Hiscox vs 
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Hiscox requires buyers to hold or concurrently purchase a Hiscox general-liability policy before accessing its workers’ compensation partner product, and says not all business classes qualify. Nationwide’s overview describes coverage for businesses with employees under state-specific requirements without stating a GL bundling condition. 4,9
What Is Hiscox?
Hiscox suits eligible small businesses that want online GL, professional liability, cyber or BOP quotes; businesses needing other specialty products should compare brokers. Core Hiscox NOW policies are usually issued by its own insurer, while some products use partners. 1,2,3
What Is Nationwide?
Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. 6,7,8
What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Workers’ compensation can pay medical care and part of an employee’s lost wages after a work-related injury or illness. If you have staff, check who is covered in each state; owners, contractors and some workers may be treated differently. 10,11,12,13
Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Coverage and State Rules
Hiscox requires buyers to hold or concurrently purchase a Hiscox general-liability policy before accessing its workers’ compensation partner product, and says not all business classes qualify. Nationwide’s overview describes coverage for businesses with employees under state-specific requirements without stating a GL bundling condition. Ask Nationwide whether it requires other policies and ask Hiscox whether your class is eligible before applying. 4 9
Claims and Classification
Hiscox identifies Hartford Fire Insurance Company as the workers’ compensation underwriter, with Hiscox acting as an agency access point. Nationwide’s public overview does not identify a specific issuing entity. Ask Nationwide’s agent to name the carrier for your quote and compare that with Hiscox’s named Hartford partnership. 4 9
Buying and Carrier Roles
Hiscox lists workers’ compensation in its small-business quote flow for eligible buyers who also have general liability. Nationwide directs prospects to an agent or quote request. Ask each how to start an application, what employee and payroll information is needed, and whether coverage can begin by your requested effective date. 4 9
What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes
Hiscox and Nationwide Review Scores for 2026
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Hiscox Review Score
Review Score
4 rated sources
Hiscox’s review results are sharply divided: low Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs scores contrast with strong Feefo feedback. Service quality deserves closer scrutiny before purchase.[1][4][5][6][7]
Read Hiscox reviewsNationwide Review Score
Review Score
4 rated sources
Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.[1][10]
Read Nationwide reviewsHiscox vs Nationwide Workers’ Compensation Insurance Compared
Hiscox vs Nationwide: Workers’ Compensation Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Hiscox Workers Compensation Insurance | Nationwide workers compensation (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | For workers' compensation, Hiscox Inc. acts as an access point to a partner insurer rather than underwriting the coverage itself, and requires the buyer to also hold a Hiscox general-liability policy before it will provide access to workers' compensation. 4Company-reported. Company-stated partnership structure; this differs from Hiscox's own-catalogue general liability, professional liability, cyber and BOP products, which are underwritten by its own affiliated insurer. | Nationwide describes offering workers compensation for the audience stated on the cited product page. 9Company-reported. workers compensation marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Issuing Insurer | Hiscox's workers'-compensation page footer names Hartford Fire Insurance Company, at One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT, as the underwriter, with coverage made available through Hiscox Inc. doing business as Hiscox Insurance Agency in California. 4Company-reported. Company-published footer disclosure; this is a different insurer from the Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. entity that underwrites Hiscox's own-catalogue products. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Hiscox says workers' compensation access requires the buyer to already hold, or concurrently purchase, a Hiscox general-liability policy, and that the product is not available for all classes of business. 4Company-reported. Company-stated prerequisite and class limitation; specific excluded classes are not listed on the page. | Businesses with employees; statutory and state-specific requirements and policy terms control. 9Company-reported. workers compensation marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Coverage Features | The workers'-compensation page describes the product in general terms as statutory workers' compensation coverage through the Hartford partnership; it does not add Hiscox-specific coverage enhancements beyond what a standard Hartford workers'-compensation policy would include. 4Company-reported. Company-stated partnership product; specific policy wording and state benefit levels are set by Hartford's issued policy and applicable state law. | The cited product page describes workers' compensation protection for employees injured or made ill through work, subject to applicable policy and state requirements. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 9Company-reported. workers compensation marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Limits and Retentions | The workers'-compensation page does not publish benefit limits, wage-replacement percentages or premium information; statutory benefit levels are generally set by state law rather than by Hiscox or Hartford. 4Not publicly disclosed. Public product page as previously reviewed. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 9Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| How to Apply | Hiscox lists workers' compensation among the products selectable from its small-business quote flow, routing eligible buyers who also carry (or are buying) general liability toward the Hartford-underwritten product. 5,4Company-reported. Company-described product-selector listing; eligibility and binding conditions require confirmation on the actual application. | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 9Company-reported. workers compensation marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
Related Pages for Hiscox vs Nationwide Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Pages for Hiscox and Nationwide
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Hiscox vs Nationwide
Other Workers’ Compensation Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for Hiscox vs Nationwide Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Sources About Hiscox
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Workers Compensation Insurance for Small Businesses. Hiscox; Partnership with The Hartford; general liability required to purchase workers comp; not available for all classes; footer that coverage is made available through Hiscox Inc. d/b/a Hiscox Insurance Agency in CA and underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Hiscox Small Business Insurance. Hiscox; Product selector including workers compensation; partnership language for workers' compensation. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Sources About Nationwide
- Small Business Insurance. Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents. Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com. Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Nationwide; Workers' compensation page; employee injury and illness coverage overview. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Sources for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guide
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Employer resources. Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation; In Texas, private employers can choose to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, but it is not required in most cases; lost wages and medical benefits; except when gross negligence results in a fatality, coverage limits liability. Accessed 2026-09-16.
