---
title: "The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance"
description: "The Hartford publishes average minimum monthly premiums for five named professional liability products, while USI's most detailed E&O offering is the AICPA Professional Liability Program, a CPA-specific plan underwritten by CNA that USI has run since 1994."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/the-hartford-vs-usi/professional-errors-omissions"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
comparison-pair: "the-hartford-vs-usi"
provider-a: "the-hartford"
provider-b: "usi"
coverage-line: "professional-errors-omissions"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/the-hartford-vs-usi/professional-errors-omissions)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of The Hartford and USI Insurance Services for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance questions about The Hartford versus USI Insurance Services. For all lines together use the pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance, The Hartford or USI Insurance Services?
- What does The Hartford or USI Insurance Services publish about Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance. Providers: The Hartford and USI Insurance Services.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}/{line}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date; last updated 2026-09-25.

**Related pages:**
- [The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services](https://spot.insure/compare/the-hartford-vs-usi) — all coverage lines for this pair
- [Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions) — how this coverage works
- [The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) — provider profile
- [USI Insurance Services profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/usi) — provider profile

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

USI Insurance Services is the route for CPA firms through the CNA-underwritten AICPA program; The Hartford lists accountants, consultants, designers and technology professionals and publishes average minimum monthly premiums.

The Hartford prices five named E&O products directly; USI's flagship E&O offering is a CPA program underwritten by CNA.

## The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Summary

The Hartford publishes average minimum monthly premiums for five named professional liability products, while USI's most detailed E&O offering is the AICPA Professional Liability Program, a CPA-specific plan underwritten by CNA that USI has run since 1994. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity")

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

### Five Priced Products vs. a Named CPA Program

The Hartford breaks the line into five named products, each with its own published average minimum monthly premium, covering accountants, healthcare, technology, architects and engineers, and other professions. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") USI's most detailed E&O offering, by contrast, is the AICPA Professional Liability Program, run through its USI Affinity division specifically for CPA firms. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity")

When comparing The Hartford and USI Insurance Services, use published pricing as a budget screen; the actual quote still decides the cost comparison.

### Who Underwrites the Policy

The Hartford's page describes the professional liability products as its own, without a separate named issuing entity distinct from The Hartford brand. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") USI's page names an insurer directly for its CPA program instead:

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. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements..)

### Pricing Disclosure

The Hartford publishes specific average minimum monthly premiums for each of its five products. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") USI's AICPA program page does not publish limit, retention or premium figures, saying instead that coverage plans allow a firm to tailor coverage to its risk profile. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity")

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

- Ask The Hartford which of its five priced products applies to your business, since the average minimums vary widely by profession. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage")
- If you're a CPA firm, ask USI whether the AICPA program or its general Business Services E&O placement applies, since the two have different named insurers. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity")
- Ask USI for actual quoted premiums, since the AICPA program page publishes none. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity")
- Ask whether an extended reporting period is available from The Hartford if you switch professions or policies later. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage")

## The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Compared

| Criteria | The Hartford Professional Liability Insurance (Errors & Omissions) | AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who It’s For | The Hartford targets professional liability at businesses that sign contracts requiring coverage, offer professional services directly to customers, or regularly give advice to clients, and lists industries it covers: accountants, consultants, interior designers, advertising agencies, graphic designers, technology professionals and healthcare professionals. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23..) | 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. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Program page description..) |
| Coverage Features | The Hartford says the policy can cover claims of negligence, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, personal injury (libel/slander) and copyright infringement, plus defense costs. Many of its professional liability policies are written on a claims-made basis with a retroactive date and an extended reporting period (typically 30-60 days, extendable to a year or more for an added cost), though some are written on an occurrence basis. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage and policy-form description; the issued policy controls..) | 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. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form..) |
| Role in This Line | The Hartford's professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects businesses when they make mistakes in the professional services provided to clients, including claims that turn out to be baseless. [1](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23..) | 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. [2](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") [4](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/business-services/ "Business Services") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: AICPA program page and Business Services practice page..) |

## About The Hartford and USI Insurance Services

- [The Hartford company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) · [The Hartford customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford/reviews)
- [USI Insurance Services company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/usi) · [USI Insurance Services customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/usi/reviews)
- [What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions)

## Related Pages for The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services

- [The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services](https://spot.insure/compare/the-hartford-vs-usi): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions): Professional liability can help pay covered defense costs and losses when a client says your advice or service caused financial harm; check services and reporting terms.
- [The Hartford Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford/professional-errors-omissions)
- [USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/usi/professional-errors-omissions)

## Sources for The Hartford vs USI Insurance Services

### Sources About The Hartford

1. [Professional Liability Insurance Coverage](https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance). The Hartford; What Is Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; What Does Professional Liability Insurance Cover?; Who Needs Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; How Much Does Professional Liability Insurance Cost?; How Does Professional Liability Insurance Work? (claims-made vs. occurrence). Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Sources About USI Insurance Services

2. [Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/). USI Insurance Services; Quality Professional Liability Insurance Exclusively for CPA Firms; "The AICPA Professional Liability Program, underwritten by CNA, has been offering coverage to CPAs since 1967 and has been the endorsed provider of the AICPA Program since 1994."; supportive claims handling and exclusive access to extensive risk management resources, including engagement letter templates; Email Affinity_APL@usi.com. Accessed 2026-09-23.
3. [USI Specialty Program Solutions](https://www.usi.com/programs/). USI Insurance Services; USI Affinity delivers high-quality insurance and financial solutions to members of affinity organizations and targeted industry segments...for professional associations, law firms, alumni and collegiate organizations, travel groups, and insurance administrators.. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Business Services](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/business-services/). USI Insurance Services; USI advises clients...and provides solutions for...Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability.... Accessed 2026-09-23.

Updated 2026-09-25. 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](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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