Finding Affordable Errors and Omissions Insurance

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Finding affordable errors and omissions insurance can be a daunting task, especially for freelancers and small business owners on a tight budget. Many options are available, but it's essential to understand what they cover.

Errors and omissions insurance typically covers professional liability, such as mistakes or oversights that lead to financial losses for clients. This type of insurance is crucial for professionals who offer advice or services.

To find affordable options, consider shopping around and comparing quotes from different insurance providers. This can help you find the best coverage for your needs and budget.

Some insurance companies offer discounts for bundling policies or for professionals with a good claims history.

What is Errors and Omissions Insurance?

Errors and omissions insurance, also known as E&O insurance, is a type of coverage that protects your business from the financial fallout of mistakes or alleged mistakes. It covers the costs of legal claims or alleged damage caused to a customer by errors or unintentional omissions from your work.

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E&O insurance is often used interchangeably with professional liability insurance, but the small difference is that professional liability insurance is generally considered to be more of an umbrella product that covers a wider range of needs.

Imagine you're a makeup artist and you use a type of makeup on a bride that she's allergic to, causing her to break out with a terrible rash. Without E&O insurance, you'd have to pay out of pocket for her medical bills and legal fees.

E&O insurance covers a range of scenarios, including mistakes or alleged mistakes, legal defense costs, omissions or alleged omissions, claims and damages, and more.

Here's a quick rundown of what E&O insurance usually covers:

  • Mistakes or alleged mistakes
  • Legal defense costs
  • Omissions or alleged omissions
  • Claims and damages
  • And more

However, E&O insurance doesn't cover intentional mistakes and omissions, property damage, medical expenses, bodily injury, and more.

Why is Errors and Omissions Insurance Important?

Everyone makes mistakes, and as a professional, you're not immune to errors. Providing services to clients carries a certain amount of risk, and Errors and Omissions insurance can protect you from two of the biggest risks: making mistakes or having an angry customer claim you've made a mistake.

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Your policy can make things right again by recouping the client's financial losses, plus paying for any resulting legal fees. Even if it's your employee who made the unintentional error, your policy can still cover you.

Errors and Omissions insurance can pay for legal bills if you need to hire a lawyer to defend you against a baseless claim, saving you from paying out-of-pocket for your attorney's fees.

Why Is It Important?

Mistakes happen, and they can have a significant impact on your clients. Everyone makes mistakes, whether it's a personal trainer, lawyer, or insurance agent.

Providing services to clients carries a certain amount of risk, and Errors and Omissions insurance can protect you from two of the biggest risks you'll face. Your policy can recoup the client's financial losses, plus pay for any resulting legal fees.

Even if it's your employee who made the unintentional error, your policy can still cover you.

Your policy can pay for legal bills if you need to hire a lawyer to defend you against a baseless claim. Otherwise, you'd still have to pay out-of-pocket for your attorney's fees.

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Errors and Omissions insurance isn't required by federal law, but it's worth noting that your profession may require you to take out a policy to get licensed or registered.

Your clients may require you to have E&O insurance to do business with you, so it's essential to check with them before starting a project.

This requirement can vary depending on your profession, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

You may also need E&O insurance to get a government contract, as it's often a requirement for Professional Liability insurance.

Here are some reasons why E&O insurance is a good idea:

  • Your clients require it to do business with you.
  • You want a government contract, and you need E&O insurance or Professional Liability insurance to get the contract.
  • It helps you look professional and safe as a business owner.
  • It sets you apart from competitors who may not carry this insurance policy.
  • You want to cover yourself and your business in case an employee makes a mistake.
  • You just want to get better sleep at night!

How to Find and Compare Errors and Omissions Insurance

You can find affordable errors and omissions insurance by shopping around and comparing quotes from multiple insurance carriers. Different insurance companies will offer different prices for errors and omissions insurance.

One way to get started is to use a digital insurance agency like Insureon, which can retrieve quotes from top-rated providers like The Hartford and Chubb with a single online application. This can save you time and effort.

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You can also work with a licensed insurance agent from Insureon to navigate different coverage options and find an affordable E&O policy that meets your needs. They can ensure the policy provides the coverage you need to fulfill contracts, meet legal requirements, or reduce risks common to your profession.

Here are some ways to keep costs low:

  • Compare rates from different insurance companies
  • Bundling your E&O policy with other insurance products
  • Selecting cost-saving options on your errors and omissions insurance coverage
  • Keeping your claims history clean

By following these tips, you can find cheap errors and omissions insurance that meets your needs and budget.

Do I Need?

Do I Need Errors and Omissions Insurance?

Even if you don't make mistakes, you could still be accused of making mistakes by your clients. This is why every business owner who provides services to clients or customers should have an E&O policy.

The benefits of errors and omissions insurance are clear: it provides a foundation of protection in the event you accidentally make mistakes during the course of your work. This can be a lifesaver in the event of a lawsuit.

