Early Years That Shaped a Mission
John Theodore Zabasky grew up in Burtonsville, Maryland, in a family rooted in public service. His father and grandfather were firefighters in Washington, D.C., while his mother and grandmother cared for the family at home. Baseball was his first passion, and he excelled at it, but a serious injury ended his chance at a sports career.
Instead of slowing him down, that setback pushed him into learning. He earned a BA and MA in History from UMBC, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a PhD in Information Systems from Concordia. He’s now working on a PhD in Health Sciences at Liberty University.
“I thought baseball would be my life,” he recalls. “Losing that dream made me double down on education. It was my way to rebuild myself.”
From False Accusation to Fierce Advocacy
John Theodore Zabasky’s career in insurance started with a painful lesson. Decades ago, while running his PEO business, he was falsely accused of workers’ compensation fraud tied to a small brokerage firm and AIG. The case was dismissed before trial, but the experience left a mark.
“I saw firsthand how an insurance carrier could use fear and pressure against a small business,” he says. “It opened my eyes to how broken the system could be.”
That moment became a turning point. He received a six-figure settlement from the brokerage involved, but more importantly, he walked away with a mission: build systems that protect small businesses and the workers who power them.
Building HealthWorX: A Model for No-Cost Care
In 2013, Zabasky founded WorXsiteHR Insurance Solutions. His flagship creation, the HealthWorX Plan, flips the traditional benefits model on its head. Instead of charging employees or leaving part-time workers out, it provides no-cost healthcare funded through a nonprofit structure.
He built it for the people most likely to be overlooked: janitors, retail clerks, seasonal farmworkers, and delivery drivers. “I remember a single mom cleaning hotel rooms who told me she hadn’t seen a doctor in years,” Zabasky says. “When she enrolled in HealthWorX, she cried because she could finally get her kids a checkup.”
Today, John Theodore Zabasky nonprofit donates over $100 million a year in healthcare services and premiums to underserved workers. It’s not just a plan—it’s a working proof of concept that benefits can be affordable and inclusive.
Lessons for Business Owners and Leaders
Zabasky’s journey offers lessons to other leaders:
- Build systems, not band-aids. Don’t offer one-time perks. Create benefits that last.
- Start with the people left out. Designing for the most excluded often creates solutions that work better for everyone.
- Know your contracts. Zabasky’s wrongful accusation taught him the importance of reading insurance fine print and questioning brokers.
“I tell small business owners, ‘I’ve been where you are,’” he says. “That builds trust. They know I’m not just talking theory.”
Balancing Life Outside the Office
Despite his work, Zabasky keeps his roots. He enjoys golf, bodybuilding, boating, and baseball. He still believes in hard work, but also in keeping space for what matters. “Balance isn’t a luxury,” he says. “It’s how you keep your ideas alive.”
Why His Story Matters
Zabasky didn’t become a leader by playing it safe. He became one by facing challenges and turning them into systems that work for real people. His approach shows that benefits can be both practical and humane.
John Theodore Zabasky story proves that big ideas don’t need hype—they need follow-through. And for thousands of workers, that follow-through has meant access to healthcare for the first time in their lives.
Shikha Negi is a Content Writer at ztudium with expertise in writing and proofreading content. Having created more than 500 articles encompassing a diverse range of educational topics, from breaking news to in-depth analysis and long-form content, Shikha has a deep understanding of emerging trends in business, technology (including AI, blockchain, and the metaverse), and societal shifts, As the author at Sarvgyan News, Shikha has demonstrated expertise in crafting engaging and informative content tailored for various audiences, including students, educators, and professionals.
