Carrier comparison
Markel vs. NEXT Insurance for Workers' Comp
Markel and NEXT Insurance 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.
Markel and NEXT Insurance 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 Markel and NEXT Insurance 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
Markel
Markel is a specialty insurer founded in 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia, now headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Its major insurance subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), and its Markel Specialty division includes a small-business workers' compensation offering.
- AM Best rating:
- A (Excellent) (as of 2026-09)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) for major operating entities, as of September 15, 2026
- Founded 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia
- Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with offices across 18 countries
- Markel Specialty division offers workers' compensation for small businesses
- Built around specialty and non-standard commercial risks
- Distributed exclusively through independent agents
Typical fit
- Small businesses with specialty or non-standard risk characteristics
- Accounts that may not fit a standard-market carrier's appetite
- Employers already working with Markel for other specialty coverage lines
- Businesses comfortable with an agent-distributed specialty carrier
NEXT Insurance
NEXT Insurance is a small-business insurtech founded in 2016 in Palo Alto, California, now operating under the ERGO NEXT Insurance brand following its 2025 acquisition by ERGO Group, a Munich Re company. NEXT's underwriting entity carries an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior).
- AM Best rating:
- A+ (Superior) (as of 2025-09)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior); Long-Term ICR aa (Superior), announced September 16, 2025
- Founded 2016 in Palo Alto, California, as a digital-first small-business insurer
- Acquired by ERGO Group (Munich Re); deal closed July 2025, rebranding to ERGO NEXT Insurance underway
- Fast, largely automated online application built for small business and self-employed accounts
- Reported approaching 750,000 small-business customers as of its 2025 AM Best announcement
- Distributes through independent agents in addition to its direct online channel
Typical fit
- Very small businesses and self-employed individuals wanting a fast online application
- Micro-businesses with simple, single-state operations
- Employers comfortable with a digitally native, app-driven servicing experience
- Accounts that value speed of issuance over in-person agent consultation
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Side by side
| Attribute | Markel | NEXT Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Markel | NEXT Insurance |
| AM Best financial strength rating | A (Excellent) (as of 2026-09) | A+ (Superior) (as of 2025-09) |
| How it's quoted | Through our agency, alongside other carriers | Through our agency, alongside other carriers |
| Typical account fit | Small businesses with specialty or non-standard risk characteristics; Accounts that may not fit a standard-market carrier's appetite; Employers already working with Markel for other specialty coverage lines | Very small businesses and self-employed individuals wanting a fast online application; Micro-businesses with simple, single-state operations; Employers comfortable with a digitally native, app-driven servicing experience |
| Overview | Markel is a specialty insurer founded in 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia, now headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Its major insurance subsidiaries carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), and its Markel Specialty division includes a small-business workers' compensation offering. | NEXT Insurance is a small-business insurtech founded in 2016 in Palo Alto, California, now operating under the ERGO NEXT Insurance brand following its 2025 acquisition by ERGO Group, a Munich Re company. NEXT's underwriting entity carries an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior). |
How each is quoted through our agency
Markel
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
NEXT Insurance
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 Markel and NEXT Insurance. 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 Markel and NEXT Insurance 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 Markel and NEXT Insurance 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 Markel and NEXT Insurance compare on AM Best rating?
Markel carries an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent) (as of 2026-09), and NEXT Insurance carries A+ (Superior) (as of 2025-09). Ratings are for identification only and do not imply an endorsement.
Which should I choose, Markel or NEXT Insurance?
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 Markel and NEXT Insurance where each carrier's criteria allow it — then present them ranked side by side.
When was Markel founded?
Markel was founded in 1930 by Samuel A. Markel in Norfolk, Virginia.
What is Markel's AM Best rating?
Markel's major insurance-operating entities carry an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), as of September 15, 2026, per Markel's own financial-strength disclosures.
Is NEXT Insurance the same company as ERGO NEXT Insurance?
Yes. NEXT Insurance is rebranding as ERGO NEXT Insurance following its 2025 acquisition by ERGO Group, a Munich Re company; it is the same underlying business.
What is NEXT's AM Best rating?
NEXT's rated underwriting entity earned an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of aa (Superior), announced September 16, 2025.
Sources
- markel.com — https://www.markel.com/about-us/financial-strength
- markel.com — https://www.markel.com/us/commercial/small-business/workers-compensation
- en.wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markel_Group
- nextinsurance.com — https://www.nextinsurance.com/blog/next-insurance-earns-a-superior-rating-from-am-best-approaches-750000-small-business-customers/
- workcompwire.com — https://www.workcompwire.com/2025/09/next-insurance-earns-a-superior-rating-from-am-best/
- finance.yahoo.com — https://finance.yahoo.com/news/next-insurance-changes-name-ergo-084615809.html
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/markel-vs-next-insurance-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