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Let's take a look at the different business types that should have an E&O insurance policy:

  • Accountant
  • Architect
  • Attorney
  • Beauty
  • Digital Marketing
  • DJ
  • Esthetician
  • Financial Planner
  • Graphic Designer
  • Hair Salon
  • Hair Stylist
  • Insurance Agent
  • Interior Design
  • IT Consulting
  • Land Surveyor
  • Lawyer
  • Photographer
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Tax Preparer

This list isn't exhaustive, so if you don't see your business type here, you should still use a quote form to determine if your business needs errors and omissions insurance.

How Do I Find?

Finding the right errors and omissions insurance can be a daunting task, but there are ways to make it easier. You can start by comparing quotes from multiple insurance carriers, as different companies will offer varying prices and coverage options.

To make this process smoother, you can work with a digital insurance agency like Insureon, which can provide quotes from top-rated providers like The Hartford and Chubb with a single online application. This way, you can get multiple quotes at once and find the most affordable policy for your business.

You can also consider bundling your E&O policy with other insurance products, which can help you save money. For example, combining property coverage with your liability insurance can give you a discount of $57 per month.

A Woman Holding Key and Insurance Policy
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To keep costs low, it's essential to maintain a safe work environment, as this can help you manage risk and lower your insurance costs. Additionally, keeping your claims history clean can also help you pay less for your E&O insurance.

Here are some ways to keep costs low:

  • Compare rates from different insurance companies
  • Bundling your E&O policy with other insurance products
  • Selecting cost-saving options on your errors and omissions insurance coverage
  • Keeping your claims history clean

By following these tips, you can find affordable errors and omissions insurance that meets your business needs and provides the necessary protection against financial loss.

Your Policy's Deductible

A deductible is the amount of money you must pay toward a claim before your insurance benefits kick in.

Higher deductibles mean lower premiums, but you'll have to pay that amount before you can collect on a claim. Most TechInsurance customers choose a deductible of $2,500 for errors and omissions insurance.

The amount you pay towards the deductible might be insignificant compared to what the insurance policy covers, especially if a claim does occur.

If a claim does occur, the policy will cover the remaining amount after you've paid the deductible.

Expand your knowledge: What's an Insurance Claim

Bundle Policies

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Bundling policies can help you save money on your errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. By combining your E&O policy with other insurance products, you can often get a discount.

Insurance companies often give discounts when you bundle multiple policies together. This includes your errors and omissions policy. For example, tech and IT companies can combine their E&O coverage and cyber insurance in a bundle called technology errors and omissions insurance, or tech E&O.

A tech E&O policy provides liability coverage related to oversights and mistakes, failure to deliver promised IT services, accusations of professional negligence, third-party cyber insurance, and intellectual property and media liability. You can learn more about the types of claims tech E&O insurance covers.

By bundling your policies, you can simplify your insurance management and potentially save money on premiums. Some insurance companies offer discounts for bundling, so it's worth exploring these options when comparing rates.

Here are some examples of policies that can be bundled with E&O insurance:

  • General liability insurance
  • Business owner's policy (BOP)
  • Cyber insurance
  • Professional liability insurance

Factors Affecting Errors and Omissions Insurance Costs

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The cost of errors and omissions insurance can vary significantly depending on several factors.

Your coverage limits are a major factor in determining the cost of your E&O policy. Most small business owners opt for a $1 million per-occurrence limit and a $1 million aggregate limit, which is the most common choice for 63% of businesses.

Business size and type also play a significant role in determining E&O insurance costs. Your insurance provider will consider these factors when calculating your premium.

Claims history is another crucial factor that affects E&O insurance costs. If your business has a history of claims, your premium will likely be higher.

Industry risk factors can also impact the cost of your E&O policy. Certain industries are more prone to lawsuits, which means higher policy limits may be necessary to protect your business.

The number of employees in your business can also influence the cost of your E&O policy. Larger businesses with more employees may have higher premiums due to the increased risk of claims.

Here are some key factors that affect E&O insurance costs:

  • Coverage limits
  • Claims history
  • Industry risk factors
  • Business size
  • Day-to-day operations
  • Number of employees

Frequently Asked Questions

Is errors and omissions insurance worth it?

Errors and omissions insurance can provide valuable protection for professionals, helping to safeguard against costly mistakes and reputational damage. Consider investing in E&O coverage to shield your business from potential financial risks

Who has the best E&O insurance?

For E&O (Errors and Omissions) insurance, Hiscox is the top choice, offering the best overall coverage. Get a quote to learn more about their comprehensive policies.

Sean Dooley

Lead Writer

Sean Dooley is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting engaging content. With a strong background in research and analysis, Sean has developed a keen eye for detail and a talent for distilling complex information into clear, concise language. Sean's portfolio includes a wide range of articles on topics such as accounting services, where he has demonstrated a deep understanding of financial concepts and a ability to communicate them effectively to diverse audiences.

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