Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

Paid internship summer 2009 at Embrace Pet Insurance

We have one intern chosen so now I'm posting about another. Come join us for the summer - it's going to be a blast!

 

is looking for an intern to join our summer program in our Mayfield Village offices (781 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, OH 44143). Embrace Pet Insurance

 

If you are a new high school grad who’s off to college in the autumn or a current college student who is:

·         a tech savvy data hound – someone who’s good at detective work on the web and is detail oriented

·         someone who can pick up the phone and talk to people (no sales involved)

·         someone who is flexible and doesn’t mind the changing environment of an early stage company

·         a pet lover who is not allergic to cats or dogs (we have a pet-friendly office with frequent 4-legged visitors)

·         a reliable person who works hard

Then we are looking for you.

 

Here’s what you would get out of it:

·         $8/hr for a 40 hour work week June - August

·         work experience in a venture-backed early stage company that would be very hard to come by otherwise

·         a great resume addition

·         a valuable reference (assuming one was deserved!)

 

Please email your resume and a cover email on why you think we should hire you over anyone else who is applying to Laura Bennett lb@embracepetinsurance.com.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you [or forward to your friends/family who might know someone!]

Hello to my WorkSmark eMarketing webinar participants!

Welcome to Embrace's blog. Delighted to have you drop by.

As I mentioned in the Webinar, you can navigate around the blog using the left hand panels to give you an overview and of course there's the Lijit search box top right. 

Feel free to post any follow up comments or thoughts in the comments below and I'll be happy to address them if I can. And if you start a blog after the webinar because of the webinar, please post your link in the comments - I'd love to see what everyone gets up to.

Happy blogging!

PS. The presentation is below.

Embrace Pet Insurance Business Blogging Case Study - eMarketing Techniques Webinar

Laura's guest post over at Paw-Talk

Ava over at Paw-Talk asked me to write a guest post "to explain what it [Embrace Pet Insurance] offers and how you got started with the company".

Lea, our Embrace Pet Community blogger, previously wrote a guest post earlier this year on her rescued Rottwieler's orthopedic shoes (I had no idea!) so not wanting to let the side down, I put something together and it was posted today.

Will pet insurance reach 25% of cats and dogs in the US? Probably not any time soon as it’s well under 1% right now (but still, it’s over a million pets) but I have seen the tide turning and the rate of growth of insured pets is growing in recent years.

So, for those of you not aware of how Embrace started and how our roots impact our product and culture, be sure to check it out at "Give Your Pet A Warm Embrace"

Happy Monday!

Foreign puppy shipping fraud continues

I haven't had a post on puppy fraud for a while now (sadly, it still continues though) but we recently got a new example of an email from a fraudster using the Embrace Pet Insurance logos so I thought I'd post it here in case you were scammed by these people.

For more details of the fraud, check out these other posts:
Email scam using Embrace Pet Insurance as a lure - bah!
Follow up on Online Scam using Pet Insurance - what you can do if you have been duped :(

______________________________________________________________________________________

Email details:

PET SHIPPING CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT
PET SHIPPING COMPANY
CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT

GOOD DAY SIR/MADAM,

HERE IS THE PET SHIPPING COMPANY ( PET HEALTH CARE) AND CUSTOM DEPARTMENT.

ATTENTION:::[your name]

I MR MARK HUMPHREY,MANAGER IN CHARGE OF PET INSURANCE AT THE PETS TRANSPORTERS EXPRESS AGENCY PET HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE DEPARTMENT WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PUPPY FROM MR/MRS MARY TROTT IS NOW REGISTERED AND HAS BEEN CHECKED TO MEET THE INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION.ALSO,ALL HEALTH PAPERS ARE AVAILABLE AND THE PUPPY HAS BEEN CONFIRM AND ACCEPTED TO LEAVE MAINE TO TEXAS

GENERAL HEALTH WARRANTY

YOUR PET IS GUARANTEED TO BE HEALTHY, THAT IS TO SAY THERE ARE NO HEALTH PROBLEMS . HOWEVER FOR THIS WARRANTY TO BE EFFECTIVE, YOU MUST:

(1) TAKE YOUR PET TO A LICENSED VETERINARIAN PROMPTLY AND (2) NOTIFY US WITHIN FORTY EIGHT (48) HOURS FROM THE TIME OF SHIPMENT OF ANY MAJOR PROBLEM. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES HOWEVER WILL I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURRED BY YOU.

THE FLIGHT HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED PAID .THE PUPPY WENT IN FOR CHECK UP AT THE PET BAGGAGE DEPARTMENT AND WE JUST DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING...

1:THE INSURANCE PAPERS FOR THE PUPPY HAS TO BE PAID BEFORE SHIPPING.WE REQUIRE THE INSURANCE COST FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PET ON THE FLIGHT IN CASE OF ANY PROBLEM AS THE PUPPY WILL BE TAKING A TRANSIT FLIGHT AT VARIOUS TERMINALS.THE INSURANCE COST IS REFUNDED WHEN YOU WILL BE PICKING UP THE PUPPY AT YOUR RECEIVING AIRPORT OR AT YOUR DOOR.THE INSURANCE IS VALID AFTER 12 HOURS FROM THE TIME THE PUPPY HAS BE DELIVERED.THE INSURANCE COST IS REFUNDED UPON PRESENTATION OF A VALID IDENTIFICATION PAPER OR A DRIVING LICENSE AT YOUR DOORSTEPS BY THE RECEIVER OF THE PUPPY.WE JUST NEED THIS INSURANCE TO COVER THE PUPPY ON TRANSIT.

