Chubb vs 
Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Chubb writes ForeFront EPL through agents; Cowbell’s Zurich Select Plus EPL module is available only via E&S wholesalers under 250 employees.
What Is Chubb?
Chubb is the marketing name for a global insurance group whose U.S. companies underwrite commercial property, casualty, cyber and financial-lines coverage, including technology-focused DigiTech ERM and small-business packages. Founders and finance teams typically work through an appointed agent, then receive a policy issued by a named Chubb-group insurer rather than by the Swiss holding company. 1,2,3
What Is Cowbell Insurance?
Cowbell is a specialty-insurance platform and agency focused on cyber risk for small and midsize businesses. Its U.S. catalogue also includes combined Technology E&O and cyber products and a Zurich management-liability offering distributed through appointed wholesalers. 6,7,8
What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. 10
Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Retail Agent Path Versus Wholesaler API
Chubb places ForeFront EPL through an appointed agent or broker. Cowbell’s EPL module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through Cowbell’s API and is not sold directly to businesses. Cowbell operates the platform; Zurich underwrites. 5 9 8
Issuing Companies
Chubb’s sheet names Federal Insurance Company and U.S. Chubb affiliates. Cowbell and Zurich say Select Plus modules, including EPL, are written on Zurich admitted paper; Zurich’s footer names Zurich American Insurance Company in its copyright notice without stating that entity is the specific EPL issuer. 4 9 8
Size Bands
Chubb aims ForeFront EPL at private companies, not-for-profits and healthcare organizations without a published 250-employee cap on the reviewed sheet. Cowbell targets the EPL module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets, in industries such as retail, hospitality and manufacturing. A larger private company that can still buy ForeFront may sit outside Cowbell’s stated band. 4 9
Coverage Notes and Limits
Chubb describes independent-contractor claimants, early-engagement expense, duty-to-defend optionality and ChubbWorks. Zurich names the module Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability; Cowbell describes discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment and other employment-related issues and says EPL claims are the most common management-liability claim type. Neither Chubb’s sheet nor the Cowbell or Zurich Select Plus pages publish EPL limit or retention amounts. 4 9 8
What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes
- Ask whether your size fits Cowbell’s sub-250-employee, sub-$50 million target versus a Chubb ForeFront submission through an agent. 9 5
- Get the issuing company: Federal Insurance Company versus Zurich admitted paper. 4 8
- Confirm third-party discrimination and independent-contractor claimants on both modules. 4 8
- Obtain dollar limits; neither public page prints them. 4 9
Offering Details
Chubb vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Chubb ForeFront Portfolio Employment Practices Liability Insurance | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Chubb underwrites Employment Practices Liability (EPL) insurance as one of seven coverage parts within its ForeFront Portfolio, providing coverage aimed at private companies, not-for-profit organizations and healthcare organizations. 4Company-reported. ForeFront Portfolio EPL product sheet. | Employment practices liability (EPL) is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites. Zurich's own page names this module 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability,' broader than the plain 'EPL' shorthand Cowbell's FAQ uses. 9,8Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section. |
| Issuing Insurer | Chubb's EPL product sheet states that insurance is provided by Federal Insurance Company and its U.S.-based Chubb underwriting company affiliates. 4Company-reported. Product sheet insurer-disclosure footer; product and jurisdiction can still change which Chubb affiliate issues a given policy. | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including EPL, are written on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this EPL module. 9,8Company-reported. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer. |
| Who It’s For | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Cowbell targets this EPL module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across industries such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. 9Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list. |
| Coverage Features | Chubb says the policy covers EPL claims brought by past, present and prospective employees and independent contractors, uses a broad definition of "Employment Practices Wrongful Act," and includes early-engagement expense coverage for pre-matter and pre-tender expenses or early-settlement opportunity costs. 4Company-reported. Coverage Highlights list; subject to the policy as issued. Chubb says the EPL form builds in defense-provision optionality, including a Duty to Defend by Chubb option, and coverage for a written request to toll or waive a statute of limitations. 4Company-reported. Coverage Highlights list. | Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. 9Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'. Cowbell says EPL claims are the most common type of management liability claim overall, most frequently alleging discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, or retaliation for a legally protected activity such as filing a complaint or whistleblowing. 9Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'. |
| Limits and Retentions | The reviewed product sheet illustrates claim scenarios (settlements ranging from under $1 million to $350,000, with defense costs shown separately) but does not publish specific policy limits or retentions. 4Not found in reviewed sources. Claims Scenarios section; illustrative examples, not policy terms. | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes EPL limit or retention amounts. 9,8Not publicly disclosed. Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23. |
| Risk Services | Chubb says EPL policyholders get access to ChubbWorks, a free online resource with loss-prevention tools for employment and employee issues, and integrated global coverage capabilities through Chubb's affiliated broker network for locally admitted policies where permissible. 4Company-reported. Coverage Highlights list; company-described service program. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | Employment Practices Liability coverage is placed as part of the ForeFront Portfolio through an appointed agent or broker. 5Company-reported. ForeFront Portfolio hub page describes Marketplace quoting for the portfolio generally. | This EPL module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. 9Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'. |
Full Comparison
More Chubb vs Cowbell Comparisons
Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Chubb
- Insurance For Technology Companies. Chubb; Industry overview; Who we serve; Products and services: commercial package insurance (BOP, Benchmarq, Customarq), E&O/Cyber, Financial Lines, workers’ compensation, auto and umbrella; dedicated underwriting, claims and risk engineering. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Terms Of Use. Chubb; Acceptance of Terms identifying Chubb Group Holdings Inc.; surplus-lines producer restriction; products not available to all users or jurisdictions; Chubb Limited safe-harbor language; Internet Portals for Chubb Business. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products. Chubb; Cyber insurance product catalog: Cyber ERM, DigiTech ERM (technology E&O, media and cyber) and Pro ERM (non-licensed professional services); Marketplace quoting for eligible risks under $100 million revenue; first- and third-party coverage summaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- The ForeFront Portfolio — Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Chubb; Employment Practices Liability Coverage Highlights; Misconception/Reality section; insurer disclosure line naming Federal Insurance Company. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- The ForeFront Portfolio. Chubb; Available Coverages: Employment Practices Liability Insurance listed among the ForeFront Portfolio's seven coverage parts. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Cowbell
- Cowbell. Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Prime Tech Product Overview. Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus. Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' and 'What is the most common management liability claim?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises. Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (EPL definition); FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?' (EPL claim types); Target industries list. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
