Nationwide vs Usi: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

USI Insurance Services markets the AICPA program, underwritten by CNA, to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms; Nationwide describes cover for professionals and businesses, with eligible classes set by underwriting, and points buyers to an agent.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-09-30

USI Affinity runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program for CPA firms as the endorsed producer, with CNA underwriting and risk-management resources. Nationwide describes E&O for service businesses and directs buyers to an agent or quote request.

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    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

  2. 02
    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

  3. 03
    Errors and Omissions Insurance

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

  4. 04
    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

  5. 05
    Get business insurance

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

  6. 06
    Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity

    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

  7. 07
    Business Services

    USI Insurance Services · USI advises clients...and provides solutions for...Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability... · accessed 2026-09-23

  8. 08
    USI Specialty Program Solutions

    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

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

CPA Program and Underwriter

USI Affinity serves as endorsed producer for the AICPA Professional Liability Program, marketed to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms; USI names CNA as the underwriter for that program. It separately brokers E&O for other business types through Business Services. Nationwide describes E&O for professionals and service businesses, but its overview does not identify a CPA-specific endorsed program or an insurer for a particular quote. A CPA firm should compare the AICPA program with the exact class and insurer Nationwide proposes. [6] [3]

Practice Resources and Application

USI says enrolled CPA firms can access supportive claims handling, engagement-letter templates and risk-management resources, and directs quote or renewal requests to its Affinity team. Nationwide directs buyers to an agent or quote request and does not detail CPA practice resources in its E&O overview. These services may matter alongside coverage, so ask who provides them and whether they are included with the quoted program. [6] [3]

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

  • Ask USI whether the AICPA program fits the firm’s size, services and ownership, and confirm CNA appears as underwriter on the quote. [6]
  • Ask Nationwide’s agent which insurer, professional class and claims-made terms apply to the CPA practice. [3]
  • Confirm access to engagement-letter templates, claims support and risk-management resources under the USI program. [6]

Areas of coverage

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 ↗

USI Insurance Services

  • role: 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. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • insurer: 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. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: 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. Program page description.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: 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. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The AICPA program page does not publish limit, retention or premium figures; it says coverage plans allow a firm to tailor coverage to its risk profile. Page as read on 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗
  • services: USI says firms enrolled in the program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates, in addition to the coverage itself. Program page description.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page.company-reportedSource ↗

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

Contact Kearny Risk