2:PETS CHECKED UP.ALL PETS AND ANIMALS ARE CHECKED UP AT THE PET BAGGAGE DEPARTMENT PRIOR FOR SHIPMENT.A VET DOCTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND IT IS DONE TO ENSURE THE PUPPY HAS MET UP WITH INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS ON ALL VET CERTIFICATES AND HEALTH PAPERS.

WE SEE YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN HER CRATE PAID.THATS GREAT!

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET HER INSURANCE PAPERS RENEWED AND GET THE VET INSPECTION FEES PAID AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS DONE,THE PUPPY WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOUR ADDRESS.

-RE-FUNDABLE INSURANCE.........$300.00
-BILLING FOR THE TEST BY VET.........$20.00
-TOTAL.....................................$320....00 OF WHICH $300.00 WILL BE REFUNDED TO YOU UPON DELIVERY OF THE PUPPY AT YOUR HOME.

N.B(1)
WE WOULD NOT GET THE PUPPY SHIPPED OVER TO YOU IF YOU DON'T GET HER INSURANCE AND VET FEES PAID FIRST.

N.B(2)
THE MONEY WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO PAY IS GOING TO BE REFUNDED BACK TO YOU UPON THE PUPPY'S DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME.THE MONEY YOU WOULD PAY IS GOING TO BE 100% REFUNDED BACK TO YOU ONCE YOU RECEIVE HER.SO NO NEED TO BE AFRAID YOU WOULD RECEIVE YOUR MONEY BACK.

ONCE YOU ARE READY TO GET THE $320 PAID LET US KNOW.

MANAGEMENT

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you have paid money to these people, sadly it's lost forever - do not send any more to them.

Related Posts:
Email scam using Embrace Pet Insurance as a lure - bah!
Follow up on Online Scam using Pet Insurance - what you can do if you have been duped :(

10 Things You Can Do To Have The Best Pet Insurance Experience Ever

Now that you have bought your Embrace pet insurance policy, here are 10 activities you can do to make your pet insurance experience a productive and . 

1. Memorize the Embrace phone number on your cell phone
   800-511-9172 You never know when you'll want to call in with questions
2. Print out 2 copies of your personalized Claim Form
   Put one in your car's glove compartment and take one to your veterinary clinic and ask them to put it in your file. That way, it's one less thing to think about during a health issue.
3. Print out your Orthopedic Waiver Form
   Coming soon to an Embrace policy near you - a form to record the veterinary exam that can reduce the 6 month waiting period for orthopedic issues down to 14 days. Currently, we have a 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues and your vet can examine your pet and write a note saying there are no issues with your pet's knees - there's no form needed for that.
4. Read your terms and conditions!
   I know, this is so obvious, why should I even mention it but my experience is that only 1 in 10 pet parents actually read their policies. At the very least, check your information is correct and your policy is what you asked for. Then read the rest of the policy; understanding of your terms and conditions will make for a much better pet insurance experience. 
5. Call us with your questions
   Here's the number again 800 -511-9172 (of course, it's already on your cell phone, right?) Now that you've read your policy, you probably have questions. What better time to call than now to get those questions answered. You really don't want to be getting the answers from the lobby of your local emergency vet clinic.
6. Have your Embraced pet checked up by your veterinarian.
   Not only is it a good idea, particularly if you don't have much health history for your pet (makes your first claim go faster if you have something to fax in), but you can get the Orthopedic/Cruciate Waiver check out of the way. And you can get them to do task number 8 below. Woohoo!
7. Tell your veterinarian you've Embraced your pet
   Let your vet know you have Embrace pet insurance and that it covers hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, and pays based on their vet bills, not on a benefit schedule. She or he might be surprised that such a thing exists! 
8. Fax in your pet's health history
   800-238-1042 (it's on your claim form too - the one you are going to put in your pet's file, right?) This will make your first claim go faster. Specifically, ask your vet to fax us your doctor's hand written notes for every vet visit you pet has made, including routine visits and for every vet including one-off visits to other clinics. If your pet is older than 2 years old, start with the last 2 year's worth of history.  
9. Maximize your discounts
   We offer discounts for spayed/neutered pets (5%) and microchipped pets (another 5%) so if your pet wasn't spayed or neutered and/or microchipped when you signed up for your insurance but that changes, phone in (remember the number?) and let us know - you'll need the microchip number for that discount. We'll drop your premium immediately.
10. Set up your own pet health savings account
    Your Embrace pet insurance policy has a deductible and copay component to your policy. So to be financially prudent, you might want to set up a small fund to cover your annual deductible and copay. For example, if your annual deductible is $200 and your copay is 20%, you will be paying the first $200 of a claim and then 20% of the total thereafter. On a $500 claim, that's $260 out of pocket and on a $1,500 claim (about what an inexpensive cruciate repair costs), that's $460.
11. And bonus points - send us photos of you and your Embraced pets. We love the cute and fuzzies and you might see them on this blog one day!

For the experienced Embraced pet parent, any other suggestions come to mind?

Gratuitous Embrace articles and a Free Webinar

First, a couple of gratuitous mentions of articles highlighting Embrace, the first being "In the Doghouse", an article on the Lloyd's of London website covering heriditary conditions in purebred dogs. With the recent controversial stance by the BBC not to show Crufts, the 118-year old dog show (equivalent to the Westminster Dog Show here in the US), the article talks about different costs for different breeds with a few quotes from me.

The second is an interview I did with Dr. Janet Tobiassen over at the About.com Veterinary Medicine site talking about Embrace and our pet insurance product. Check it out - I'm sure you'll learn something about Embrace you didn't know before.

And finally, join me for a free webinar I'm presenting on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT. It's a business blogging case study based on Embrace Pet Insurance and is kindly being hosted by Worksmart Emarketing, based here in Cleveland. Do come and join in the fun.