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. 1,2,3
What Is The Hartford?
The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. 5,6,7
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. 9,10,11,12
Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Coverage and Eligibility
The Hartford describes a preferred provider network with more than one million providers, pharmacy access at more than 65,000 U.S. pharmacies and nurse case managers coordinating recovery. Nationwide’s overview describes work-injury protection but does not list comparable medical services. Ask Nationwide’s agent which provider and pharmacy networks apply in your state and compare them with The Hartford’s listed programs. 4 8
Services and Claims
The Hartford offers pay-as-you-go billing based on actual payroll and a portal where employees can check claims, payments and medical-service information. Nationwide’s overview does not describe billing or employee claim tools. Ask Nationwide how premium is reconciled with payroll and which portal features employees receive. 4 8
Application and Policy Details
The Hartford says coverage availability varies by state and identifies monopolistic states where employers must buy from a state fund; its page names gyms, manufacturing, medical offices, restaurants and retailers among common industries. Nationwide also says state rules control. Ask both to confirm state-fund status and eligibility for your class. 4 8
What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes
Nationwide and The Hartford 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.
Nationwide 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 reviewsThe Hartford Review Score
Review Score
5 rated sources
The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.[1][2][4][5][6][7]
Read The Hartford reviewsNationwide vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance Compared
Nationwide vs The Hartford: Workers’ Compensation Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Nationwide workers compensation (official overview) | The Hartford Workers' Compensation Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Nationwide describes offering workers compensation for the audience stated on the cited product page. 4Company-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. | The Hartford's workers' compensation insurance gives employees medical, wage and other benefits after a work-related injury or illness; most states require this coverage if a business has employees. 8Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | Businesses with employees; statutory and state-specific requirements and policy terms control. 4Company-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. | The Hartford says coverage requirements vary by state, and in some states (monopolistic states) workers' compensation can only be bought through a state-run fund, not from a private insurer like The Hartford. Common industries it names include gyms, manufacturing, medical offices, restaurants and retailers. 8Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Coverage Features | 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. 4Company-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. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Limits and Retentions | 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. 4Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. | The Hartford says customers with less than $300,000 in payroll pay an average of $81 a month, with some policies starting as low as $13 a month; the page does not publish standard coverage limits, since state law and payroll drive required benefit levels. 8Company-reported. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23; not a specific quote. |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | The Hartford says policyholders get access to a Preferred Medical Provider Network of over 1 million providers, a prescription drug program covering more than 65,000 U.S. pharmacies (usually no out-of-pocket cost, plus mail order), a Needle Stick Reimbursement Program, and a Nursed Back to Health Program with nurse case managers coordinating care. 8Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. The Hartford offers pay-as-you-go billing based on actual payroll rather than an estimate, and a My Workers' Comp Connection portal where injured employees can check claim status, review payments, sign up for direct deposit, and get a medical services card. 8Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| How to Apply | 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. 4Company-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. | Confirm in your quote. |
Related Pages for Nationwide vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Pages for Nationwide and The Hartford
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Nationwide vs The Hartford
Other Workers’ Compensation Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for Nationwide vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance
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 About The Hartford
- Legal Notice. The Hartford; The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. holding-company description; no representation that all products are available in all locations; P&C writing-company table as of December 31, 2025 including Hartford Fire (NAIC 19682) and Hartford Underwriters (NAIC 30104); life writing companies including Hartford Life and Accident (NAIC 70815). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- SaaS Insurance for Your Business. The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Find a Local Insurance Agent. The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans. The Hartford; What Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?; How Much Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?; Who Needs Workers' Compensation Insurance?; The Advantages of Workers' Comp From The Hartford; Benefits of The Hartford's WC Insurance; Workers' Compensation Insurance in Monopolistic States. Accessed 2026-09-23.
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.
