Hiscox vs Travelers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

Hiscox Inc., a licensed insurance intermediary, sells professional liability (errors and omissions) coverage directly online to. Travelers underwrites errors and omissions insurance as one of several management and professional liability products, sold.

What Is Hiscox?

Hiscox is a U.S. small-business insurance brand whose website is operated by Hiscox Inc., a Delaware producer that does business in California as Hiscox Insurance Agency. Eligible firms can quote general liability, professional liability, cyber and a business owner’s policy online; other advertised lines are often placed with partner insurers, so the issuing company on each quote still has to be checked. 1,2,3

Read the Hiscox profile

What Is Travelers Insurance?

Travelers is a U.S. property-casualty insurance group that markets business coverage, including a technology practice, through independent agents and brokers. Buyers can investigate CyberRisk Tech, a small-business technology-services policy, and other commercial lines, then confirm the issuing company and California availability on a quote. 7,8,9

Read the Travelers profile

What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?

Professional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, also called professional liability insurance, addresses claims that professional services or advice caused a client financial loss. What's covered depends on the services actually scheduled in the policy, not the product label alone. 12,13,14,15

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

Role on This Line

As reviewed, 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. 4 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.

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. 10Company-reported. E&O overview and video transcript; exclusions and limits are not detailed on this page and depend on the policy as issued.

Coverage Detail

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. 4 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. 10

Quote Process

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. 4 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. 10

What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes

  • Ask Hiscox which insurer would issue this professional errors omissions quote if the record does not name one. 4
  • Ask Travelers which insurer would issue its professional errors omissions quote. 10
  • Compare Hiscox and Travelers limits, deductibles and any bundle with other lines before you bind. 4 10

Offering Details

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

CriteriaHiscox Professional Liability InsuranceTravelers Errors and Omissions Insurance
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. 3,4Company-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. 10,11Company-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. 6,3Company-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. 10Company-reported. Footer disclosure on the errors-and-omissions page.

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. 4,6Company-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. 10Company-reported. Product-selection list on the E&O page.

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. 5Company-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. 10Company-reported. E&O overview and video transcript; exclusions and limits are not detailed on this page and depend on the policy as issued.

Limits and Retentions

The professional-liability pages reviewed do not publish standard limit, retention or deductible amounts; specific figures are shown only on a quote. 4,5Not publicly disclosed. Public product and FAQ pages as previously reviewed.

The reviewed E&O page does not publish limit or retention amounts for any of its professional-liability products. 10Not publicly disclosed. Errors-and-omissions page as read on 2026-09-23.

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. 4Company-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. 10,11Company-reported. E&O page CTA and video transcript.

Claims Support

A professional-liability FAQ tells current customers that the claims phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, separate from the general claims-center hours listed elsewhere on the Hiscox site. 5Company-reported. Company-described claims-reporting availability for this product's FAQ; does not establish claim outcomes or turnaround time.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Full Comparison

More Hiscox vs Travelers Comparisons

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Sources

Hiscox

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Professional Liability Insurance for Small Businesses. Hiscox; Professional liability/E&O product; licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. (Alaska excluded); specialist-broker assistance if not licensed in a state; licensed-advisor hours. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  5. What is Professional Liability Insurance? Hiscox; Claims-made description; current-customer claim number described as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  6. Hiscox US Agent Appetite Guide. Hiscox; Hiscox NOW admitted GL, PL, cyber and BOP underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.; technology classes including IT consultants and software development. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Travelers

  1. Technology Insurance. Travelers; Technology insurance products we offer: CyberRisk Tech, Global Companion Plus+, general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, commercial auto, umbrella; startup-to-established-leader audience. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Travelers Producer Compensation Disclosure (United States). Travelers; Independent producers; seven compensation types; Simply Business, Inc. and InsuraMatch, LLC ownership; The Travelers Indemnity Company footer; Northfield Excess & Surplus Lines product list. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Contact Us. Travelers; Business insurance sold through independent agents; business claims 1.800.238.6225; MyTravelers for business features. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O). Travelers; What Is Errors and Omissions Coverage (E&O)?; Who needs errors and omissions insurance?; Select a product; Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property casualty affiliates footer. Accessed 2026-09-23.
  5. Management and Professional Liability Insurance. Travelers; Errors & omissions (E&O) insurance description; Applications and forms for agents: management and professional liability applications. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide

  1. FAQ: Professional liability insurance. Texas Department of Insurance; What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Professional liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion). Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Get business insurance. U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance. Hiscox Inc. specimen; About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act. 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.

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