Conference Associates

What Conference Associates does

Conference Associates, Inc. (CAI) is a privately held insurance agency and group benefits administrator headquartered in Patchogue, New York. Founded in 1961, CAI distributes and administers health, dental, vision, life, disability, Medicare supplement, property and casualty, and PEO/HR solutions for individuals, employer groups, and brokers across New York State. The firm functions as an intermediary between insurance carriers and end customers, working with carrier partners including United Concordia (dental), The Standard (vision, life, AD&D), Oxford/UnitedHealthcare and Patriot Medical (health), Ameritas and Standard Security (disability), and Cue Brokerage Group (P&C), plus PEO partners Insperity, PrestigePEO, and TriNet. Several products — including exclusive vision programs, a Guaranteed Issue Life/AD&D program up to $150,000, and Colonial Voluntary Benefits' Group Medical Bridge hospital indemnity plan — are gated by membership in the New York State Business Group (NYSBG), creating a co-developed distribution moat.

CAI's revenue model is commission-based brokerage and group administration, with subscription-style recurring revenue from ongoing group enrollment, billing, and customer service contracts. Pricing is quote-driven and not publicly disclosed; tiered plan options (Enhanced, High, Medium, Premier, Unlimited for dental) are offered through brokers via CAI's proprietary HealthConnect online quoting platform or direct sales. The internal platform includes secure portals for agents, policyholders, business partners, and employees, protected by SSL encryption and firewalls. CAI markets through its company website, Insurance 101 educational content, a wellness blog, broker referral programs (with a $25 finder fee), and direct sales to employers and individuals. The firm also operates an affiliated sub-brand, ELITE Programs Inc., focused on adjacent insurance programs and services.

Name

Conference Associates

Legal name

Conference Associates, Inc.

Website

https://conferenceny.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conference Associates (CAI) is a privately held New York-based insurance agency and group benefits administrator, founded 1961, distributing health, dental, vision, life, disability, Medicare, and P&C coverage from multiple carriers to individuals and small employer groups across New York State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage and Administration

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & PEO Group Health Plans (AHP/PEO-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAH)

Keywords

• Group insurance administration
• Insurance brokerage services
• Health insurance plans
• Employee benefits solutions
• Insurance product distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Patchogue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Insurance Administration & Brokerage: CAI serves as a group insurance administrator and broker, earning commissions from insurance carriers for placing business and providing administrative services to employers and individuals in New York State.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Conference Associates, Inc. (CAI) is a New York-based insurance agency and third-party administrator that brokers and administers a comprehensive portfolio of group and individual insurance products—including health, dental, vision, life, disability, Medicare supplement, hospital indemnity, and property & casualty insurance—through partnerships with multiple carrier partners. The firm also provides PEO (Professional Employer Organization) solutions and full back-office administrative services (billing, customer care, compliance support) to employers and individuals across New York State.

Product overview

Conference Associates, Inc. (CAI) is a New York-based insurance brokerage and third-party administrator offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and services primarily for employer groups and individuals. The company serves as an intermediary between insurance carriers and customers, offering health insurance through carrier partners including Oxford Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare/Oxford, Patriot Medical, and The Standard; dental insurance through United Concordia; vision insurance through The Standard with VSP and EyeMed network options; life and disability insurance through The Standard, Ameritas, and Standard Security; Medicare supplement plans; property and casualty insurance through Cue Brokerage Group; and PEO solutions through Insperity, PrestigePEO, and TriNet. CAI also offers voluntary benefits including hospital indemnity plans and provides administrative support, billing, and customer service for these products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ELITE Programs Inc. Affiliated insurance programs operating under the Conference Associates umbrella.

