Carrier comparison
EMPLOYERS vs. Travelers for Workers' Comp
EMPLOYERS and Travelers are two workers' compensation carriers we can quote side by side through Provident Financial Group, an independent agency. On one application we present every carrier we can access, ranked, so you can compare and purchase online.
EMPLOYERS and Travelers take different approaches to workers' compensation for small businesses. The details below come directly from each carrier's record on this site — we present the facts we have verified so you can compare them directly, then request quotes through our agency. We do not rank one carrier above another; we show every option side by side.
When you submit one application through US Workers Comp Insure, we request quotes from every carrier we can access for your class code and state, including both EMPLOYERS and Travelers where each carrier's appetite and underwriting criteria allow it. A carrier that declines is shown honestly rather than hidden, and a licensed agent at Provident Financial Group can explain why and what alternatives remain.
The two carriers
EMPLOYERS
EMPLOYERS is a small-business workers' comp specialist that began in 1913 as a Nevada state fund and is now the publicly traded Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EIG), headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Its insurance subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), and the company writes workers' comp exclusively.
- AM Best rating:
- A (Excellent) (as of 2025-01)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best upgraded Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) on January 8, 2025 (from A-)
- Focuses exclusively on workers' compensation insurance -- a single-line specialist
- Began in 1913 as a Nevada state workers' compensation fund
- Parent Employers Holdings, Inc. is publicly traded (NYSE: EIG)
- Headquartered in Reno, Nevada
- Online policy servicing and safety resources built for small employers
Typical fit
- Small businesses whose primary insurance need is workers' compensation specifically
- Employers who want a carrier with a long history in the workers' comp line alone
- Accounts seeking online self-service tools for policy management
- Businesses previously covered by a state fund that want a similarly focused private option
Travelers
Travelers is a large, publicly traded national commercial insurer founded in 1864, carrying an AM Best A++ (Superior) rating. Its workers' comp program includes pay-as-you-go billing and dedicated risk-control services, and it is written for a wide range of small to large commercial accounts.
- AM Best rating:
- A++ (Superior) (as of 2026-08)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A++ (Superior); Long-Term ICR of aa+ (Superior), affirmed August 21, 2026
- One of the largest commercial property-casualty insurers in the U.S.
- Dedicated risk-control division offering safety consulting and claims-management resources
- Pay-as-you-go premium payment option available
- Founded 1864 in Hartford, Connecticut; parent is publicly traded (NYSE: TRV)
- Broad appetite across small, mid-size, and large national accounts
Typical fit
- Established businesses seeking a large, highly rated national carrier
- Employers who want access to formal risk-control and safety-consulting services
- Multi-state or growing businesses that may need program flexibility as they scale
- Accounts that prefer pay-as-you-go premium billing
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states
Side by side
| Attribute | EMPLOYERS | Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | EMPLOYERS | Travelers |
| AM Best financial strength rating | A (Excellent) (as of 2025-01) | A++ (Superior) (as of 2026-08) |
| How it's quoted | Through our agency, alongside other carriers | Through our agency, alongside other carriers |
| Typical account fit | Small businesses whose primary insurance need is workers' compensation specifically; Employers who want a carrier with a long history in the workers' comp line alone; Accounts seeking online self-service tools for policy management | Established businesses seeking a large, highly rated national carrier; Employers who want access to formal risk-control and safety-consulting services; Multi-state or growing businesses that may need program flexibility as they scale |
| Overview | EMPLOYERS is a small-business workers' comp specialist that began in 1913 as a Nevada state fund and is now the publicly traded Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EIG), headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Its insurance subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), and the company writes workers' comp exclusively. | Travelers is a large, publicly traded national commercial insurer founded in 1864, carrying an AM Best A++ (Superior) rating. Its workers' comp program includes pay-as-you-go billing and dedicated risk-control services, and it is written for a wide range of small to large commercial accounts. |
How each is quoted through our agency
EMPLOYERS
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
Travelers
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
The bottom line
There is no single "best" carrier between EMPLOYERS and Travelers. The right fit depends on your operation, class codes, payroll and how each carrier's underwriting appetite lines up with your account — and that is exactly what one application, sent to every carrier we can access, is built to show you.
Rather than choosing one carrier up front, US Workers Comp Insure requests quotes from every carrier we can access for your state and class code, including EMPLOYERS and Travelers where each carrier's criteria allow it, and presents them ranked side by side. A carrier that declines is shown honestly rather than hidden, and a licensed agent at Provident Financial Group can explain why and what alternatives remain.
Frequently asked questions
Are EMPLOYERS and Travelers both available through your agency?
Yes. Both are carriers we can present side by side when you request workers' compensation quotes through our agency, alongside the other carriers we can access for your state and class code.
How do EMPLOYERS and Travelers compare on AM Best rating?
EMPLOYERS carries an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent) (as of 2025-01), and Travelers carries A++ (Superior) (as of 2026-08). Ratings are for identification only and do not imply an endorsement.
Which should I choose, EMPLOYERS or Travelers?
There is no single best answer. The right carrier depends on your operation, class codes, payroll and how each carrier's underwriting appetite fits your account. Rather than picking one up front, we request quotes from every carrier we can access and show you a ranked comparison so you can decide.
Do I have to choose only one carrier to get a quote?
No. You submit one application and we request quotes from every carrier we can access for your account — including EMPLOYERS and Travelers where each carrier's criteria allow it — then present them ranked side by side.
Does EMPLOYERS sell any insurance besides workers' comp?
EMPLOYERS focuses exclusively on workers' compensation insurance rather than offering a broad range of commercial lines.
What is EMPLOYERS' AM Best rating?
AM Best upgraded EMPLOYERS' operating subsidiaries to a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) on January 8, 2025.
How old is Travelers as a company?
Travelers Insurance Company was founded in 1864 in Hartford, Connecticut, making it one of the oldest continuously operating insurers in the U.S.
What is Travelers' AM Best rating?
Travelers' principal subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A++ (Superior) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of aa+ (Superior), affirmed August 21, 2026.
Sources
- employers.com — https://www.employers.com/news/2025/am-best-upgrades-the-financial-strength-ratings-for-employers-holdings-inc-s-operating-subsidiaries-to-a-excellent/
- investor.eig.com — https://investor.eig.com/news-releases/news-release-details/am-best-upgrades-financial-strength-ratings-employers-holdings
- stocktitan.net — https://www.stocktitan.net/news/TRV/am-best-affirms-credit-ratings-of-the-travelers-companies-inc-and-qjpdu3no5h6o.html
- travelers.com — https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/travelers-history
- travelers.com — https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/financial-strength
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents
Carrier names are used for identification only; we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier. Quotes are not offers of insurance; coverage and pricing are determined by each carrier’s underwriting.
US Workers Comp Insure is a brand of Provident Financial Group, a licensed independent insurance agency. NJ resident license; licensed in 23 states — NJ, NY, CT, VT, OH, MI, VA, PA, DE, MD, NC, SC, GA, FL, TX, KY, KS, CA, IN, AZ, DC, MA and NV. State license numbers available on request. We are an independent agency, not an insurer; coverage is underwritten by the issuing carrier and is subject to that policy's terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Quotes are not offers of insurance, and no coverage is bound until confirmed in writing by a licensed agent. Carrier names are used for identification only; we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier named on this site.
View this comparison at https://usworkerscompinsure.com/compare/employers-vs-travelers-workers-comp
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states