Eight insurers, judged on their claims record

NEXT Insurance

A+ (Superior) · founded 2016

Mixed-to-negative on claims behavior. The buying experience is genuinely excellent and Munich Re ownership means claims-paying capacity isn't in doubt — but the data says trouble at claim time: a 2025 NAIC complaint index of 1.63 (63% more complaints than expected, our own pull from NAIC CIS) and NerdWallet's 2022–2024 finding of far-more-than-expected GL and property complaints, led by delays, low settlements and denial-by-exclusion. Buy it for speed and price with eyes open on the exclusions.

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Thimble

None of its own (it's an agent). Underwriting carriers: Markel A (Excellent), Employers A (Excellent). · founded 2016

Claims are the structural weak point: Thimble doesn't pay claims — it hands them to the underwriting carrier and a TPA, and reviewers consistently report slow, impersonal handling with no phone channel. The nuance the marketing won't tell you: its GL carrier (Markel) actually under-indexes on NAIC complaints, while its workers' comp carrier (Employers) over-indexes badly (NerdWallet, 2022–2024). Best treated as a brilliant COI/short-gig tool, not a partner for a contested high-value claim.

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biBERK

A++ (Superior) · founded 2015

Financially bulletproof, operationally rough. The A++ Berkshire balance sheet means covered claims get paid — but 2022–2024 NAIC data shows far more GL and property complaints than its size predicts (NerdWallet's lowest complaints score), and its 3.7/5 Trustpilot is the weakest of the digital carriers, dominated by billing/collections friction and slow human follow-up. Fine while the policy runs clean; frustrating when you need a person to fix something.

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Coterie Insurance

None of its own (MGA). Underwriting carriers Spinnaker, Benchmark and Clear Spring are rated A- (Excellent). · founded 2018

The hardest of the eight to judge — and that's the verdict. Speed-to-bind is proven; the public claims record is largely unproven: no consumer review base, no own complaint index, A- (not A++) carriers behind it, and the few documented BBB cases split between a badly delayed fire claim and a promptly paid roof claim. If a public track record matters to you, Coterie hasn't built one yet.

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Pie Insurance

A- (Excellent), stable · founded 2017

Financially sound (A- AM Best), and the buying experience genuinely is fast and cheap for small-business workers' comp. The trouble isn't claims-paying capacity or even outright denials — it's billing: premium-audit disputes are the dominant complaint across a 2.3/5 Trustpilot (647 reviews) and an F BBB profile with nine unanswered complaints. The NAIC index reads 2.61 but off only two cases, so we lean on the higher-volume consumer record. Buy Pie for price and speed on comp — but model the year-end audit carefully and keep your payroll records.

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Embroker

None of its own (it's an MGA). Underwriting carriers: Everspan A- (Excellent), stable, affirmed 17 July 2025; Munich Re A+ (Superior). · founded 2015

Judge the carriers, not the brand. Embroker is an MGA, so its claims are paid by Everspan (A-) or Munich Re (A+) — both financially solid — and it carries no complaint index of its own. What consumer record exists is thin and skews negative on service (slow responses, billing and cancellation friction) but rests on tiny samples: a D+ BBB driven by one unanswered complaint, 16 WalletHub reviews. The real strength is specialist startup and professional-services coverage placed fast online; the real unknown is post-sale servicing.

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Huckleberry

None of its own (it's an agency). Underwriting carriers: Markel A (Excellent), affirmed Nov 2025; Berkshire Hathaway GUARD A+ (Superior) but on a negative outlook (Aug 2025) after 2023–25 underwriting losses and reserve strengthening. · founded 2017

Judge the carriers. Huckleberry is an agency that places you with Markel (A) or Berkshire Hathaway GUARD (A+, but on a negative AM Best outlook as of Aug 2025) — so claims-paying capacity is strong, and Huckleberry has no complaint index of its own. Its own Trustpilot is genuinely good (4.4/5 across 332 reviews), heavy on praise for fast quotes and instant COIs, with the usual digital-insurer gripes about reaching a human and renewal surprises. A solid pick for speed and price on simple coverage — just confirm which carrier you're placed with and check that carrier's complaint record.

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Hiscox

A (Excellent) · founded 1901

Mixed-to-concerning. The coverage is well-built for professionals and many policyholders never test it — but the regulator data is the red flag: a complaint index of 1.97 in 2023 and NerdWallet's far-more-complaints-than-expected finding on GL and property (2022–2024), echoed by a 1.6/5 Trustpilot full of denial and slow-claims stories. Fine coverage on paper; claims handling and renewal behavior are the documented weak spots.

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The Hartford

A+ (Superior) · founded 1810

The strongest of the eight on hard data. Complaint indices sit below 1.0 across 2022–2024 — fewer complaints than its size predicts — with an A+ (Superior) AM Best rating affirmed July 2025. The real-world friction is operational (workers' comp case management, billing audits, slow comms), not systemic denial of valid claims. If claims behavior is your deciding criterion, this is the benchmark the others get measured against.

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Progressive Commercial

A+ (Superior) · founded Progressive founded 1937; commercial division since 1971

Concerning on the commercial book. Progressive is dominant, financially strong and unbeatable on speed for commercial auto — but the regulator data is unflattering: complaint indices around 3x expected on commercial auto and property (MoneyGeek, 2026), a 1.5/5 Trustpilot, and recurring reports of unresponsive adjusters. And outside auto it's effectively a marketplace — your GL or BOP claim is handled by whichever partner carrier underwrote it. Buy for the auto specialization; set claims expectations accordingly.

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Simply Business

Not applicable · founded 2005

Not a claims-payer — so its glowing reviews need translating. Simply Business scores well (4.1–4.2 Trustpilot, A+ BBB) precisely because its job ends at placement; once a claim is filed you're in the hands of the matched carrier, whose record may look nothing like the broker's. Used knowingly — as a fast way to compare prices, then checking the matched carrier's complaint record here — it's genuinely useful.

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