Chubb vs 
Cowbell: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
Chubb underwrites EPL with a Duty to Defend option and early-engagement expense coverage; Cowbell's EPL is a Zurich-underwritten module for private companies under 250 employees, reached only through Zurich-appointed wholesalers.
Chubb sells ForeFront EPL through your regular agent or broker, with no published headcount cap; Cowbell’s EPL module, underwritten by Zurich, is only for private firms under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, reached through wholesale brokers. Chubb also covers claims by independent contractors and adds its ChubbWorks HR resource. 1,3,4
What Are the Key Differences Between Chubb and Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
Any Agent vs Wholesale Brokers Only
You can get Chubb’s ForeFront EPL through any appointed agent or broker. Cowbell’s EPL module is only reachable by appointed Zurich wholesale brokers through Cowbell’s platform, so your retail agent has to go through one of them; Cowbell runs the platform and Zurich underwrites. Choose Chubb if you are a nonprofit, healthcare organization or private company over 250 employees; choose Cowbell if you are a small private retailer, hospitality business or manufacturer whose broker already uses Zurich’s wholesale channel. 2 3 4
No Published Size Cap vs Under 250 Employees
Chubb aims ForeFront EPL at private companies, nonprofits and healthcare organizations and publishes no headcount cap. Cowbell targets private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets. Once you pass either Cowbell threshold, Chubb is the one still open to you. 1 3
Contractor Claims and HR Help vs Third-Party Discrimination
Chubb covers claims by independent contractors, pays some early-engagement costs, lets you choose whether the insurer defends you, and gives policyholders ChubbWorks, an online employment-risk resource. Zurich names Cowbell’s module Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability, so claims by customers are built into the title. Neither publishes limits or retentions. 1 3 4
What Should You Confirm in Chubb and Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes?
- Ask whether your headcount and assets fit Cowbell’s under-250, under-$50 million target before starting a submission. 3 2
- Ask which company issues the policy: Chubb names Federal Insurance Company; Cowbell’s module is on Zurich’s state-regulated policy form. 1 4
- Ask both whether third-party discrimination and independent-contractor claims are covered on your quote. 1 4
- Get dollar limits and retentions; neither page prints them. 1 3
Chubb vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance Compared
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 |
|---|---|---|
| How to Apply | Employment Practices Liability coverage is placed as part of the ForeFront Portfolio through an appointed agent or broker. 2Company-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. 3Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'. |
| 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. 1Company-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. 1Company-reported. Coverage Highlights list. | Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. 3Company-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. 3Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'. |
| 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. 1Company-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. 3,4Company-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. 1Company-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. 3,4Company-reported. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer. |
