Insurance provider review
Hiscox Insurance Review 2026
Hiscox sells U.S. small business insurance online and by phone. This source-based profile identifies the insurers behind its policies, where it sells and what to verify in a quote.
Quick facts
- AM Best
- A (Excellent), Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (per Hiscox 2025 report)
- Founded
- 1901 (Hiscox group)
- States
- 49 states and DC; not Alaska (Hiscox state page, December 2025)
Pros
- Hiscox's 2025 annual report lists an AM Best A (Excellent) rating for its U.S. insurer, Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.
- Online quotes and purchase, with a licensed-agent phone line open seven days a week
- Lists professional liability, general liability, BOP, cyber, workers' comp and commercial auto coverage
- Provider says it issues a certificate of insurance once you buy a policy
Cons
- Small business coverage was unavailable in Alaska, according to Hiscox's state page as archived in December 2025
- Workers' comp sold through Hiscox is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company, not Hiscox
- Provider says coverage is not available in all states or classes of business
Hiscox sells small business insurance in the United States online and by phone, and its website names Hiscox Insurance Company Inc., an Illinois-domiciled insurer, as the underwriter. Hiscox's state page, in a copy archived December 31, 2025, lists 49 states and the District of Columbia and says coverage is unavailable in Alaska. In its 2025 annual report, the Hiscox group lists Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. as rated A (Excellent) by AM Best. Hiscox legal notices, Hiscox state list, Hiscox Ltd Report and Accounts 2025, page 186.
Hiscox may be worth exploring if you run a small business, such as a consultancy, and want to buy coverage online. Its site lists business consultants, IT consultants and architects among the professions it insures. Its workers' compensation comes from a different insurer: Hiscox's workers' comp page says that product is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company. Hiscox small business page, Hiscox workers' compensation page.
Sources were checked on October 3, 2026. Hiscox's website blocked automated access during our check, so hiscox.com links point to dated Internet Archive copies of its official pages. This profile summarizes official documents and is not a quote, a service test or an eligibility decision.
Hiscox: verified facts and limits
"Checked" is the date we reviewed each source. Where a link is an archived copy, the source label gives the capture date.
| Fact | Primary source | Checked | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hiscox group traces its origins to a single underwriter at Lloyd's in 1901. It is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange. | Hiscox group history, Hiscox legal notices, archived October 1, 2026 | 2026-10-03 | The group's age is not evidence of price or claim outcomes. |
| Hiscox opened its own U.S. insurance company in 2006 and sells to businesses through brokers or online. | Hiscox group structure | 2026-10-03 | The buying route can affect who services your policy. |
| Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is admitted or licensed in all 50 states and DC. Hiscox Inc., a licensed intermediary, places business with that insurer, other domestic insurers and Lloyd's syndicates. | Hiscox legal notices, archived October 1, 2026 | 2026-10-03 | Check which insurer issues each policy in your proposal. |
| In that December 2025 copy, Hiscox said it was licensed to offer small business insurance in 49 states, its list included DC, and coverage was unavailable in Alaska. | Hiscox state page, archived December 31, 2025, small business page, archived October 1, 2026 | 2026-10-03 | The site also says coverage is not available in all states or classes of business. |
| The group's 2025 report lists an AM Best rating of A (Excellent) for Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. | Hiscox Ltd Report and Accounts 2025, page 186 | 2026-10-03 | This is the provider's report of the rating. Confirm the current rating with AM Best if a contract requires one. |
| The small business site lists general liability, professional liability (E&O), BOP, cyber security, workers' compensation, commercial auto, short-term liability and medical malpractice. Other listed coverages include umbrella, property and inland marine. | Small business page, archived October 1, 2026 | 2026-10-03 | A listed product is not confirmation that your business qualifies. |
| Workers' comp is made available through Hiscox Inc., doing business as Hiscox Insurance Agency in California, and underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company. | Workers' compensation page, archived July 26, 2026 | 2026-10-03 | Rating evidence for this policy relates to Hartford Fire. Ask where its claims should be reported. |
| Buying two or more Hiscox business insurance products can save up to 5%. | Small business page: savings | 2026-10-03 | Ask whether the saving applies to the products in your quote. |
| Hiscox provides a certificate of insurance once you buy a policy. Claims can be filed online, by phone or by mail. | Small business page: FAQs | 2026-10-03 | The site says its descriptions do not change the policy or imply that a claim is covered. |
| The small business phone line is listed as open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and weekends, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. | Contact page, archived July 18, 2026 | 2026-10-03 | Hours can change. Check the current contact page before you call. |
Workers' compensation through Hiscox
If you buy workers' comp through Hiscox, the policy comes from Hartford Fire Insurance Company, with Hiscox's agency arranging it. That matters when you check financial strength: look at the insurer named on the policy, and ask where workers' comp claims should be reported. AM Best affirmed Hartford Fire's A+ (Superior) rating on July 22, 2026. Hiscox workers' comp page, archived July 26, 2026, AM Best rating action.
No private insurer sells workers' comp in North Dakota, Ohio, Washington or Wyoming. North Dakota's Workforce Safety & Insurance describes these as the four exclusive state funds, where employers buy from the state fund. North Dakota WSI overview. Our workers' compensation guide and profile of The Hartford give more background.
Professional liability: what to check in a Hiscox proposal
Hiscox's professional liability page says the policy may pay legal defense costs, attorney fees, settlements and judgments up to your policy limits. Ask whether defense costs in your proposed policy reduce the amount left for a settlement. The page also says its policies cover work performed worldwide when the legal action is filed in the U.S., U.S. territories or Canada. It adds that Hiscox may offer retroactive coverage for earlier work. Hiscox professional liability page, archived July 18, 2026.
Before you buy, compare how each professional liability policy describes the services you actually provide. Ask for the retroactive date in writing. If you also need general liability or cyber insurance, ask whether each is a separate policy with its own limit and deductible.
What to compare before buying
| Your priority | Question for Hiscox or your agent |
|---|---|
| A client contract lists insurance terms | Does the proposal meet each required limit, endorsement and additional insured request? |
| You have employees | Which insurer issues the workers' comp policy, and who handles its claims and audits? |
| You own equipment or rent space | Does the business owner's policy cover property at every location you use? |
| Past projects could lead to claims | What retroactive date applies, and does it reach back to your earlier work? |
| You are comparing prices | What is the full-term premium, including fees, and does the multi-product saving apply? |
Our guide for freelancers covers common coverage questions for solo service businesses.
How much does Hiscox cost?
Your price comes from a quote. Hiscox's site shows illustrative prices, and its footnote says costs given before an official quote are estimates and not guaranteed. Hiscox pricing disclosures, archived October 1, 2026.
Once you have proposals, use our quote comparison worksheet to line up premium, limits, deductibles, retroactive dates and open questions. Compare quotes only after confirming that they describe the same work and the same coverage.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Always consult with a licensed insurance professional before making coverage decisions.