CNA vs Nationwide: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

Nationwide sends buyers to an agent or a quote request and says eligible classes depend on underwriting. CNA's miscellaneous line names consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners.

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

CNA names consultants and staffing firms among its MPL target classes. Nationwide describes E&O for claims alleging errors or omissions in professional services; issued terms and availability depend on the policy and jurisdiction.

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

Product Definition and Eligible Classes

CNA describes its Miscellaneous Professional Liability for non-licensed consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies, and event planners, while Technology E&O is directed to technology businesses. Nationwide’s overview describes E&O for claims alleging errors or omissions in professional services and says exact eligible classes depend on underwriting. A buyer with a specialized profession should ask Nationwide about class acceptance and compare it with CNA’s named MPL or technology category. [1] [5]

Buying Route and Written Terms

Nationwide’s E&O page directs prospects to contact an agent or request a quote. CNA’s Epack 3 brochure describes a quote process for small risks. Ask both what information they need about your services and contracts, then compare the named insurer, professional-services definition, limits, and exclusions in the proposals. [5] [2]

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

  • Ask Nationwide which service classes qualify and request limits, retentions, and exclusions. [5]
  • Ask CNA whether MPL or Technology E&O fits and whether other modules share the aggregate. [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 ↗

Nationwide

  • role: Nationwide describes offering professional errors omissions for the audience stated on the cited product page. professional errors omissions 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.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Professionals and businesses providing services to others as described by Nationwide; exact eligible classes depend on underwriting. professional errors omissions 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.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: The cited product page describes E&O insurance for claims alleging errors or omissions in professional services, as described on Nationwide's product page. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. professional errors omissions 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.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: 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. professional errors omissions 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.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: 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. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred.not-disclosedSource ↗

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
    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

  4. 04
    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

  5. 05
    Errors and Omissions Insurance

    Nationwide · E&O page; professional-services liability and coverage overview. · accessed 2026-09-30

  6. 06
    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

  7. 07
    Get business insurance

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

Ask Kearny Risk to help relate this comparison to your services and contracts.

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