Coalition 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. Coalition offers its version only as an add-on to an Active Cyber quote.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-09-29

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

Buying Online or Through a Broker

Eligible Hiscox buyers can quote and purchase online with phone access to licensed advisors; where direct sales are unavailable, Hiscox points to a specialist broker. [5] Coalition sells MPL through appointed brokers as an add-on to a cyber quote. [1] Check whether Hiscox offers direct online sales in your state.

Policy Form

Hiscox describes its E&O as claims-made, so a claim must be made and typically reported while the policy is active. [6] Coalition's reviewed MPL page describes duty-to-defend coverage but not whether it is claims-made or occurrence. [1] Ask about reporting deadlines and tail coverage before choosing.

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

  • Ask Coalition whether Active Cyber is required to buy MPL. [1]
  • Check whether Hiscox sells online in your state or requires a specialist broker. [5]
  • Ask Hiscox for available limits and retentions; the reviewed page does not list standard figures. [5]
  • Compare the duty-to-defend wording and reporting requirements in the actual policies. [1] [6]

Hiscox sells standalone E&O online where available; Coalition requires an Active Cyber quote and appointed broker for MPL.

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    Miscellaneous Professional Liability

    Coalition · Why Miscellaneous Professional Liability?; MPL Advantage; What does MPL cover?; What types of claims does MPL protect against?; What types of businesses could benefit from MPL?; Why does 'Duty to Defend' coverage matter? · accessed 2026-09-23

  2. 02
    U.S. Disclaimers

    Coalition · Non-Admitted Cyber; Admitted Cyber; Admitted Executive Risk (names Zurich American Insurance Company, NAIC 16535); no 'Admitted MPL' or 'Admitted Tech E&O' section appears on the page · accessed 2026-09-23

  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

Areas of coverage

Coalition

  • role: Coalition designs and distributes MPL as an add-on coverage that combines with certain Active Cyber Insurance policies, sold through appointed brokers. Miscellaneous Professional Liability product page as read on 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Coalition markets MPL to any business that performs professional services, naming examples such as consultants, marketing and PR firms, staffing firms, printers, interior decorators, photographers and videographers, and property managers. Miscellaneous Professional Liability product page as read on 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Coalition says MPL covers defense costs, settlements, judgments, and other expenses from claims of errors and omissions in professional services, including negligence, failure to provide service, and misstatements about the service performed, on a duty-to-defend basis even when the business is not ultimately at fault. Miscellaneous Professional Liability product page as read on 2026-09-23; the issued policy controls actual terms.company-reportedSource ↗
  • insurer: Coalition's disclaimer page has named sections for admitted cyber, non-admitted cyber, and admitted executive risk, but no equivalent 'Admitted MPL' section, indicating MPL is placed on a non-admitted (surplus lines) basis with unaffiliated insurers the disclaimer does not name. U.S. Disclaimers page as read on 2026-09-23; the buyer's declarations page names the actual issuing insurer.not-disclosedSource ↗
  • application: Coalition sells MPL only as an addition to an Active Cyber Insurance quote, saying it takes just a few extra questions to add, rather than as a stand-alone policy. Miscellaneous Professional Liability product page as read on 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • claims: Coalition says its in-house claims team manages both MPL and cyber claims in one place, which it describes as a smoother, more coordinated process for the policyholder. Miscellaneous Professional Liability product page as read on 2026-09-23; speed and efficiency descriptions are company-reported and not independently verified.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 ↗

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