Usi vs Zurich: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

Sole practitioners and regional CPA firms fit USI Insurance Services and its CNA-underwritten AICPA program; Zurich U.S. targets technology, manufacturing and service providers with admitted E&O in most states.

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

Areas of coverage

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 ↗

Zurich U.S.

  • coverage: Zurich says E&O can address professional-service negligence, mistakes or failure to deliver promised services, including defense costs, court fees, settlements and judgments. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; professional errors and omissions; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Zurich names technology, manufacturing and third-party service providers among targeted E&O classes. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; professional errors and omissions; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Zurich’s Pro Plus is a modular suite of coverages in one policy; admitted E&O coverage is available in most states. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; professional errors and omissions; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.company-reportedSource ↗
  • claims: Zurich describes E&O claims specialists and underwriters and says claims are reviewed under policy terms with legal counsel coordination. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; professional errors and omissions; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.company-reportedSource ↗

What Are the Key Differences Between USI Insurance Services and Zurich U.S. Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

CPA Program Versus General E&O Suite

USI’s AICPA program covers CPA firms against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm and provides a defense and covered damages. Zurich describes broader E&O for negligence, mistakes, and failure to deliver services, with target classes including technology, manufacturing, and third-party providers. A CPA firm should compare the dedicated program’s terms against Zurich’s proposed professional-services form. [5] [8] [8]

Claims Support and Enrollment

USI says the AICPA program is underwritten by CNA and gives enrolled firms claims support plus risk resources such as engagement-letter templates; CPA firms contact USI Affinity for quotes or renewals. Zurich describes claims specialists and legal counsel coordination, but not the quote route in the reviewed record. Ask both for limits, enrollment steps, and the first claim contact. [5] [5] [5] [8]

What Should You Confirm in USI Insurance Services and Zurich U.S. Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask USI whether the AICPA/CNA program accepts your firm and what plan limits are available; ask Zurich for its CPA eligibility, quote path, and claims contact. [5] [8]

USI’s AICPA Professional Liability Program is designed for CPA firms, underwritten by CNA, and includes risk-management resources. Zurich describes modular E&O and admitted coverage in most states.

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
    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

  4. 04
    Get business insurance

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

  5. 05
    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

  6. 06
    Business Services

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

  7. 07
    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

  8. 08
    Errors and Omissions Insurance – E&O | Zurich Insurance

    Zurich U.S. · Pro Plus coverage, targeted classes, policy structure, claims and underwriting · accessed 2026-09-28

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