At-Bay vs USI Insurance Services: How Do They Compare for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

CPA firms get a dedicated route with USI Insurance Services, the endorsed producer of the AICPA program underwritten by CNA. At-Bay provides primary miscellaneous professional liability for all revenue sizes up to $5 million, subject to state and eligibility rules.

At-Bay serves businesses of all revenue sizes with MPL limits up to $5 million; USI's AICPA program is limited to CPA firms and adds risk-management resources. ^1,⁵

What Are the Key Differences Between At-Bay and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Who Actually Carries the Risk

USI is specific about who's on the paper for its main CPA program:

USI's own page states that the AICPA Professional Liability Program is "underwritten by CNA," naming the carrier for that specific program. USI's general Business Services E&O placements do not name an insurer. ⁵Company-reported. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.

At-Bay is not, at least not on its current MPL page. It does not name the insurer that would issue a new policy, and a 2023 press release referenced a different At-Bay entity for an unrelated coverage transition. ¹ ³

For a buyer, that's the difference between knowing the carrier before you apply and having to ask. ¹ ⁵

One Profession's Program Versus a Broad Appetite

USI built the AICPA program specifically for sole practitioners and regional CPA firms, distinct from its general Business Services practice that brokers E&O for other business types. ⁵

At-Bay describes its own audience more broadly: businesses of all revenue sizes, without naming CPA firms or any single profession as its focus. ¹

If you're not a CPA firm, USI's named program simply doesn't apply to you the way it would to an accounting practice. ⁵

What You Get Beyond the Policy Itself

USI says AICPA program members also get supportive claims handling and risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates. ⁵

At-Bay's page instead names mechanics built into the policy itself, like an 80/20 hammer clause and disciplinary-proceedings defense, without describing comparable risk-management extras. ¹

What Should You Confirm in At-Bay and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?

If you're a CPA firm, confirm CNA is still the underwriter on the AICPA program's current declarations. ⁵
Ask At-Bay directly which insurer would issue your MPL policy. ¹
Ask USI whether your business qualifies for the AICPA program or falls under its general Business Services E&O practice instead. ⁵
Ask At-Bay for its published $5 million limit ceiling and any state restrictions that apply to your business. ¹
Ask USI for specific limit, retention, or premium figures, since the AICPA program page does not publish them. ⁵

At-Bay vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Compared

At-Bay vs USI Insurance Services: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	At-Bay Miscellaneous Professional Liability (MPL) Insurance	AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity)
Who It’s For	At-Bay says it provides primary MPL for businesses of all revenue sizes with limits up to $5 million, subject to state restrictions and eligibility requirements detailed in a separate MPL appetite guide. ¹Company-reported. Current MPL appetite paragraph; the linked appetite guide's specific eligibility requirements were not independently opened for this record.	USI markets the AICPA program to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. It has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. ⁵Company-reported. Program page description.
How to Apply	At-Bay directs MPL submissions to underwriting by email or through automatic quotes on its Broker Platform, which At-Bay describes as a workflow of creating a quote, customizing limits and retentions, and binding the policy. ^1,⁴Company-reported. Current submission instructions and the general broker-platform workflow description; MPL-specific automation details were not separately confirmed.	USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. ⁵Company-reported. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page.
Coverage Features	At-Bay lists MPL coverage highlights including automatic coverage for acquired subsidiaries, claims-made-and-reported coverage, coverage for independent contractors, disciplinary-proceedings defense, a duty-to-defend contract, personal-injury coverage (including emotional distress), punitive damages where insurable, a professional-services definition written for each insured, and an 80/20 hammer clause. ¹Company-reported. Product-page coverage-highlights list; an 80/20 hammer clause is a settlement provision where the insurer pays 80% and the insured pays 20% of costs after the insured declines a recommended settlement. The issued policy and declarations control actual wording, limits and exclusions.	USI describes the policy as insuring a CPA and their practice against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm, providing a defense and paying damages for covered claims arising from high-risk situations tied to new clients, changing business plans, or new laws and regulations. ⁵Company-reported. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form.
Role in This Line	At-Bay markets MPL as one of its own named insurance products, sold through its disclosed producer, At-Bay Insurance Services LLC, with the product page directed at "properly licensed insurance professionals" submitting business rather than at direct retail buyers. ^1,²Company-reported. Current MPL product page and license disclosures; this describes the distribution channel, not who bears the underwriting risk.	For CPA firms, USI runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program through its USI Affinity division as the endorsed producer, rather than underwriting the policy itself. USI's general Business Services practice separately brokers errors and omissions/professional liability coverage for other business types. ^5,⁷Company-reported. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page.