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The Hartford 2024 Review

Adam Grabois

Lead Insurance Writer


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The Hartford Insurance: Pros and cons

The Hartford Insurance is a premier carrier that provides a range of insurance coverages for home, auto, and business. If you are interested in The Hartford's [business insurance]( and commercial insurance solutions, this article will present an overview of the various coverage options available from this top carrier.

Pros of The Hartford Business Insurance

  • Small business coverage satisfaction rate: According to a 2022 press release by JD Powers, The Hartford has maintained a relatively high consumer ranking. Customer satisfaction includes billing and payment, interactions, and policy experience for customers. The Hartford business insurance is rated 842 out of a 1,000-point scale. This is only 14 points less than the top-rated small business coverage satisfaction score.

Cons of The Hartford Business Insurance

  • Small businesses with less than 5 employees are less satisfied: According to the same press release by JD Powers mentioned above, small business companies that fall under the category of "smaller businesses," with less than 5 employees, are shown to be less satisfied with The Hartford business insurance options, coverage, and customer experience.
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What is The Hartford Insurance?

The Hartford Insurance company is a carrier that provides business, home, and auto insurance coverage. Chartered over 200 years ago in 1810, The Hartford started as a fire insurance company serving the Hartford, Connecticut area, under company president Nathaniel Terry. Fifteen years into business, The Hartford wrote the first-ever insurance policy for the prestigious secondary institution, Yale University.

The Hartford insurance company provides a host of coverages, including and not limited to car insurance, recreational vehicle (RV) insurance, commercial auto insurance, homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and general liability insurance for businesses.

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Key Features of The Hartford Insurance

Hartford business solutions include several levels of coverage for home, business, and auto customers. The Hartford has several business policies that can cover a company for specific risks, such as lawsuits, property damage, lost income, data breach, and various other perils.

Companies can get coverage with a Business Owners' policy, also known as a BOP. Obtaining a Business Owner's Policy can help meet the various needs a business has for its operations. The suite of business-related insurance products by The Hartford includes the following:

  • Business personal property insurance
  • Business Income Insurance
  • Professional Liability Insurance
  • Workers' Compensation Insurance
  • Commercial Auto Policy
  • Data Breach Insurance
  • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
  • Commercial Flood Insurance
  • Employment Practices Liability (EPL)
  • Risk Engineering
  • Multinational Insurance
  • Surety Bonds
  • Home-Based Business Insurance

If you choose to buy a BOP, you can also customize the policy to meet your business's needs. For example, if you are a small home-based business that manages customer data, you may want to make sure you are covered for any data breaches or even loss of income. In this case, you could buy a Business Owner's Policy that covers home-based businesses, with a rider for Business Income Interruption Insurance Coverage, and even a Cyber-Liability Insurance endorsement as well.

Policy Exclusions

Most insurance policies have exclusions, so it is best to read policy terms thoroughly. An individual or company that has specific needs can also request endorsements on those specific exclusions as well—typically for the cost of additional premiums.

Typical insurance exclusions can include and are not limited to civil unrest, war, natural disasters, inclement weather, intentional theft, fraudulent acts, and even certain auto accidents. It's always wise to consider adding coverage riders where necessary to be secure and cover any unanticipated risks.

On-Demand Policy Modifications

Sometimes insurance needs may change after a policy has already been issued. The Hartford offers the ability to make on-demand policy modifications as your or your business needs change. If you need to increase policy face amounts, add or modify coverage, or even add optional endorsements, it's possible to do so with ease with on-demand policy modifications.

Filing a Claim

It's important to notify your carrier of a claim as soon as possible. Make sure to document as much as safely possible, including photographic, video, and documentary evidence. Police and Fire Department reports, and even eyewitness statements, are all important documentation.

The Hartford makes starting a claim very easy, including the ability to submit a claim on their website. All you need is the policy number and any information pertaining to the incident or adverse circumstance.

If you would prefer to make a claim over the phone, you could also do so toll-free at 1-800-327-3636 to start and submit your claim.

Here is an example of the General Liability claim form on the Hartford website. Also, here is another example of a claim form for a Worker's Compensation claim.

