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

Hiscox sells professional liability online to small businesses in 49 states and D.C. (not Alaska). USI Insurance Services runs the AICPA program, underwritten by CNA, for sole practitioners and regional CPA firms.

Hiscox fits eligible small businesses buying E&O online; USI's named AICPA program is limited to CPA firms and includes risk-management resources. ^1,⁵

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

A Universal Insurer Versus a Program-Specific One

Hiscox names Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. as the underwriter of every admitted professional liability policy it sells online. ⁴ USI names CNA as underwriter only for its AICPA Professional Liability Program; its separate Business Services E&O placements for other business types don't name an insurer. ⁵

Who Qualifies

USI has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994, so its named-insurer program applies specifically to accounting firms. ⁵ Hiscox instead sells its general professional liability product to small businesses broadly online, licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska. ¹

What Comes With the Policy

USI says AICPA program firms get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates:

USI says firms enrolled in the program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates, in addition to the coverage itself. ⁵Company-reported. Program page description.

Hiscox instead describes a 24/7 claims phone line for current customers and licensed advisors available by phone during the buying process, rather than pre-built risk-management materials. ²

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

If you're a CPA firm, confirm you qualify for USI's AICPA-endorsed, CNA-underwritten program rather than its general Business Services placement. ⁵ ⁷
Confirm whether Hiscox sells this product directly in your state, since it excludes Alaska. ¹
Ask USI which risk-management resources apply outside the AICPA program if you're not a CPA firm. ⁷
Ask both firms for the policy limit and retention, since neither publishes figures. ² ⁵

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

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

Criteria	Hiscox Professional Liability Insurance	AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity)
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.	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. ⁵Company-reported. Program page description.
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.	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. ⁵Company-reported. Contact instructions on the AICPA program 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. ²Company-reported. Product FAQ description; exact triggers, retroactive dates, exclusions and wording are set by the issued policy.	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. ⁵Company-reported. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form.
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.	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. ^5,⁷Company-reported. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page.
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.	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. ⁵Company-reported. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.