Hiscox vs Travelers: How Do They Compare for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Travelers underwrites E&O in profession-specific products and sends buyers to an independent agent. Hiscox takes the direct route, letting eligible small businesses quote and buy professional liability online.

Hiscox offers online E&O purchase to eligible small businesses in 49 states and Washington, D.C.; Travelers offers profession-specific policies through independent agents. ^1,⁵

What Are the Key Differences Between Hiscox and Travelers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Online Purchase Versus Independent Agent

Hiscox lets eligible buyers quote and buy online, with licensed advisors available by phone. ¹ Travelers directs buyers to an independent agent and provides profession-specific applications and forms. ⁵ Choose Hiscox for a self-directed purchase if your business and state qualify; choose Travelers if you need an agent and a profession-specific form.

Eligibility and Product Breadth

Hiscox licenses professional liability in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska, and may refer buyers to a specialist broker where online sale is unavailable. ¹ Travelers lists separate products for accountants, designers, lawyers, real-estate professionals, insurance professionals, financial institutions and other occupations. ⁵

Policy Structure

Hiscox states that its coverage is claims-made, so both the incident timing and claim-reporting period matter. ² Travelers says it customizes coverage to the profession but does not publish limits or retentions on the reviewed page. ⁵ Request both forms before comparing exclusions or tail options.

What Should You Confirm in Hiscox and Travelers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?

Confirm Hiscox online eligibility for your state and exact services. ¹
Ask Travelers which profession-specific form and issuing company apply. ⁵
Compare limits, retentions, retroactive dates, reporting periods and defense costs. ² ⁵

Hiscox vs Travelers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Compared

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

Criteria	Hiscox Professional Liability Insurance	Travelers Errors and Omissions Insurance
Who It’s For	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. ^1,⁴Company-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.	Travelers offers separate E&O products by profession, including accountants, design professionals, lawyers, real estate professionals, insurance professionals, life/accident/health insurance agents, managed care organizations, financial institutions and a miscellaneous professional liability option for other client-facing professionals. ⁵Company-reported. Product-selection list on the E&O page.
How to Apply	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. ¹Company-reported. Company-described online application; eligibility and binding conditions require confirmation on the actual application.	Travelers directs buyers to talk to an independent agent to place E&O coverage, and tells agents to use its management-and-professional-liability applications and forms library. ^5,⁶Company-reported. E&O page CTA and video transcript.
Coverage Features	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. ²Company-reported. Product FAQ description; exact triggers, retroactive dates, exclusions and wording are set by the issued policy.	Travelers describes E&O as covering the costs of client allegations of inadequate work, negligent actions or failure to meet the expected level of service, including legal defense and settlement costs, and says coverage can be customized to the risks of a specific profession. ⁵Company-reported. E&O overview and video transcript; exclusions and limits are not detailed on this page and depend on the policy as issued.
Role in This Line	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. ^3,¹Company-reported. Company-stated online small-business channel.	Travelers underwrites errors and omissions insurance as one of several management and professional liability products, sold as a standalone policy written for the buyer's profession rather than bundled with other lines by default. ^5,⁶Company-reported. E&O and management-liability product pages, as read on 2026-09-23.
Issuing Insurer	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. ^4,³Company-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.	The E&O page's footer names Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property-casualty affiliates, but Travelers also states the material does not amend any issued policy, so the exact issuing entity for a given E&O product depends on the policy. ⁵Company-reported. Footer disclosure on the errors-and-omissions page.