Get Instant Coverage

Instant coverage is an option with The Hartford, after a policy application is submitted. The process to get a quote is as simple as submitting a few pieces of information.

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How to get a The Hartford business insurance policy

To get business insurance with The Hartford, you can submit a form online for a quote on a policy or call 1-855-487-0783 to speak with a representative.

Cost of The Hartford Business Insurance

The cost of business insurance can vary depending on the policy that has been elected. According to The Hartford's website, the average cost of small business insurance can typically range from anywhere between $70 to $261.25 per month.

Coverage Business Owners’ Policy General Liability Insurance
Average annual business insurance cost $3,135 $1,057
Average monthly business insurance cost $261.25 $88.08

Eligible Businesses

Eligible businesses for coverage by The Hartford include many categories of companies. Everything from small businesses with less than 5 employees to home-based businesses—and even businesses with large groups of employees.

Covered professions include and are not limited to photographers, landscapers, real estate agents, and restaurant owners, just to name a few.

Insurance Discounts

If you are a larger business with needs that include policies like Workers Compensation and Employee Dishonesty coverage, speaking with an insurance representative can help you determine where you can save without sacrificing coverage.

Another tip for discounts on insurance coverage is to price compare or ask for available discounts or promotions. If you combine certain types of policies, it is likely that you will be able to save money by bundling, as opposed to binding separate policies for different coverages.

Insurance Cancellation

If your needs change during the policy term, you may want an option to cancel your policy. While certain states have rules regarding policy replacements, generally cancellation is as simple as a phone call to the carrier. Unlike health insurance, property and casualty insurance can be more readily replaced or canceled regardless of an enrollment period.

The Hartford Business Insurance Products

Business Owner's Policy

The Business Owners Policy (BOP) is a great option for most business owners as these policies provide coverage for the majority of likely circumstances. Whether it’s bodily injuries, property damage, advertising-related injuries, commercial property damage, or loss of income due to unforeseen circumstances—a BOP policy can provide substantial financial relief.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance (GLI) covers most accidents involving people or their property. If someone makes a claim against your place of business because they had a fall, or their property has been jeopardized, stolen, or damaged—GLI can provide financial restitution on behalf of your business. This type of insurance is required for most businesses that are working in a business-to-business (B2B) capacity.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance helps businesses protect themselves from perils such as Fire, Burglary, Theft, Wind Damage, and Lightning. Commercial property insurance can provide financial protection for not just the place of business but also the tools, equipment, and technology on-site.

Business Income Insurance

Business income insurance is a way to prevent any income loss during an interruption of business operations for specific circumstances. For example, if your business location suffers a fire and is unable to continue business operations, business income insurance can replace all or a portion of the loss of revenue to cover typical overhead like rent, utilities, and payroll.

Workers' Compensation insurance

Workers compensation insurance is required coverage for employers in most states. This mandatory coverage helps mitigate lawsuits, or torts, resulting from injuries suffered by employees in the ordinary course of business. Every employer, at minimum, should make sure to have the right coverage in case of any worker accidents. If one of your employees suffers an injury, this program can help cover their medical expenses.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance is often referred to as Errors and Omissions insurance. For certain professions like Doctors and Attorneys, it may be known as Malpractice Insurance. It protects the insured against claims from clientele or others that may suffer damage or loss as a result of the insured.

Tools and Equipment Insurance

If you have a business that requires the use of specialized tools and equipment, such as a landscaping company, construction business, or even a high-end party rental business, a tools and equipment insurance policy can help provide the necessary coverage for any damage or incidents with the tools.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you use or own vehicles for your business, a commercial auto insurance policy is recommended. This type of policy can provide coverage for accidents that happen when you or your employees are operating business-owned or hired vehicles. Medical costs, bodily injury, and property damage are covered up to coverage limits in the event of an accident or other loss.

Best Alternatives to The Hartford Business Insurance

The best alternatives to The Hartford Business Insurance company would be State Farm which ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction with a JD Power score of 856. Chubb (855) ranks second, and Nationwide (854) ranks third.

