Harper vs Travelers Umbrella and Excess Liability Insurance

Harper places umbrella and excess liability coverage as extra limits stacked above a client's existing primary policies, rather than re-selling the underlying coverage itself. ³Company-reported. Umbrella page introduction and 'What is Umbrella insurance?' section.

Travelers underwrites commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage as a supplemental policy layered on top of a buyer's existing general liability, auto liability and employer's liability policies, sold through three product options rather than one single form. ⁷Company-reported. Commercial-umbrella product page, as read on 2026-09-23.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

The reviewed commercial-umbrella page does not name the specific underwriting entity for A/B umbrella, excess liability or the Northfield excess-and-surplus-lines option. ⁷Not publicly disclosed. Commercial-umbrella page as read on 2026-09-23.

Harper recommends an umbrella when a lease or contract requires liability limits above a business's primary policies, and otherwise frames it as a judgment call based on how much of a claim the business could absorb. ³Company-reported. Umbrella FAQ 'Do I need an umbrella?'.

Travelers says commercial umbrella and excess coverage is available across all industries, and separately markets its A/B Umbrella product to small businesses as part of its small-business insurance solutions. ⁷Company-reported. Commercial-umbrella page, including its small-business FAQ answer.

Harper describes the umbrella responding above general liability claims, above auto liability claims, and above a workers' compensation claim when an injured employee separately sues. ³Company-reported. Umbrella page's four coverage tiles; the underlying and umbrella policies as issued control which claims actually qualify.

Harper says the umbrella follows the terms of the policies underneath it, and that it maps exactly which underlying policies sit under a client's umbrella so there are no coverage gaps. ³Company-reported. Umbrella FAQ 'Does it cover everything my other policies cover?'; a described mapping practice, not an independently verified outcome.

Travelers describes three coverage paths: A/B umbrella, excess liability, and Northfield excess-and-surplus-lines coverage for hard-to-place risks such as businesses with multiple prior claims, limited loss history or an unusual classification. ⁷Company-reported. Commercial-umbrella page's solutions list and Northfield FAQ answer.

Travelers says the policy increases limits above standard primary policies, can replace exhausted primary limits, and can offer broader coverage than the underlying policies for certain losses, but that it does not cover all legal risk, such as some instances of uninsured-motorist exposure. ⁷Company-reported. Umbrella benefits section and FAQ; specific exclusions depend on the policy as issued.

Harper says each additional million in umbrella limits typically costs a fraction of the first million, and that industry and underlying limits drive price, but the reviewed page does not publish specific limit amounts, retentions or premium figures. ³Not publicly disclosed. Umbrella page 'We know this' section and FAQ 'What does it cost?'; figures would appear on an actual quote.

Travelers says umbrella coverage typically starts at $1 million and increases in $1 million increments, and that it can write unsupported (monoline) policies with limits up to $25 million for small, midsized and large organizations. It does not publish a maximum limit for excess liability or Northfield placements. ⁷Company-reported. Commercial-umbrella cost section and benefits list.

You request a quote through Harper's online form or by phone; Harper says a specialist reviews the underlying policies before recommending umbrella limits. ³Company-reported. Umbrella page quote form and 'Why Harper' process steps.

Travelers says an umbrella policy is usually purchased from the same insurer holding a buyer's primary coverage, which may require maintaining certain primary liability limits with Travelers first, and directs buyers to a Travelers independent agent to get started. ⁷Company-reported. Umbrella FAQ 'How do I buy umbrella insurance?' and video transcript.