The Hartford vs 
Travelers Workers’ Compensation Insurance
The Hartford publishes a medical-network and pricing figure for workers' comp; Travelers publishes return-to-work and opioid-reduction statistics.
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. 1,2,3
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. 5,6,7
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. 9,10,11
Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Medical and Recovery Services Named on Each Page
Both companies underwrite workers' compensation directly and describe services layered onto the policy rather than the policy alone. 4 8 The Hartford names a specific Preferred Medical Provider Network of over 1 million providers, a prescription-drug program covering more than 65,000 pharmacies, a Needle Stick Reimbursement Program, and nurse case managers through its Nursed Back to Health program. 4 Travelers instead reports outcome statistics from its own programs — a 40% decline in opioid use it attributes to an Early Severity Predictor tool, and access to a 2.3-million-provider network:
Travelers reports internal outcome and cost-containment statistics for its workers-comp claim and risk-control programs, including 70% of injured employees returning to work within 30 days, a 40% decline in opioid use it attributes to its Early Severity Predictor tool, and access to a network of 2.3 million medical providers. 8Company-reported. Workers-compensation page statistics, sourced to Travelers internal data; these are company-reported outcomes, not independently verified.
Billing, Portal Access and Claim Handling
The Hartford offers pay-as-you-go billing based on actual payroll and a My Workers' Comp Connection portal where an injured employee can track claim status, payments and direct deposit. 4 Travelers' page does not describe a comparable payroll-based billing option or self-service claim portal, focusing instead on its risk-control and claim-outcome statistics and a stop-gap employer's liability option for monopolistic states. 8
Pricing and Insurer Disclosure
The Hartford publishes a company-reported average premium and a low-end starting price for small payrolls, while it does not name the specific underwriting entity on the reviewed page. 4 Travelers does not publish a comparable average premium, but a video transcript on its page credits The Travelers Indemnity Company, a signal consistent with — though not a full disclosure of — the issuing entity for a given policy. 8
What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes
- Ask The Hartford for a rate specific to your payroll size rather than relying on its published average. 4
- Ask Travelers which entity would issue your specific policy, since the video-credit line is not a policy-level disclosure. 8
- If your state is monopolistic, confirm whether Travelers' stop-gap employer's liability option applies, since coverage there runs through a state fund instead. 8
- Ask The Hartford whether its medical provider network and prescription program are available in your state before comparing costs. 4
Offering Details
The Hartford vs Travelers Workers’ Compensation Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | The Hartford Workers' Compensation Insurance | Travelers Workers Compensation Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | 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. 4Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. | Travelers underwrites workers compensation insurance directly as a standalone line, separate from a business owner's policy, and says it also provides risk control and claim services alongside the policy rather than selling coverage alone. 8Company-reported. Workers-compensation product page, as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Issuing Insurer | Not described in the reviewed sources. | A video transcript on the workers-compensation page is copyrighted to The Travelers Indemnity Company, which is consistent with that entity issuing workers compensation policies, though the page does not state that every workers-comp policy is issued by that entity rather than an affiliate. 8Company-reported. Video transcript credit on the workers-compensation page; not a policy-level disclosure of the issuing entity for a specific quote. |
| Who It’s For | 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. 4Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. | Travelers says nearly every state requires most businesses to carry workers compensation insurance, but that in monopolistic states employers must buy coverage from a state-run fund, or may self-insure using a third-party administrator, so Travelers workers compensation is not purchasable there through Travelers itself. 8Company-reported. Workers-compensation FAQ answer, 'Who needs workers compensation insurance?'; the page does not list which states are monopolistic. Travelers markets workers compensation to both large, multi-state employers and small businesses, and says it maintains state-specific requirement information because coverage terms and required forms vary by jurisdiction. 8Company-reported. Large-business and small-business sections and the 'Workers compensation laws vary by state' section. |
| Coverage Features | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Travelers says the policy covers employees' medical expenses and lost wages for job-related injuries and diseases, includes employers liability coverage for related lawsuits not covered by workers-comp law, and that employers in monopolistic states may add employers liability separately as stop-gap coverage. 8Company-reported. Product overview and 'What does workers comp cover?' FAQ; full inclusions and exclusions depend on the policy as issued and the applicable state. |
| Limits and Retentions | 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. 4Company-reported. Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23; not a specific quote. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Risk Services | 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. 4Company-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. 4Company-reported. Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23. | Travelers reports internal outcome and cost-containment statistics for its workers-comp claim and risk-control programs, including 70% of injured employees returning to work within 30 days, a 40% decline in opioid use it attributes to its Early Severity Predictor tool, and access to a network of 2.3 million medical providers. 8Company-reported. Workers-compensation page statistics, sourced to Travelers internal data; these are company-reported outcomes, not independently verified. |
| How to Apply | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Travelers directs buyers to contact a local Travelers agent to find a workers compensation policy, and separately notes pricing depends on business location, type of work, total payroll and claims history rather than a fixed rate. 8Company-reported. Workers-compensation FAQ answers 'How can I buy workers compensation insurance?' and 'What determines the cost of a workers compensation policy?' |
Full Comparison
More The Hartford vs Travelers Comparisons
Other Workers’ Compensation Insurance Comparisons
Sources
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.
Travelers
- 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.
- 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.
- Contact Us. Travelers; Business insurance sold through independent agents; business claims 1.800.238.6225; MyTravelers for business features. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Workers Compensation Insurance. Travelers; What is workers compensation insurance?; Who needs workers compensation insurance?; What does workers comp cover?; Is all workers compensation insurance the same?; Trends in workers compensation legislation; Copyright 2018 The Travelers Indemnity Company video transcript. Accessed 2026-09-23.
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.