The 2022 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study is based on responses from 2,254 small commercial insurance customers. The study, now in its 10th year, examines overall customer satisfaction among small commercial insurance customers with 50 or fewer employees. Overall satisfaction consists of five factors (in alphabetical order): billing and payment; claims; interaction; policy offerings; and price. The study was fielded from March through June 2022.

For more information about the J.D. Power U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/insurance/us-small-commercial-insurance-satisfaction-study.

What Sets The Hartford Insurance Apart?

The Hartford Insurance has been recognized by CNBC and JUST Capital as number 32 (out of 100) in the “2023 JUST 100” top list for outstanding service and commitment not only to its customers, shareholders, and employees but to communities and the environment as well.

The Hartford Insurance ranks in 1st place in the insurance category for support to its community through charitable donations, job creation, community development, human rights, and volunteering efforts.

Who Shouldn't Use The Hartford?

Customers that are looking for personal insurance products like life and health insurance would not find any insurance product available in The Hartford’s suite of products. The Hartford provides insurance policies for Business, Home, and Auto.

Certain products, such as car insurance, can also be priced higher than average.

My Experience Researching The Hartford

The first thing The Hartford asks for in the business insurance quote process is whether you are already in business, have existing business insurance—or whether you are new in business, and need a new policy.

The next prompt is regarding the structure of the business. Is it a Corporation, Limited Liability Corp, or a Sole Proprietorship? You will need to put your business name, as registered with the Secretary of State, and then the EIN (Employer Identification Number) that is used to identify your business.

Once you fill in the rest of the basic information, including the property address, whether you do business on-site, and other business specific questions, you are then asked what type of insurance you want to shop for.

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In our run-through, we selected General Liability Insurance with home-based business coverage as an add-on. Lastly, we chose the date with which we would like to start our policy—our instant quote was very reasonable for the year, coming in at a $415 annual premium.

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Summary / Should you purchase The Hartford business insurance?

The Hartford business insurance is a well-established insurance carrier, with coverage options available for businesses of all sizes. They have an A.M. Best Rating of A+, an A1 from Moody's, and A+ from Standard & Poor's. You could obtain a BOP with additional coverages or select the coverage that is right for you. Most businesses will require General Liability Insurance and will also need to show written proof with an ACORD Form, also known as a Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI). Obtaining an instant quote and binding coverage with The Hartford is the first step in the process.

The Hartford provides General Liability Insurance, Business Property Insurance, Cyber-Liability and Data Breach Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance, just to name a few products.

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Methodology

When looking at small business insurance carriers, we want to know that our customers are working with the best. This is why we search for carriers and marketplaces that have high AM Best ratings. We review the key features of the companies and closely examine how costs are derived. The quote process is essential to a good customer experience, which is why we go through the process to test the efficiency of the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hartford Insurance company still in business?

The Harford Insurance company is still in business and has been for over 200+ years. The Hartford services over 1MM small business customers, and it has been recognized for outstanding services multiple times over the years. The Insurance company has been recognized as the "World's Most Ethical Company" for its 14th year in a row.

What type of insurance company is The Hartford?

The Hartford is deemed a leader in the property and casualty insurance industry, providing customers with financial instruments in several sectors, including business insurance products, personal lines, employee benefits, and even ETFs and Mutual funds.

What is the best insurance company for LLC?

The best insurance companies for LLCs would be from an underwriter that specializes in covering liabilities for the specific type of business, its needs, and risk complexities.

For example, if a business entity is a tech software (SAAS) company that stores customer data, this type of business will not just need general liability coverage, but also a rider that protects their business from cyber-attacks and data breaches.

The type of business you operate under a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) will determine the optimal type of insurance your company should choose for coverage.

Is The Hartford good at paying claims?

The Hartford Insurance company is recognized for its diligence with claims processing. Although with so many clients, The Hartford has received some negative reviews for less than expected customer service support.

How can I get a Certificate of Insurance?

To obtain a Certificate of Insurance from Hartford, simply request a copy from customer service by phone, or you can log into your portal to instantly access the document there. Proof of Insurance is generally referred to as a COI or ACORD Form. Many vendors will be required to show as a COI to prove the coverages, face amounts, insured, and any additional named insureds of the policy.

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