Products and services

• Health Insurance Health insurance coverage for small employer groups and individuals, brokered through partnerships with carriers including Oxford Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare/Oxford, Patriot Medical, The Standard, and Colonial Voluntary Benefits, including exclusive programs such as Group Medical Bridge hospital indemnity.
• Dental Insurance Dental insurance plans offered through United Concordia, providing access to a nationwide PPO network of over 52,000 participating dentists, with multiple plan tiers (Enhanced, High, Medium, Premier, Unlimited).
• Vision Insurance Vision insurance programs developed in partnership with The Standard, offering comprehensive and reimbursement-only plans with access to VSP or EyeMed networks, including exclusive plans available through NYSBG membership.
• Life Insurance Life and AD&D insurance through The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, including exclusive Guaranteed Issue Life programs with up to $150,000 in coverage at preferred premium rates.
• Disability Insurance Business and personal disability income plans from Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., plus NYS DBL (Disability Benefits Law) statutory coverage from Standard Security for groups of 1-9 and 10-49 employees.
• Medicare Supplement Insurance Medicare supplement insurance plans for individuals, including the exclusive Senior Partner plan and traditional Medicare Advantage plans, with licensed staff assistance for plan selection and enrollment.
• Property & Casualty Insurance Commercial and personal property and casualty insurance brokered through partner Cue Brokerage Group, covering Fine Art, Commercial Liability, Watercraft, and other specialty lines through dozens of top carriers.
• PEO Solutions Professional Employer Organization solutions through partnerships with Insperity, PrestigePEO, and TriNet, providing HR support, payroll services, compliance assistance, COBRA administration, and access to health insurance products for small businesses.
• Hospital Indemnity Plans Group Medical Bridge hospital indemnity program through Colonial Voluntary Benefits, available exclusively to NYSBG members, with benefit amount options of $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 45 years of experience with United Concordia providing flexible and affordable dental insurance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Patriot MedicalcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Patriot Medical is a benefits platform offering exclusive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Supplemental plans not available on the open market. National PPO Networks are available with no restrictions on enrollment periods.
• TriNetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TriNet provides full-service HR solutions tailored by industry for SMBs, including human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and real-time technology.
• PrestigePEOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021PrestigePEO maintains all three industry certifications: ESAC Accreditation, CPEO certification from IRS, and CI Workers' Comp. Works with small businesses to offer affordable healthcare options and handles payroll, HR compliance, and more.
• Oxford/UnitedHealthcarecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Oxford Health Plans provides small employer group health insurance in the New York Metropolitan area. UnitedHealthcare/Oxford offers a suite of products for small businesses with built-in cost-sharing features to maintain affordability.
• The Standard Insurance CompanycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018The Standard provides vision, life, AD&D, and accident insurance. CAI and NYSBG have developed exclusive vision programs and Guaranteed Issue Life/AD&D programs (up to $150,000) not available on the open market. The Standard serves over 6 million customers nationwide.
• Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Ameritas provides business and personal disability income plans with roots reaching back to 1887. As a Mutual Organization, Ameritas measures success by customer service and has earned A.M. Best 'A' (Excellent) rating for Insurer Financial Strength.
• InsperitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Insperity PEO partnership offers comprehensive HR solutions including health insurance products, COBRA administration, payroll, tax withholdings, and compliance support for small businesses.
• New York State Business Group (NYSBG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NYSBG works with CAI to develop exclusive insurance programs including Colonial's Group Medical Bridge, exclusive vision programs with The Standard, and Guaranteed Issue Life programs. Membership is required for access to certain CAI/partner products.
• Cue Brokerage GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1978Cue Brokerage Group specializes in commercial and personal insurance since 1978. They provide customized coverage for Fine Art, Commercial Liability, Watercraft, and other lines through dozens of top carriers.
• United ConcordiacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1961United Concordia has been a dental insurance partner for over 45 years. Members get access to a nationwide PPO network with over 52,000 participating dentists. The partnership has an 'A' rating from A.M. Best, providing exceptional plans and service.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Insperity: PEO providing HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance to SMBs — a direct partner of CAI but also a comparable competitor for the small-employer bundled HR-and-benefits segment where CAI's PEO Solutions offering competes.

Direct peers

• USI Insurance Services: Mid-market-focused insurance brokerage and benefits consultant providing property/casualty, employee benefits, and personal risk solutions. Comparable to CAI in its broker-led group benefits distribution model and carrier partnership approach.
• Hub International: North American insurance brokerage offering commercial, personal, and employee benefits solutions through regional offices. Directly comparable in business model — multi-carrier brokerage serving employers and individuals — though at much greater scale than CAI.
• Brown & Brown, Inc. Large U.S. insurance brokerage offering commercial and personal lines, group benefits, and risk management. Directly comparable to CAI as a multi-line insurance intermediary serving employer groups and individuals across geographies.
• Alliant Insurance Services: Specialty insurance brokerage focused on middle-market and niche industries, offering group benefits and risk management. Comparable to CAI as an intermediary delivering multi-carrier group and individual insurance products.

Regional players

• Higginbotham: Texas-headquartered insurance and financial services firm expanding into the Northeast, offering employee benefits and commercial lines. Comparable as a regional broker with similar group benefits and P&C capabilities, though serving different primary geographies.
• Hilb Group: East Coast-focused insurance brokerage built through regional acquisitions, serving commercial and personal lines clients. Comparable to CAI's regional brokerage model with multi-carrier distribution, though serving broader geographies than NY-only.

Broad incumbents

• Marsh McLennan: Global professional services firm providing insurance brokerage, risk advisory, and consulting through Marsh and Mercer. Competes with CAI in the broader group benefits and commercial insurance space, though at enterprise scale and with consulting-led offerings.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm offering a full spectrum of commercial, employee benefits, and consulting services. Operates broadly in the same space as CAI but at much larger scale and with national/international reach.
• NFP (an Aon company): Property/casualty, benefits, and wealth management broker with strong Northeast U.S. presence. Comparable to CAI in benefits and commercial insurance distribution, now operating under Aon's ownership with significantly broader capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnectwithCAI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conference-associates-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conference Associates