December 10, 2012

Virginia Organizing has been talking with small business owners about health care. The interview transcript is below. See the full interview by clicking here!

Tell us who you are and tell us about your business

My name is Lee Russell.  I am the owner of Olde Town Butcher in Fredericksburg.  We’ve been open since 2009.    We have 12 employees  and things are going pretty good

Are you enjoying the work?

Yeah

You offer health insurance? 

Yeah. 

Why?

Well two things:  one, it’s the right thing to do.  And for another thing I just think that it gives the employee a better feel of belonging when you offer them health insurance.   And it makes a package that.. you can draw a paycheck plus you get some benefits and right now the benefits are health insurance and dental. 

So you’ve got both health and dental?

Yeah

Do many employees take it up, is it something that most of them have?

Yeah

Has it been a struggle keeping it up?

Yeah

Do you know what percent of your monthly gross goes to health insurance?

I’d say 10-13 percent.

If the President walked in your front door and said “Lee what should I do about health insurance”, what would you tell him?  What would you love to see happen?

We need to get the pool that …where small businesses like me can join a pool..

The health benefit exchange

Yeah.  The health benefit exchange, to get it up and running.  Get it going.  I know it’s a state thing but the states seem, especially this state, seems to be dragging their feet getting this done.  It would be a big benefit to me to be able to be in an exchange so I can get a better rate and offer my employees more.