Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services: How Do They Compare for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

CPA firms have a dedicated route at USI Insurance Services, the endorsed producer of the CNA-underwritten AICPA program. Gallagher Small Business is the arranger for other small firms selling a specific professional service.

USI says the AICPA Professional Liability Program it runs for CPA firms is underwritten by CNA, while Gallagher's Errors and Omissions page arranges coverage with partner carriers it does not name. ^2,¹

What Are the Key Differences Between Gallagher and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

A Named Insurer for a Named Program

USI's AICPA program page discloses which carrier stands behind the policy, unlike most of the pages reviewed for this collection:

USI's own page states that the AICPA Professional Liability Program is "underwritten by CNA," naming the carrier for that specific program. USI's general Business Services E&O placements do not name an insurer. ²Company-reported. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.

Gallagher's page does not name an insurer for its E&O line; it describes arranging coverage with partner carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ¹

A CPA-Specific Program Versus a Broader Profession List

USI markets its named program specifically to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms, and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. ² Gallagher instead names a wider set of professions for its single E&O line: technology, insurance, accounting, tax, wealth management and legal services, plus doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, caregivers, counselors, social workers and engineers. ¹

Services Bundled With Coverage

USI says CPA firms enrolled in its program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates. ² Gallagher's page does not describe a comparable risk-management service; it lists covered scenarios such as negligence, personal injury and copyright infringement instead. ¹

What Should You Confirm in Gallagher and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?

Confirm whether the AICPA program or USI's general Business Services practice applies to you, since only the named program comes with a stated insurer. ²
Ask Gallagher to name the carrier it would actually place for your E&O policy. ¹
USI's AICPA page says coverage plans can be adjusted to a firm's risk profile but gives no limit or premium figures; request both directly. ²
Gallagher's reviewed page publishes no limit or premium figures for E&O either; request them directly. ¹

Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Compared

Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Gallagher Small Business Errors and Omissions Insurance	AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity)
Who It’s For	Gallagher recommends E&O for small businesses that provide a specific professional service, naming technology, insurance, accounting, tax, wealth management and legal services, and lists doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, caregivers, counselors, social workers and engineers as example professionals; it also notes that many client contracts require carrying E&O. ¹Company-reported. Product page eligibility and recommended-professions lists; actual acceptance depends on underwriting.	USI markets the AICPA program to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. It has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. ²Company-reported. Program page description.
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 an E&O quote. ¹Company-reported. Product page "Get Covered Now" section.	USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. ²Company-reported. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page.
Coverage Features	Gallagher describes E&O as protecting against client charges of negligence or injury tied to professional services, covering losses, attorney fees and court costs regardless of fault, and specifically responding to alleged or actual negligence, personal injury, copyright infringement, punitive damages, and claims against past work, temporary staff or independent contractors. ¹Company-reported. Product page coverage description; the issued policy and its exclusions control. Note this record excludes medical malpractice, which the page treats as a separate specialized coverage covered under its own line. Gallagher's small-business team says the E&O market has seen consistent rate increases that have started to moderate, driven by higher claim frequency, litigation costs and a more litigious environment, and that insurers are more selective and require more detailed underwriting information. ¹Company-reported. Product page market-commentary section; a general market view, not a quote for any specific business.	USI describes the policy as insuring a CPA and their practice against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm, providing a defense and paying damages for covered claims arising from high-risk situations tied to new clients, changing business plans, or new laws and regulations. ²Company-reported. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form.
Role in This Line	Gallagher Small Business arranges errors and omissions (E&O) coverage with partner carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ¹Company-reported. Gallagher Small Business's direct-to-small-business E&O product page.	For CPA firms, USI runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program through its USI Affinity division as the endorsed producer, rather than underwriting the policy itself. USI's general Business Services practice separately brokers errors and omissions/professional liability coverage for other business types. ^2,⁴Company-reported. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page.