CNA vs Hiscox: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

Hiscox says professional liability is licensed for sale in 49 states and DC, excluding Alaska, with online quote and purchase for eligible buyers. CNA's pages describe policies combining E&O with cyber and dedicated claims and risk-control support.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-10-01

CNA describes separate Epack 3 and EPS Plus package combinations. Hiscox describes claims-made professional liability and online purchase where available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.; Alaska is excluded from that online route.

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

Product Eligibility and Buying

CNA describes Miscellaneous Professional Liability for non-licensed service classes and Technology E&O for technology businesses. Hiscox says its professional liability can be quoted and purchased online where sold, covering 49 states and Washington, D.C., with Alaska excluded; a specialist broker may help in a state without online sales. If your service is technology-focused or your business operates in Alaska, confirm the applicable CNA product or Hiscox route before applying. [1] [5]

Claims-Made Coverage and Claims Access

Hiscox explains that its E&O is claims-made and says current customers can reach its professional-liability claims line around the clock. CNA’s U.S. page describes claims and risk-control support across its professional-liability business, a portfolio-level description. Ask Hiscox how reporting deadlines and any extended reporting option work, and CNA which claims contact and reporting instructions accompany the selected form. [6] [1]

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

  • Ask Hiscox for the claims-made reporting terms, quote limits, and state-specific purchase path. [6]
  • Ask CNA which E&O form is offered and how to report a professional-liability claim. [1]

Areas of coverage

CNA

  • role: CNA describes Epack 3 as combining technology and professional liability with cyber and media in a modular policy; EPS Plus combines E&O and cyber for professional-services firms. These are separate product routes and are not evidence that technology E&O and miscellaneous E&O share identical wording.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • eligibility: CNA says its Miscellaneous Professional Liability targets non-licensed professional classes such as consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners. The listed classes are a target list, not a complete or guaranteed eligibility rule.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: CNA markets Technology E&O for technology businesses facing professional-liability exposures and says it is intended to support contractual requirements. The page is a summary and does not define covered services, contract exceptions or policy triggers.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: CNA describes dedicated claims and risk-control support for its cyber, media, technology and professional-liability business. This portfolio-level statement does not establish a service outcome or a line-specific claims protocol.company-reportedSource ↗

Hiscox

  • role: 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. Company-stated online small-business channel.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • 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. 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.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • eligibility: 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. 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.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • coverage: 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. Product FAQ description; exact triggers, retroactive dates, exclusions and wording are set by the issued policy.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The professional-liability pages reviewed do not publish standard limit, retention or deductible amounts; specific figures are shown only on a quote. Public product and FAQ pages as previously reviewed.not-disclosedSource ↗Source ↗
  • application: 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. Company-described online application; eligibility and binding conditions require confirmation on the actual application.company-reportedSource ↗
  • claims: A professional-liability FAQ tells current customers that the claims phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, separate from the general claims-center hours listed elsewhere on the Hiscox site. Company-described claims-reporting availability for this product's FAQ; does not establish claim outcomes or turnaround time.company-reportedSource ↗

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    Cyber Insurance - Cyber Risk Solutions

    CNA · Current U.S. page: Epack 3 combines cyber, media, technology and professional liability; MPL appetite, media support, technology E&O, claims and risk-control descriptions. Retrieved 2026-09-30. · accessed 2026-09-30

  2. 02
    Epack 3 – Cyber, Media, Technology & Professional Liability

    CNA · Official sell sheet: modular bundled policy, media coverages and possible extensions, technology/professional line descriptions and quote process for small risks. Marketing summary expressly defers to issued policy. Retrieved 2026-09-30. · accessed 2026-09-30

  3. 03
    About Hiscox US Insurance

    Hiscox · Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    Hiscox US Agent Appetite Guide

    Hiscox · Hiscox NOW admitted GL, PL, cyber and BOP underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.; technology classes including IT consultants and software development · accessed 2026-09-16

  5. 05
    Professional Liability Insurance for Small Businesses

    Hiscox · Professional liability/E&O product; licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. (Alaska excluded); specialist-broker assistance if not licensed in a state; licensed-advisor hours · accessed 2026-09-16

  6. 06
    What is Professional Liability Insurance?

    Hiscox · Claims-made description; current-customer claim number described as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week · accessed 2026-09-16

  7. 07
    Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance

    Hiscox Inc. specimen · About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act · accessed 2026-09-16

  8. 08
    Professional liability insurance

    Insurance Information Institute · Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion) · accessed 2026-09-16

  9. 09
    FAQ: Professional liability insurance

    Texas Department of Insurance · What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies · accessed 2026-09-16

  10. 10
    Get business insurance

    U.S. Small Business Administration · Six common types of business insurance table · accessed 2026-09-16

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