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StarStone Specialty Insurance Company Review 2026

Explore our review of the carrier's products and services.
Author PhotoWritten by 
Ann Herro
Updated February 4, 2026
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InsuredBetter's StarStone Specialty Insurance Company Final Score

3.5 Stars 1 Star

StarStone U.S. operates under the brand Core Specialty. Core Specialty, through its subsidiary insurers, offers a diversified range of property, casualty, and marine insurance products for small to mid-sized businesses.

From its underwriting offices across the U.S., the company focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge. It offers traditional as well as innovative insurance solutions to meet the needs of its customers and brokers.

StarStone Specialty Insurance Company carries a financial strength rating of "A" (Excellent) from AM Best. AM Best is a credit rating firm that assesses the creditworthiness of and/or reports on over 16,000 insurance companies worldwide. The AM Best rating points to the insurance company’s ability to pay claims, debts, and other financial obligations in a timely manner. 

We award StarStone/Core Specialty a 1.0 out of 5.0 stars

The company strives to work with reputable, licensed brokers and intermediaries. It focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge. The company is rated "A" by AM Best.

Aside from the company’s own claims about superior service on its minimally informative website, it is hard to assess its product depth or how its customers and even its broker-partners feel about the company. Your independent insurance agent or broker can help you determine if choosing StarStone/Core Specialty is right for your business insurance needs.

StarStone/Core Specialty Pros and Cons

Pros: Cons:
Focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge
Website offers minimal product and service information
Markets its products exclusively through independent insurance agents
Customer satisfaction reviews are not available
"A" (Excellent) rating from AM Best

StarStone/Core Specialty Products

StarStone/Core Specialty offers a variety of traditional and non-traditional policies for small- to mid-sized businesses. Policy options include, but are not limited to, the following:

If you have a question about purchasing insurance from StarStone/Core Specialty, contact your local independent insurance agent. 

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Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

What Discounts Does StarStone/Core Specialty Offer?

Core Specialty does not publish any information about specific discounts or savings opportunities.

StarStone/Core Specialty Customer Service

Core Specialty focuses on providing technology-based quoting, underwriting, and customer service to producers and brokers, who can then offer advice and service to their clients. The company uses an award-winning platform called ESCAPE to provide fast and efficient underwriting and policy service for brokers and agents.

StarStone/Core Specialty FAQs

What is StarStone/Core Specialty’s claims response time frame?

Core Specialty does not provide an average claims response time frame.

What is StarStone/Core Specialty’s customer service availability?

StarStone/Core Specialty’s primary mode of communicating with policyholders is through wholesalers, brokers, and independent insurance agents nationwide. Workers’ compensation customers have access to an online customer service portal that allows them to report payroll, make payments, view statements, policy contract forms, and report claims.

What is StarStone/Core Specialty’s claims process?

StarStone/Core Specialty uses Guidewire ClaimCenter®, a global claims management system that supports Core Specialty’s entire product suite. Guidewire ClaimCenter® standardizes claims handling processes to deliver enhanced claims efficiency and improved speed and accuracy of claims payments for Core Specialty’s customers worldwide.

In order to notify Core Specialty of a claim, click on the “Notify a Claim” link on the company’s website. From there, you’ll be asked to email to a claims representative information about your claim.

Workers’ Compensation customers under the StarStone umbrella can report a claim online. The company also provides an online portal for work comp customers to report payroll, make payments, view statements, and assemble welcome packet forms.

Does StarStone/Core Specialty create a user-friendly experience for customers?

StarStone/Core Specialty is focused on providing cutting-edge technology platforms for its broker-partners. The customer experience is nearly invisible. The website offers minimal information about products, customer service, or claims. Policyholders are encouraged to work directly with their independent insurance agent in most cases.

Does StarStone/Core Specialty have good professional liability insurance insurance?

Here’s what we know about Core Specialty’s professional liability insurance programs:

Core Specialty provides commercial errors and omissions liability products and services for small- and medium sized businesses and professionals. The company delivers a wide range of protection for simple, complex, and unexpected risks. Its policies help cover losses and defense costs that come from claims of professional negligence, errors, or omissions.

Core Specialty specializes on errors and omissions coverage for marketing and media companies, technology companies, and other miscellaneous business classes. Some of the policy options include:

  • Policy limits up to $5 million
  • Coverage available on a primary or excess basis
  • Admitted and non-admitted capabilities
  • Modular primary policy forms offering single or multiple coverage options

Core Specialty also promises to provide a technically strong underwriting team, experienced in-house claims professionals, and a cost effective network of expert legal counsel to defend professional liability claims. 

Is StarStone/Core Specialty a good insurance company?

Core Specialty, through its subsidiary insurers including StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, offers a diverse range of property, casualty, and marine insurance products for small to mid-sized businesses. The company strives to work with reputable, licensed brokers and intermediaries. It focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge.

The company is rated "A" (Excellent) by AM Best. Customer satisfaction reviews are nonexistent. It's important to work with a local independent agent to learn more about this insurance company and decide if it's right for you.

Sources

https://www.starstone.com

https://www.corespecialtyinsurance.com