Gallagher vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance

The Hartford underwrites directly and publishes an average monthly price; Gallagher brokers the line without naming an insurer or a price.

What Is Gallagher?

Gallagher is a business-insurance broker and risk-management consultancy. Its technology practice serves startups through global enterprises, alongside a separate small-business offering for IT professionals and an executive-risk practice covering D&O and transaction-related coverages. Woodruff Sawyer is now part of Gallagher. 1,2,3,4,5

Read the Gallagher profile

What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford is the brand of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., whose subsidiaries underwrite property-and-casualty insurance and employee benefits. Small-business buyers can start online or by phone or work through independent agents, while the issuing company and state eligibility still have to be confirmed on a quote. 7,8,9

Read the The Hartford profile

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance addresses medical care, rehabilitation and lost wages for employees’ work-related injuries or illnesses. Not every worker, contractor or owner is automatically covered, and not every injury qualifies — check who's included and what's compensable under your state's rules. 11,12,13

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Underwriter Versus Broker

The Hartford is the underwriter for the policies described on its own workers' compensation page. Gallagher arranges workers' compensation coverage with partner carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself, and its page does not name which insurer would issue a given policy. 10 6

Published Pricing

The Hartford says customers with less than $300,000 in payroll pay an average of $81 a month, with some policies starting as low as $13 a month; the page does not publish standard coverage limits, since state law and payroll drive required benefit levels. 10Company-reported. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23; not a specific quote.

Gallagher's page discloses no comparable pricing; it lists coverage benefits and eligibility notes instead of a dollar figure. 6

Named Medical Services

The Hartford lists specific services tied to its own policy: a Preferred Medical Provider Network of over 1 million providers, a prescription drug program, and a Nursed Back to Health Program with nurse case managers. Gallagher's page does not describe comparable named medical services; it lists claim causes it tracks instead, such as overexertion and being struck by objects. 10 6

What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes

  • Ask The Hartford whether the $81-a-month average reflects the buyer's specific payroll and class code, since it is a company-reported average. 10
  • Ask Gallagher for a payroll-based price estimate, since its page publishes no figures. 6
  • If the business is in a monopolistic state, confirm with The Hartford whether it can even write the policy there. 10
  • Ask whether the medical provider network and Rx program The Hartford describes are included at no extra cost or priced into the premium. 10

Offering Details

Gallagher vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaGallagher Small Business Workers' Compensation InsuranceThe Hartford Workers' Compensation Insurance
Role in This Line

Gallagher Small Business arranges workers' compensation coverage with partner carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. 6Company-reported. Gallagher Small Business's direct-to-small-business workers' compensation product page.

The Hartford's workers' compensation insurance gives employees medical, wage and other benefits after a work-related injury or illness; most states require this coverage if a business has employees. 10Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

Issuing Insurer

The workers' compensation product page does not name the insurer that would issue a given business's policy. 6Not publicly disclosed. Checked the workers' compensation product page on 2026-09-23.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Who It’s For

Gallagher says workers' compensation is typically mandated by state law based on employee count, which varies by state, and notes that Texas allows employers to opt out, though an employer can still be sued if an employee is hurt. It says any business with employees most likely needs a policy. 6Company-reported. Product page eligibility and market-trends sections; actual state requirements should be confirmed for the buyer's location.

The Hartford says coverage requirements vary by state, and in some states (monopolistic states) workers' compensation can only be bought through a state-run fund, not from a private insurer like The Hartford. Common industries it names include gyms, manufacturing, medical offices, restaurants and retailers. 10Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

Coverage Features

Gallagher describes workers' compensation as covering medical costs and lost wages from a workplace injury or illness, costs to retrain a returning injured employee, related legal fees, and wages for a temporary replacement worker. 6Company-reported. Product page coverage overview; the issued policy and its exclusions control.

Gallagher lists overexertion, slips/trips/falls, electrocution, being struck by or against objects, transportation incidents, machinery accidents, unintentional overdoses, workplace violence, and exposure to harmful substances as the top workers' compensation claim causes it tracks. 6Company-reported. Product page "Top 10 workers' compensation claims" list; a general industry pattern, not specific to any one policyholder.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Limits and Retentions

The workers' compensation product page does not publish premium ranges; statutory benefit levels are set by state law rather than the policy's published limits. 6Not publicly disclosed. Checked the workers' compensation product page on 2026-09-23.

The Hartford says customers with less than $300,000 in payroll pay an average of $81 a month, with some policies starting as low as $13 a month; the page does not publish standard coverage limits, since state law and payroll drive required benefit levels. 10Company-reported. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23; not a specific quote.

Risk Services

Not described in the reviewed sources.

The Hartford says policyholders get access to a Preferred Medical Provider Network of over 1 million providers, a prescription drug program covering more than 65,000 U.S. pharmacies (usually no out-of-pocket cost, plus mail order), a Needle Stick Reimbursement Program, and a Nursed Back to Health Program with nurse case managers coordinating care. 10Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

The Hartford offers pay-as-you-go billing based on actual payroll rather than an estimate, and a My Workers' Comp Connection portal where injured employees can check claim status, review payments, sign up for direct deposit, and get a medical services card. 10Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

How to Apply

Gallagher offers an online quote form, a small business advisor phone line (1.833.292.9441, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., continental U.S.), and a scheduled callback request to start a workers' compensation quote. 6Company-reported. Product page "Get Covered Now" section.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Full Comparison

More Gallagher vs The Hartford Comparisons

Other Workers’ Compensation Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Gallagher

  1. Technology Insurance. Gallagher; Introduction; Solutions and coverages for the technology industry: Technology errors and omissions including cyber, Intellectual property insurance, Product liability, Employee benefits; Data-driven insights; global network. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses. Gallagher Small Business; Protection for IT Professionals & Their Technology-Based Businesses; recommended coverage menu, including Surety Bond Programs; Connect With An Advisor. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Executive and Financial Risk Insurance. Gallagher; Opening (insurance broking and placement); three key services; Directors and Officers; IPO and direct listings; Employment Practices; Fiduciary; Employee Dishonesty (Crime) and Fidelity Bond; Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion; M&A Transactional Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Legal Information. Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  5. Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher. Gallagher; Opening; Executive and Financial Risk consulting; Continued access to client portals; contact form. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  6. Workers' Compensation Insurance. Gallagher Small Business; Workers' Comp Insurance Overview; Do you need a Workers' Compensation insurance policy; Benefits of Workers' Compensation Insurance; Workers' Comp market trends; Top 10 workers' compensation claims; Get Covered Now. Accessed 2026-09-23.

The Hartford

  1. SaaS Insurance for Your Business. The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Find a Local Insurance Agent. The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans. The Hartford; What Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?; How Much Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?; Who Needs Workers' Compensation Insurance?; The Advantages of Workers' Comp From The Hartford; Benefits of The Hartford's WC Insurance; Workers' Compensation Insurance in Monopolistic States. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guide

  1. Workers’ Compensation Insurance. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Opening definition; mandatory coverage except Texas opt-in; exclusive remedy; monopolistic state funds; self-insurance note. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Small Business Insurance. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Typically covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages; check with your state insurance department; ask these questions / who qualifies as a covered employee (contractors, part-time staff, interns); payroll and type-of-work rating factors. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. DWC employer information. California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation; Opening trade-off and California requirement; basic benefits including medical care, temporary and permanent disability, supplemental job displacement, return-to-work supplement and death benefits; out-of-state employer note. 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.

Let Spot Handle the Insurance Legwork.

Get help buying coverage and managing renewals, with less paperwork for your team. Start with a free consultation.

Talk to Spot