Embroker vs Hiscox Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

Hiscox names its underwriting insurer for professional liability; Embroker's page instead documents deductible mechanics without naming a carrier.

What Is Embroker?

Embroker is a business insurance broker and online platform serving startups, technology companies and professional-services firms, with proprietary programs and broker-assisted placements. 1,2,3

Read the Embroker profile

What Is Hiscox?

Hiscox is a U.S. small-business insurance brand whose website is operated by Hiscox Inc., a Delaware producer that does business in California as Hiscox Insurance Agency. Eligible firms can quote general liability, professional liability, cyber and a business owner’s policy online; other advertised lines are often placed with partner insurers, so the issuing company on each quote still has to be checked. 5,6,7

Read the Hiscox profile

What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?

Professional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, also called professional liability insurance, addresses claims that professional services or advice caused a client financial loss. What's covered depends on the services actually scheduled in the policy, not the product label alone. 11,12,13,14

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

Whether the Insurer Is Named

Embroker's professional liability page describes coverage, exclusions and deductible options, but its reviewed page does not name the underwriting carrier. 4 Hiscox's own materials go further, naming a specific underwriter:

Hiscox's appetite guide and About Hiscox US page name Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (NAIC 10200) as the underwriter of admitted Hiscox NOW professional-liability policies. 10,7Company-reported. Admitted small-business professional liability as described in company materials; the exact contracting entity for a particular state or channel should be confirmed on the quote.

Policy Structure Each Page Documents

Hiscox describes its policy as claims-made, meaning a claim is covered only if made while the policy is active, and says the product is licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska. 9 8 Embroker's page doesn't specify a claims-made or occurrence structure, but instead documents deductible mechanics Hiscox's page doesn't address: a higher deductible generally lowers the premium, and buyers can choose an aggregate deductible or a first-dollar-defense option. 4

Buying and Getting Help

Hiscox describes an online quote-and-buy flow with licensed advisors reachable by phone during posted hours, plus a separate 24/7 claims line for customers. 8 9 Embroker instead describes an online quote through its own digital platform that weighs business size, industry risk, location and claims history, without describing a comparable phone-advisor or claims-line option. 4

What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes

  • Ask Embroker directly which carrier would issue your policy, since its product page doesn't name one. 4
  • Confirm your state is one where Hiscox sells professional liability online before assuming the direct-quote flow applies to you. 8
  • Get the specific limit and retention from each; neither publishes figures on its public pages. 4 8
  • Ask whether your Embroker deductible is aggregate or first-dollar-defense, and compare that against Hiscox's claims-made retroactive-date terms. 4

Offering Details

Embroker vs Hiscox Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaEmbroker Professional Liability InsuranceHiscox Professional Liability Insurance
Role in This Line

Embroker sells professional liability, also called errors and omissions insurance, as a standalone product for professional-services businesses, separate from its lawyers professional liability program and its bundled technology E&O/cyber product. 4Company-reported. Product-page description; not a statement about the issuing insurer.

Hiscox Inc., a licensed insurance intermediary, sells professional liability (errors and omissions) coverage directly online to small businesses as part of its Hiscox NOW admitted small-business catalogue. 7,8Company-reported. Company-stated online small-business channel.

Issuing Insurer

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Hiscox's appetite guide and About Hiscox US page name Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (NAIC 10200) as the underwriter of admitted Hiscox NOW professional-liability policies. 10,7Company-reported. Admitted small-business professional liability as described in company materials; the exact contracting entity for a particular state or channel should be confirmed on the quote.

Who It’s For

Embroker markets the policy to anyone who provides professional advice or services for a fee, listing accountants, bookkeepers, consultants, real estate agents, home inspectors, and IT and healthcare professionals as example buyers, while noting lawyers and doctors typically use specialized malpractice coverage instead. 4Company-reported. Product-page eligibility and industry-example sections; not a guarantee of coverage for a particular business.

Hiscox says professional liability is licensed for sale in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska, and that if it does not sell the product online in a buyer's state, a specialist broker may be able to help instead. 8,10Company-reported. Company-stated jurisdiction for the online small-business catalogue; the appetite guide's technology classes (IT consultants, software development) illustrate typical buyers but do not guarantee acceptance for any one applicant.

