Embroker vs Hiscox: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

Hiscox lets eligible buyers quote and buy online, is licensed for sale in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska, and has a claims phone line open around the clock. Embroker offers an online quote with a choice of deductible types.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-09-25

Hiscox provides online E&O quotes, phone access to licensed advisers and a 24/7 claims line; Embroker explains aggregate and first-dollar-defense deductibles and how they affect claim costs.

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    Professional Liability Insurance Coverage & Quotes

    Embroker · Why it's essential; Who needs this coverage; What is Professional Liability insurance?; What's covered; What's not included; Do I need Professional Liability insurance if I already have General Liability coverage?; Does it have a deductible? · accessed 2026-09-23

  2. 02
    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

  3. 03
    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

  4. 04
    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

  5. 05
    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

  6. 06
    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

  7. 07
    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

  8. 08
    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

  9. 09
    Get business insurance

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

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

Help at Purchase and Claim Time

Hiscox offers an online quote and purchase flow, phone access to licensed advisers during posted hours, and a separate 24/7 claims line. [4] [5] Embroker describes an online quote that weighs business size, industry, location and claims history, and provides two deductible structures. [1]

Policy Structure and Availability

Hiscox describes E&O as claims-made and lists availability in 49 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska. [5] Embroker explains how higher deductibles may reduce premium but does not describe claims-made versus occurrence terms on the reviewed page. [1]

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

  • Confirm Hiscox sells the product in your state and compare limits and retentions in both quotes. [4] [1]
  • Ask Embroker whether your deductible is aggregate or first-dollar-defense and what each means for defense costs. [1]
  • Compare Hiscox's retroactive-date terms with the policy form in Embroker's quote. [5]

Areas of coverage

Embroker

  • role: Embroker sells professional liability, also called errors and omissions insurance, as a standalone product for professional-services businesses, separate from its lawyers professional liability program and its bundled technology E&O/cyber product. Product-page description; not a statement about the issuing insurer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Embroker markets the policy to anyone who provides professional advice or services for a fee, listing accountants, bookkeepers, consultants, real estate agents, home inspectors, and IT and healthcare professionals as example buyers, while noting lawyers and doctors typically use specialized malpractice coverage instead. Product-page eligibility and industry-example sections; not a guarantee of coverage for a particular business.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Embroker lists coverage for claims of errors, omissions or negligence, failing to meet expected standards or deadlines, false or misleading statements, breach of contractual obligations, and attorney fees from covered claims. Product-page What's covered section; the issued policy and declarations control.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Embroker says the policy does not cover personal injury or property damage (handled by general liability), cyberattacks and data breaches (some tech E&O policies offer limited cyber coverage, but full protection needs a separate cyber policy), employee injuries, or employee discrimination claims (handled by EPLI). Product-page What's not included and 'Do I need Professional Liability insurance if I already have General Liability coverage?' sections.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: Embroker says the policy carries a deductible, that a higher deductible generally lowers the premium, and that buyers can choose an aggregate (once-annually capped) deductible or a first-dollar-defense option that applies the deductible only to damages, not legal costs. Product-page 'Does it have a deductible?' section; specific dollar limits and deductible amounts are not published and depend on underwriting.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: Embroker offers an online quote for professional liability through its digital platform, describing underwriting factors including business size, industry risk, location and claims history. Product-page 'Quick quotes' feature and cost-factor list; no quote was requested during this research.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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