Posted: September 11, 2009

Jon Wheeler
President and CEO,
Wheeler Interests

Wheeler, whose real estate acquisition, development, management and leasing company is headquartered in Virginia Beach, is a real estate executive with 26 years of experience. His company of 32 employees was named one of the Top 15 Fittest Companies in America in Men's Fitness Magazine in February 2008. Wheeler has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine for his focus on health in the workplace, received the Wellness in the Workplace Award from the Virginia Business Coalition on Health in 2009 and was featured on MSNBC in January for his workplace health initiatives. A graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Wheeler holds or has held real estate licenses in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Texas and the District of Columbia.

What is one aspect of the current system that works well and shouldn't be changed?

In short the election of an HMO versus PPO in company health plans as it provides participants with options and affordability.

What is the biggest problem with the health system in need of change?

The cost of health insurance is a burden for smaller companies to bear. It becomes a heavy line item, and over the years the coverage that smaller companies can afford has changed dramatically - in many cases dropping from full family coverage to employee coverage, then to modified employee coverage and then to streamlined employee coverage.

Wheeler Interests is currently making use of a Health Reimbursement Account on an as-needed basis with a higher deductible. The first $750 of the deductible is covered by the company but past that employees are responsible.

The cost also drives the choice of an insurance carrier. Wheeler Interests utilized Anthem about seven years ago but began shopping around for another insurance partner after cost increases no longer made it possible to continue with Anthem. Wheeler Interests now works with Optima Health and encourages proactive health screenings to promote employee wellness.