Chubb vs 
Harper: How Do They Compare for Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Chubb underwrites directly for small businesses, paired with its BOP; Harper is a broker that classifies your payroll into job codes before binding and shops the application.
Chubb covers businesses from one employee up to $30 million in revenue and contacts a claims adjuster within 24 hours; Harper checks job classes before binding. 1,2,3
What Are the Key Differences Between Chubb and Harper Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Who Issues the Policy
Chubb underwrites its small-business workers' compensation policy directly, covering businesses from one employee up to $30 million in revenue across a wide range of classes, including technology. 1
Harper places workers' compensation coverage as a broker, pricing it off a client's actual payroll and job categories rather than underwriting the policy itself. 3Company-reported. Workers compensation page introduction and 'Why Harper' section.
A Harper quote is shopped to whichever insurers in its market write the client's specific job classes, so the issuing carrier is not fixed the way it is with a direct Chubb policy. 3
Choose Chubb if direct claims support is your priority; choose Harper if payroll classification needs review before purchase. 1
Claims Handling Versus Pre-Bind Classification
Chubb's role as underwriter extends into claims service: it commits to adjuster contact within 24 hours of a lost-time claim assignment, assigns internal nurse case managers and a return-to-work program, and re-prices medical bills against each state's fee schedule. 1
Harper's documented service sits earlier in the process, before a claim exists: it classifies a client's payroll into the correct job and class codes before binding, since a wrong classification is a common cause of a large bill at the policy audit. 3
Setting Eligibility and Pricing
Chubb publishes an explicit eligibility range for this product, but its page does not disclose specific dollar limits for medical expense or employer liability coverage beyond describing the employer liability limits as "various." 1
Harper does not publish rates or limits either, saying instead that payroll, job categories and claims history set the price under each state's rating rules, and that it will confirm the coverage requirement for a given state and headcount. 3
What Should You Confirm in Chubb and Harper Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes?
- Ask Chubb for the specific employer liability limit on the quote, since the reviewed page describes it only as "various." 1
- Ask Harper which insurer it is proposing and confirm that insurer writes the business's job classes. 3
- Get the job and class codes Harper used for rating before binding, since a misclassification can surface as a large bill at audit. 3
Chubb vs Harper Workers’ Compensation Insurance Compared
Chubb vs Harper: Workers’ Compensation Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Chubb Small Business Workers' Compensation Insurance | Harper Workers Compensation Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Who It’s For | Chubb says this policy covers small businesses with as little as one employee up to $30 million in revenue, across a wide range of classes including technology. 1,2Company-reported. Coverage-highlights list on the small-business workers' compensation page. | Harper says coverage is legally required in most states from a business's first employee, and that it will confirm the exact requirement for a given state and headcount. 3Company-reported. Workers compensation page introduction and FAQ 'When am I required to carry it?'. |
| How to Apply | You can request a quote online, or an appointed independent agent or broker can apply for a Chubb Appointment to place the policy. 1Company-reported. Small-business workers' compensation page quote call-to-action for business owners and for agents and brokers. | You request a quote through Harper's online form or by phone; Harper says the application is shopped to the insurers that write the business's job classes. 3Company-reported. Workers compensation page quote form and 'Why Harper' process steps. |
| Coverage Features | Chubb lists coverage for medical expenses and lost wages, a waiver of subrogation option, various employer liability limits, and occasional international travel coverage available through a foreign package policy. 1Company-reported. Coverage-highlights list; specific options depend on the issued policy. | Harper describes the coverage as paying medical costs and lost wages for employees injured on the job, funding rehabilitation, and including employer's liability for related lawsuits that fall outside the workers' comp system. 3Company-reported. Workers compensation page's four coverage tiles; the issued policy and state comp statute control actual scope. |
| Role in This Line | Chubb underwrites workers' compensation insurance directly for small businesses, crafted to pair with a Chubb BOP for combined policy and claims service. 1Company-reported. Workers' Compensation for Small Business product page. | Harper places workers' compensation coverage as a broker, pricing it off a client's actual payroll and job categories rather than underwriting the policy itself. 3Company-reported. Workers compensation page introduction and 'Why Harper' section. |
| Risk Services | Chubb describes internal nurse case managers, a return-to-work program, pharmacy benefit management, preferred-provider network access, and a Special Investigative Unit for suspected fraud as part of its workers' compensation claims service. 1Company-reported. Exceptional Service section of the small-business workers' compensation page; company-described service program. | Harper says it classifies a client's payroll into the correct job/class codes before binding, since insurers price workers' comp by class code and a wrong classification is a common cause of a large bill at audit. 3Company-reported. Workers compensation page 'We know this' section and FAQ 'What will the audit look like?'; a described placement practice, not an independently verified outcome. |
