John Theodore Zabasky is a business leader who built his success by solving real problems. He grew up in Burtonsville, Maryland, in a close-knit family shaped by public service and hard work. His early passion was baseball, but after an injury ended his athletic path, he turned his focus to education and business.
John holds a BA and MA in History from UMBC, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a PhD in Information Systems from Concordia. He’s also working toward a PhD in Health Sciences from Liberty University. His love of learning pushed him to think differently and that thinking led to a business model that’s helped thousands of workers.
In 2013, he co- founded WorXsiteHR Insurance Solutions, Inc. The goal was simple: create access to healthcare for people who don’t usually get it: seasonal, part-time, and low-wage workers. He built the HealthWorX Plan, a no-cost healthcare system in conjunction with a nonprofit. Today, this nonprofit donates over $100 million a year in services and coverage.
Zabasky focuses on making systems that last. His work has changed the way some companies think about benefits. He believes that real success comes from helping others and building structures that work for the long haul. But it almost wasn’t to be. Over thirty years ago, John was wrongly and falsely accused of charges he could not even fathom. Had he not practised the philosophy of always trying to do the right thing, the HealthWorX plan may have never come into existence to help the thousands it now does.
Outside of work, John enjoys golf, bodybuilding, boating, and baseball. He’s driven by impact, not attention. As he says, “You don’t need to go big to make a difference. You just need to build something that works.”
Q&A With John Theodore Zabasky
Q1. Dr. Zabasky, I know it’s been decades but can you take us back 30 years and describe the circumstances that led to your false arrest for worker’s compensation insurance fraud?
Yes, of course. I haven’t forgotten (laughing). Thirty years ago, I was a young professional just trying to grow my PEO business and provide for my family. Out of nowhere, I was accused of worker’s compensation insurance fraud. It was a charge that was not only false but completely baseless. The allegation came from a small insurance brokerage firm, John Payne & Co. I later found out that the firm had been for sale and had more interest in protecting its fledgling reputation than in pursuing the truth. It was surreal. One day I was running my business, and the next I was being treated like a criminal.
Q2. What was your initial reaction when you realized you were being accused of something you hadn’t done?
I was stunned. To be honest, I couldn’t believe it was happening. At first, I thought it must be some sort of mistake that would be cleared up quickly. But as it dragged on, I realized this was more than a misunderstanding. It was a cover-up by Payne & Co. and an abuse of power by an insurance carrier determined to intimidate me. That insurance carrier was AIG.
Q3. At that time, what did you know about how insurance companies investigated and prosecuted claims?
Very little. Like most business owners, I trusted that insurance companies played by the rules. That experience opened my eyes to how the system could be weaponized. It taught me that carriers sometimes use fear and legal pressure not to find justice but to force settlements or scare people into compliance. Also, this was 2004. That’s when AIG was being investigated for the scandal that led to the ouster of AIG’s longtime CEO, Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, and later the conviction of other AIG officials involved in bid-rigging schemes. Everyone was calling me and telling me, ‘Hey they got AIG… AIG is going down!’ But I took a different view and learned from it. It’s never the ‘organization’. AIG was not the criminal. It was people within AIG that committed those crimes and did this to me.
Q4. How did the legal process unfold, and what ultimately led to the case being dismissed without trial?
Oh, you mean the case against me? The case was built on shaky ground from the very beginning. Renowned attorney, Harland Braun, was my attorney, and he was able to show that the evidence was weak, inconsistent, and in some cases, outright fabricated. Eventually, the prosecutors had no choice but to dismiss the case before it ever even went to trial. It was a relief, but it never should have gone that far in the first place.
Q5. You later received a six-figure settlement from the insurance brokerage involved. What did that resolution mean for you personally and professionally?
The settlement from Payne & Co. was vindication. But it wasn’t just about the money, but it was proof that I had been wronged. What was even more of a victory was when the CA Workman’s Compensation Court ruled that AIG had wrongfully terminated my policy. That gave me closure. Professionally, it gave me a mission: to make sure no other business owner would go through what I did.
Q6. Looking back, what do you think motivated the insurance brokerage to pursue such an aggressive case against you?
Fear. The brokerage firm wanted to make sure the sale of their business went through untarnished. An infraction like the one they committed could have negated the entire deal. They weren’t interested in justice; they were interested in protecting their bottom line. The same can be said for AIG. Instead of looking at all the facts and the line of communication with their brokers, they chose to put their heads in the sand. That seemed to be an organizational philosophy at the time.
Q7. How did that experience shape your perspective on the way insurance carriers treat small businesses and individuals?
It changed everything. I realized small businesses are often treated as expendable by large carriers. They’re seen as easy targets—less likely to have the resources to fight back. I mean, it was only because of my co-founder at WorXsiteHR, Sharon Rowell, that I was able to fight back. She literally bailed me out and fought with me every step of the way. I have no idea where I would have ended up without her. That’s why the two of us have dedicated our careers to leveling the playing field.
Q8. What lessons did you take away from the ordeal that later influenced how you built your career in the insurance and benefits space?
The biggest lesson was the cliché that ‘knowledge is power’. I learned the fine print of insurance contracts, the tactics carriers use, and the vulnerabilities small businesses face. I turned that painful chapter into a roadmap for helping others avoid the same traps.
Q9. Many small business owners feel powerless against large insurance companies. How does your experience help you connect with and protect them today?
When I talk to small business owners, I can genuinely say, “I’ve been where you are.” That builds trust. They know I’m not just speaking as a professional, but as someone who’s lived through the abuse and came out stronger. It allows me to advocate for them with both passion and credibility.
Q10. Can you share a specific example of how you’ve used the insight from your wrongful arrest to shield a client from unfair treatment by an insurance carrier?
Sure. One example that stands out is a client who was being wrongly penalized with inflated workers’ comp premiums. The carrier claimed their claims history justified the increase, but I knew the tactics. We challenged the calculations, uncovered errors, and forced the carrier to reverse course saving that small business tens of thousands of dollars.
Q11. Do you see your past ordeal as a kind of turning point that redirected your life toward advocating for small and mid-sized businesses?
Absolutely. What was meant to break me ended up shaping my purpose. That arrest could have ruined my career, but instead, it gave me a clear direction. I realized I was called to be a defender for small businesses against insurance industry abuse.
Q12. If you could send one message to small business owners about navigating insurance and protecting themselves from abuse, what would it be?
Never assume the insurance company has your best interests at heart. Read the fine print, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to push back. There are many alternatives to traditional insurance. Obviously, there’s HealthWorX, and we are working on a few other soon-to-launch alternatives as well. But most importantly, surround yourself with people who understand the system and will fight for you. That’s the best protection against abuse. I once had a client say to me, ‘You punched AIG in the nose… So, I know you’ll fight anyone.’ Yep.