Coverage Features

Embroker lists coverage for claims of errors, omissions or negligence, failing to meet expected standards or deadlines, false or misleading statements, breach of contractual obligations, and attorney fees from covered claims. 4Company-reported. Product-page What's covered section; the issued policy and declarations control.

Embroker says the policy does not cover personal injury or property damage (handled by general liability), cyberattacks and data breaches (some tech E&O policies offer limited cyber coverage, but full protection needs a separate cyber policy), employee injuries, or employee discrimination claims (handled by EPLI). 4Company-reported. Product-page What's not included and 'Do I need Professional Liability insurance if I already have General Liability coverage?' sections.

Hiscox describes professional liability as a claims-made policy, meaning a claim is covered only if it is made (and typically reported) while the policy is active, rather than an occurrence policy covering incidents regardless of when the claim surfaces. 9Company-reported. Product FAQ description; exact triggers, retroactive dates, exclusions and wording are set by the issued policy.

Limits and Retentions

Embroker says the policy carries a deductible, that a higher deductible generally lowers the premium, and that buyers can choose an aggregate (once-annually capped) deductible or a first-dollar-defense option that applies the deductible only to damages, not legal costs. 4Company-reported. Product-page 'Does it have a deductible?' section; specific dollar limits and deductible amounts are not published and depend on underwriting.

The professional-liability pages reviewed do not publish standard limit, retention or deductible amounts; specific figures are shown only on a quote. 8,9Not publicly disclosed. Public product and FAQ pages as previously reviewed.

How to Apply

Embroker offers an online quote for professional liability through its digital platform, describing underwriting factors including business size, industry risk, location and claims history. 4Company-reported. Product-page 'Quick quotes' feature and cost-factor list; no quote was requested during this research.

Hiscox says eligible buyers can quote and buy professional liability online, with licensed advisors available by phone during posted hours for questions during the process. 8Company-reported. Company-described online application; eligibility and binding conditions require confirmation on the actual application.

Claims Support

Not described in the reviewed sources.

A professional-liability FAQ tells current customers that the claims phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, separate from the general claims-center hours listed elsewhere on the Hiscox site. 9Company-reported. Company-described claims-reporting availability for this product's FAQ; does not establish claim outcomes or turnaround time.

Full Comparison

More Embroker vs Hiscox Comparisons

Other Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Embroker

  1. Embroker. Embroker; Industry navigation; quote and sign-in links; coverage options; footer availability qualification. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  2. Terms And Conditions. Embroker; Introduction; §§2A–B Insurance services, 13 Applications and quotes, 15 Insurance companies and underwriting guidelines, 16 Certificates, 21 Surplus lines products, 22 Payments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  3. Embroker Access. Embroker; EMIS announcement; appointed-broker quoting, binding and issuance; product links; footer identifies Embroker Insurance Services, LLC. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  4. Professional Liability Insurance Coverage & Quotes. Embroker; Why it's essential; Who needs this coverage; What is Professional Liability insurance?; What's covered; What's not included; Do I need Professional Liability insurance if I already have General Liability coverage?; Does it have a deductible? Accessed 2026-09-23.

Hiscox

  1. Website Terms & Conditions of Use. Hiscox; Last modified May 28, 2024; Hiscox Inc. as Delaware corporation headquartered in Atlanta, d/b/a Hiscox Insurance Agency in CA, licensed intermediary for admitted and surplus-lines business with Hiscox Insurance Company Inc., other domestic insurers, and Lloyd’s syndicates; small-business online path distinguished from broker-only site sections. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Get A Small Business Insurance Quote. Hiscox; States that Hiscox offers general liability, professional liability, cyber security and business owner’s policies online; zip-code quote field; licensed-agent hours Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10 p.m. ET and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Professional Liability Insurance for Small Businesses. Hiscox; Professional liability/E&O product; licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. (Alaska excluded); specialist-broker assistance if not licensed in a state; licensed-advisor hours. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  5. What is Professional Liability Insurance? Hiscox; Claims-made description; current-customer claim number described as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  6. Hiscox US Agent Appetite Guide. Hiscox; Hiscox NOW admitted GL, PL, cyber and BOP underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.; technology classes including IT consultants and software development. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide

  1. FAQ: Professional liability insurance. Texas Department of Insurance; What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Professional liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion). Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Get business insurance. U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance. Hiscox Inc. specimen; About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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