-of-pocket costs of medical bills. But when their pets face health issues, there is often no financial assistance with owners paying in full for each veterinarian visit. This can lead to a difficult decision — saving money or their pet’s life. Cleveland, Ohio’s, Embrace Pet Insurance has created an e-commerce pet insurance site that simplifies paying for expected and unexpected visits to the vet.

“We help alleviate the financial burden of pet care and give pets the best chance to survive illness or injury,” said Laura Bennett, CEO and co-founder of Embrace Pet Insurance. “It helps their owners make the right decisions, without having to worry about the cost.”

Embrace Pet Insurance was founded in 2004 and has grown 50% each of the last four years, with 51,000 policyholders covering over 66,000 pets. The company’s insurance policies cover expensive, specialized treatments for ear infections, ligament tears, hip dysplasia and cancer. A wellness add-on can be used to pay for items like routine visits to the vet, vaccinations, dental cleanings and spaying/neutering. Customers can access the company’s digital portal, MyEmbrace, to update policy and pet information, submit and check the status of claims, and securely update billing and reimbursement information.

Bennett worked for a large life and health insurance company for 12 years before starting Embrace Health Insurance. After leaving the insurance business to pursue her MBA, Bennett met a friend from the UK who had spent more than $5,000 on her cat’s medical bills. While pet insurance policies are commonplace in the UK, the friend was surprised how difficult it was to find similar coverage in the United States.

Read the full story at Tech Ohio.