We are a group of industry experts with decades of experience in the health benefits field. After years of working with employers and individuals across the country, we recognized that many employees simply couldn’t afford available health plans or were ineligible for coverage due to their status as non-qualified employees or their lack of a Social Security Number. In many industries, these employees often outnumbered those with access to benefits. Seeing their frustration motivated us to develop a solution—and that solution is Ideal Health
Why is Ideal Health Right For You?
Meet Our Team
At Ideal Health, we are driven by a shared mission to revolutionize access to affordable healthcare. Our leadership team brings together seasoned professionals with diverse backgrounds in healthcare, employee benefits, finance, and business strategy. Each member of our executive team is committed to innovation, customer satisfaction, and delivering value to our members and partners. With decades of collective experience, they lead Ideal Health with vision, integrity, and a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and businesses alike.
CEO
Allen Jackson
With a career spanning more than 30 years in the healthcare industry, Allen offers a broad dimension of employee benefits expertise to his clients and peers. He has developed and marketed a variety of unique insurance and non-insurance platforms. He was an Senior VP for USI Connecticut in 1993 and was previously associated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut. Allen is a key member of the Ideal Health Employee Benefits Team and manages more than $300 million in employee benefits for his clients. He was recognized for his professional success and community involvement by The New Haven Business Times with their “40 Under 40” award and also in “Who’s Who” in Executives and Professionals. Past Chair of The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce, Allen has sat on the Advisory Boards of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, ConnectiCare, United Healthcare/Oxford and CBIA-Aetna. He was Senior Co-Chair of Connecticut Benefits Broker (CBB) and was a member of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. Allen also serves as a Past President of the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
COO
Joe Marchan
Joe is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a Cavalry Scout and brings over 10 years of experience in the employee benefits field. After a 2-year battle with cancer, Joe was driven to help employees better understand their benefits. He spent 3 years as a management consultant with May International Company, one of the largest consultancies in the world at the time, where he helped business owners streamline internal processes and eliminate inefficiencies. Prior to that, Joe spent 15 years as a senior executive managing multilocation franchise dealerships in the automotive industry, guiding organizations through technological advancements and cultural shifts as the industry evolved from highly guarded to increasingly transparent. Joe is a versatile professional with deep expertise in sales, marketing, training, operations, accounting, and human resource management. If you give Joe a problem, expect it to be solved.
CFO
Mike Ankrum
With over 30 years of dedicated experience in employee benefits, Mike has demonstrated exceptional leadership identifying prevailing industry trends. His expertise particularly shines in the domain of consumer-directed healthcare and alternate funding strategies. Beginning his career in sales management at a Fortune 275 insurance and financial firm, managing both TN and KY for Principal Financial Group. Mike has specialized in the public-school sector since 2010, consulting on benefit programs and educating on the complexities of the Healthcare Reform law and how it would impact employers and employees. Mike's commitment to staying at the forefront of industry dynamics is evident in his investment of time and effort towards comprehending the intricate nuances of the Healthcare industry. His passion for education extends beyond personal enrichment, as he actively shares his wealth of knowledge to enlighten peers and stakeholders about funding and risk implications on both employers and employees.