Newfront vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance

The Hartford underwrites workers' compensation directly with its own medical network and claim portal; Newfront brokers programs through outside carriers.

What Is Newfront?

Newfront is a business-insurance and employee-benefits brokerage that combines specialist teams with online policy-management tools. It is now part of WTW. 1,2,3,4

Read the Newfront profile

What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford is the brand of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., whose subsidiaries underwrite property-and-casualty insurance and employee benefits. Small-business buyers can start online or by phone or work through independent agents, while the issuing company and state eligibility still have to be confirmed on a quote. 6,7,8

Read the The Hartford profile

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance addresses medical care, rehabilitation and lost wages for employees’ work-related injuries or illnesses. Not every worker, contractor or owner is automatically covered, and not every injury qualifies — check who's included and what's compensable under your state's rules. 10,11,12

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Who Underwrites the Policy

Newfront brokers workers' compensation programs and provides claims advocacy and risk-control services, without underwriting the policy itself. 5 The Hartford instead gives employees medical, wage and other benefits directly as the issuing insurer. 9

Medical Network vs. Claims Advocacy

The Hartford ties a Preferred Medical Provider Network of over 1 million providers and a prescription drug program to its own policy, alongside a Nursed Back to Health program with nurse case managers. 9 Newfront instead describes what its claims advocates do on a client's behalf:

Newfront's claims advocates say they support clients through TPA (third-party administrator) and adjuster selection, reserve-increase guidance, and settlement-authority decisions throughout the life of a claim. 5Company-reported. Claims Advocacy section.

Billing and Self-Service Tools

The Hartford offers pay-as-you-go billing based on actual payroll and a My Workers' Comp Connection portal where injured employees can check claim status and sign up for direct deposit. 9 Newfront instead describes broker-provided technology — claims analytics, an online safety and HR learning system, and an OSHA recordkeeping tool — rather than a policyholder billing or claims portal of its own. 5

What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes

  • Ask The Hartford whether your industry is one of the ones it names — gyms, manufacturing, medical offices, restaurants or retailers — or whether coverage extends the same way to yours. 9
  • Ask Newfront which carrier it would place your workers' compensation program with, since its page does not name an insurer. 5
  • Confirm whether your state is monopolistic; The Hartford's page notes the category exists without naming states, and Newfront's page does not address it. 9
  • Ask Newfront for specific deductible or retention figures for a large-deductible program, since its page does not publish amounts the way The Hartford publishes an average monthly cost. 5

Offering Details

Newfront vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaNewfront Workers' CompensationThe Hartford Workers' Compensation Insurance
Role in This Line

Newfront brokers workers' compensation programs and provides claims advocacy and risk-control services; it does not underwrite the policy itself. 5Company-reported. Workers' compensation page Our Approach section.

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. 9Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

Issuing Insurer

The reviewed workers' compensation page does not name an issuing insurer; the carrier depends on the specific program placed for each client. 5Not publicly disclosed. Page as read on 2026-09-23.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Who It’s For

Not described in the reviewed sources.

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. 9Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

Coverage Features

Newfront offers guaranteed cost and retro (retrospectively rated) programs as well as large-deductible and alternative-collateral structures for workers' compensation, letting a client choose how much risk it retains versus transfers. 5Company-reported. Optimized Risk Financing section.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Limits and Retentions

The reviewed page does not publish deductible or retention amounts for large-deductible or captive workers' compensation programs; specific structures are described as 'identified and implemented' per client rather than listed with figures. 5Not publicly disclosed. Optimized Risk Financing section, no schedule of amounts.

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. 9Company-reported. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23; not a specific quote.

Risk Services

Newfront describes an in-house Occupational Health & Safety team focused on loss control and OSHA compliance, a claims advocacy team of former adjusters, attorneys, nurses and claim managers, and its 'Circle of Care' program combining injury prevention, claims management, and recovery support. 5Company-reported. Subject Matter Experts and Circle of Care sections.

Newfront says clients get access to claims analytics, an online safety and HR learning management system, a safety/HR/wellness resource library, an OSHA recordkeeping and reporting tool, and an HR hotline. 5Company-reported. Technology-Based Resources section.

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. 9Company-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. 9Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23.

How to Apply

You engage Newfront for workers' compensation by requesting a consultation through the page; the practice is led by Frannie Epps with risk control led by Scott Rhymes, and no online quote or bind flow is described. 5Company-reported. Page call-to-action and Leadership section.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Claims Support

Newfront's claims advocates say they support clients through TPA (third-party administrator) and adjuster selection, reserve-increase guidance, and settlement-authority decisions throughout the life of a claim. 5Company-reported. Claims Advocacy section.

Not described in the reviewed sources.

Full Comparison

More Newfront vs The Hartford Comparisons

Other Workers’ Compensation Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Newfront

  1. Business Insurance. Newfront; Purpose-Built Team; Full Transparency; Streamlined Program Management. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  2. Employee Benefits. Newfront; Employee Benefits heading; Tailored Solutions; Comprehensive Expertise: Benefits, Global Benefits, Compensation and Retirement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Newfront Navigator. Newfront; Total Access. Real Confidence; Explore What You Can Do in Navigator; product demonstration image. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  4. WTW Completes Acquisition Of Newfront. WTW; 27 January 2026 release; completion announcement and allocation of Business Insurance and Total Rewards to WTW segments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  5. Worker's Compensation. Newfront; Our Approach: Optimized Risk Financing, Claims Advocacy, Circle of Care, Data-Backed Insights; Subject Matter Experts; Technology-Based Resources; Head of Casualty Practice Frannie Epps; Director of Risk Control Services Scott Rhymes. Accessed 2026-09-23.

The Hartford

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guide

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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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