Clifford Allen Associates

What Clifford Allen Associates does

Clifford Allen Associates (CAA) is a U.S.-based, privately-held insurance provider founded in 1992 and headquartered in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The company specializes exclusively in student health insurance products for private secondary schools, offering a portfolio that includes comprehensive Injury & Sickness coverage, Accident Only coverage, Summer Program/Camp coverage, Study Abroad/Travel coverage, and a Student Health Insurance Protection plan for grades 6-12. Plans are customizable per school and emphasize first-dollar coverage with no deductibles, pre-existing condition coverage from day one, unlimited sports and behavioral health coverage, and tailored enrollment and payment processes.

CAA operates through an exclusive premium pool designed solely for private secondary schools, which enables stable pricing and consistent benefits. The company serves more than 200 private schools and covers over 14,000 international and domestic students across 35+ U.S. states and territories. Its go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, relying on direct consultations with school administrators, quote-based pricing, and a school-to-school referral network. The company is lean, with 1-10 employees, and uses an Outlook-based consultation booking system and email outreach as its primary engagement channels.

Revenue is generated through recurring annual insurance premiums paid by schools, with a 90% annual renewal rate indicating strong retention. All 11 schools that enrolled in CAA's founding year of 1992 remain customers, underscoring unusually deep customer loyalty. In 2024, CAA was acquired by Total Scholastic Solutions (TSS), and in April 2025 founding-family leader Clifford B. Allen ("Ford") stepped back from day-to-day operations, completing a transition into TSS's broader scholastic platform.

Name

Clifford Allen Associates

Legal name

Clifford Allen Associates

Website

https://cliffordallen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clifford Allen Associates provides customized student health insurance exclusively for U.S. private secondary schools, serving 200+ schools and 14,000+ students across 35+ states through a recurring annual premium model with a 90% retention rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Health Insurance (Private K-12)

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Other Insurance Related Activities (52429)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro primary industry

Fully Insured Group Health Plans (Employer-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Health Insurance Plans (University-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAI), Student Health Insurance (Individual) (FSAIAEAJ), Student Health Insurance & Benefits Administration (EDALAFAL)

Keywords

• Student health insurance
• Private school insurance
• Accident only coverage
• Study abroad insurance
• Insurance premium pool

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilton Head Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Health Insurance Premiums: CAA generates revenue through insurance premiums paid by private schools for student health coverage. Plans are customized per school and include various coverage tiers for injury/sickness, accident-only, summer programs, and study abroad. Revenue is recurring in nature with a 90% annual customer renewal rate demonstrating strong retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Clifford Allen Associates designs, underwrites, and administers student health insurance plans exclusively for private secondary schools across 35+ U.S. states. Its portfolio includes comprehensive Injury & Sickness Coverage, Accident Only Coverage, Summer Program/Camp Coverage, Study Abroad/Travel Coverage, and a Student Health Insurance Protection plan for grades 6-12, all delivered through an exclusive private school premium pool with customized, annually billed premiums. The company focuses on 100% preventive care, pre-existing condition coverage, and unlimited sports and behavioral health benefits, serving more than 200 schools and 14,000+ students with a 90% annual renewal rate.

Product overview

Clifford Allen Associates (CAA) offers a unified portfolio of student health insurance products designed exclusively for private secondary schools. The core offerings include Injury & Sickness Coverage (the flagship comprehensive plan), Accident Only Coverage, Summer Program/Camp Coverage, and Study Abroad/Travel Coverage. Student Health Insurance Protection serves as an additional plan for grades 6-12. All products feature school-focused benefits including no deductibles, pre-existing condition coverage from day one, and unlimited sports coverage, reflecting CAA's 40+ year specialization in the private school market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Injury & Sickness Coverage Flagship comprehensive student health insurance plan for private secondary schools, providing 100% coverage of preventive and routine care with no deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance. Includes pre-existing condition coverage from day one, unlimited coverage for sports and behavioral health, and short- and long-term coverage options with tailored enrollment and payment processes. Designed for private boarding schools and high schools seeking a stable, customizable group student health plan.
• Accident Only Coverage Accident-only insurance plan providing an essential layer of protection for school- and sports-related injuries, covering out-of-pocket medical expenses even for students without health insurance. Targeted at private school students and families needing focused injury protection.
• Summer Program/Camp Coverage Accident coverage plan for PK-12 campers attending summer programs or camps sponsored by their school, or attending private camps affiliated with their school. Designed to extend CAA's accident protection into the summer season.
• Study Abroad/Travel Coverage Comprehensive international travel insurance for private school students studying abroad, providing medical coverage and emergency assistance services so students can focus on their studies and experiences abroad.
• Student Health Insurance Protection Individual student health insurance coverage for grades 6-12, including preventative care and immunizations, pre-existing condition coverage, mental health parity, unlimited interscholastic sports coverage, first-dollar prescription drug coverage, global emergency medical assistance, and no deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance. Enrolled through an individual portal at shipsignup.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% annual customer renewal rate
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Total Scholastic Solutions (TSS)coreOthers · 1 January 2024In 2024, Clifford Allen Associates was acquired by Total Scholastic Solutions (TSS), strengthening resources while preserving the company's founding principles. TSS is the parent company and marketing name for Total Scholastic Solutions, LLC, including its subsidiary and affiliated companies. The acquisition enhanced CAA's resources while maintaining commitment to thoughtful service, personal attention, and long-term partnership with schools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LewerMark: LewerMark specializes in student health insurance plans and international student coverage for schools and educational institutions. It targets a closely overlapping customer base and product set as CAA.
• GeoBlue: GeoBlue provides international travel health insurance and emergency assistance for students studying abroad. It directly overlaps with CAA's Study Abroad/Travel product line.
• A-G Administrators: A-G Administrators specializes in accident and health insurance program administration for schools and youth programs. It is a direct peer in administering accident and sickness plans for school-sponsored student populations.
• Academic HealthPlans: Academic HealthPlans designs and administers student health insurance programs for higher education and private schools. It is a direct peer in administering school-sponsored student health plans.
• International Student Insurance: International Student Insurance offers health and travel insurance plans tailored to international and study-abroad students. It is a direct peer in the cross-border student coverage market.
• Wellfleet: Wellfleet is a leading specialty insurance carrier focused on the student health market, offering comparable accident and sickness plans to colleges and private schools. It competes head-to-head with CAA in the private secondary and higher-education student insurance space.
• UnitedHealthcare Student Resources: UnitedHealthcare Student Resources underwrites student health insurance plans for universities and private schools nationwide. It is a direct competitor in the same student health insurance product category that CAA serves.

Broad incumbents

• Cigna Healthcare: Cigna is a major national health insurer with student and group health plan offerings that overlap with CAA's school-sponsored plans. It competes as a broad incumbent rather than as a private-school specialist.
• Aetna Student Health (CVS Health): Aetna Student Health is the student-focused arm of a major national health insurer, offering plans to colleges and private schools. As a broad incumbent, it competes in the same product category but with a much larger, diversified portfolio.

Others

• ISM (Independent School Management): ISM provides insurance, risk management, and administrative services to independent private schools. While not a direct insurance product competitor, ISM serves the same private-school buyer base and may partner or compete for the same risk-management wallet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clifford-allen-associates-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Clifford Allen Associates