ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, 60% OF PEOPLE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE ARE EITHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THEIR FAMILIES OR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
AND ANNUAL DOUBLE DIGIT PREMIUM INCREASES ALMOST ENSURE THAT PERCENTAGE WILL RISE.
AS PART OF NHPR’S PROFILES IN HEALTH CARE SERIES, MARK BEVIS SPOKE WITH THE OWNERS OF A LACONIA COMPANY THAT ARE HARD PRESSED TO MAINTAIN THE BENEFITS THEY OFFER.
THEIR SEARCH FOR RELIEF HAS SPILLED OVER INTO POLITICS -- WITH SOME UNEXPECTED RESULTS.
IT PROBABLY WASN’T THE BEST DAY TO VISIT A TIRE DEALER.
THE WEATHER REPORT WAS CALLING FOR SNOW.
AND IT SEEMED EVERYONE IN THE LACONIA AREA WANTED THEIR SNOW TIRES.
(sfx—studding tires)
BELKNAP TIRE IN LAKEPORT WAS HUMMING.
A COUPLE OF THE COMPANY’S 12 WORKERS WERE OUT SICK
SO EVERYONE PITCHED IN TO MOVE CUSTOMERS IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGES EIGHT BAYS.
THE OWNER, GREG BRYAR, WAS WORKING WITH THE REST OF THE MECHANICS.
THE LEAN 55 YEAR OLD WAS SHOOTING STUDS INTO A TIRE FOR A CUSTOMER..
6-1:32 these will give you much better grip than regular tires….
THE BRYAR’S HAVE A GREAT DEAL INVESTED IN BELKNAP TIRE.
THE COMPANY DOES 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS OF BUSINESS.
BEHIND THE BAYS, THE PLACE SEEMS TO GO ON FOR ABOUT HALF A BLOCK.
A TIRE INVENTORY WORTH 350 MILLION DOLLARS MAKES UP WHAT BRYAR CALLS HIS MAZE OF RUBBER.
THE BASEMENT HAS TWO LEVELS AND THERE’S EVEN MORE SPACE UPSTAIRS.
AND THOUGHOUT THE BUILDING RUNS A METAL TRACK WITH HOOKS THAT CARRY TIRES LIKE SIDES OF BEEF AT A SLAUGHTER HOUSE..
6-
5:36-my dad and grandfather started this on court street….went to bible school…retreading minister..giggle…they started in 1946. chickens up stairs and retreading depart downstairs.
BRYAR WORKED IN THE GARAGE AS A KID.
HE TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS WHEN HIS FATHER DIED IN 1991.
BACK WHEN BRYAR’S DAD OWNED THE BUSINESS, BELKNAP TIRE BEGAN A POLICY IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
THE COMPANY PAYS 100% OF EACH EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE.
6-8:53-I haven’t heard anyone offers what we do. But my help is my help…but we have a great group of guys and you’re as good as your help.
SFX—MOVE INTO SHOWROOM
WHEN HE’S NOT WORKING IN THE GARAGE, BRYAR SHARES AN OFFICE OFF THE SHOWROOM WITH HIS WIFE, AND BUSINESS PARTNER, LINDA.
THEIR TWO LARGE DESKS FACE EACH OTHER IN THE CROWDED PANELED ROOM.
LINDA BRYAR KEEPS MOST OF THE COMPANY’S BOOKS.
AND SHE PAYS THE BILLS.
THE CHECK TO CIGNA HEALTH INSURANCE JUST WENT OUT.
3- 3:16 the bill I paid today, for one month..was 6 grand
4:00 and those rates have gone up 22%....cigna health care of nh,
AT THOSE RATES, THE BRYAR’S ARE PAYING 75 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR TO INSURE THEIR EMPLOYEES.
EVERYONE’S GOT THE SAME POLICY.
AND IT’S GENEROUS.
THE OLDER EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WITH DEPENDENTS SEEM TO APPRECIATE THE BENEFITS.
BUT THE PRESSURE ON THE DECADES OLD APPROACH IS STRONG NOT ONLY FROM RISING PREMIUMS, BUT FROM SOME OF THE COMPANY’S YOUNGER WORKERS.
8:57-they all want pay increases…but because they don’t see the monthly insurance bills, they don’t apprecitate it . they don’t see it.
LINDA BRYAR FINDS HERSELF WONDERING HOW MUCH LONGER THE COMPANY CAN KEEP IT UP.
THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT THE RIGHT THING IS GETTING HARDER TO DO.
Sfx-move back to garage…
BACK OUT IN THE GARAGE, GREGG BRYAR ADMITS HE’S FEELING THE SQUEEZE.
HIS COSTS ARE RISING AND THE BIG DISCOUNT TIRE WAREHOUSES ARE TOUGH COMPETITION FOR THIS INDEPENDENT.
STILL HE’D RATHER CHARGE HIS CUSTOMERS MORE THAN GIVE HIS WORKERS LESS.
7-3:48 when it comes down to it..we may have to pass on some of the cost…to the customer.
BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, HE COULD PRICE HIMSELF OUT OF THE MARKET.
FOR LINDA BRYAR THE PRESSURE OF RISING HEALTH COSTS IS CAUSING THIS LIFELONG REPUBLICAN TO DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
SHE’S SWITCHING POLITICAL PARTIES.
***16:31—I think it’s time the govt be more helpful…because I can see other companies..how can they continue, it’s gotten so out of hand. How many of us can go to a doctor nowadays…
GREG BRYAR MAY KEEP HIS REPUBLICAN LABEL.
BUT THE WORDS COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH ARE UNLIKELY TO APPEAR ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM.
HE SEES A NEED FOR MAJOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
5:27 they know what the problem is, whether it’s the same socialized medicine Canada has…I don’t know …no one gets rich up there. And everyone has it.
FOR THE BRYARS HEALTH INSURANCE IS A MATTER OF PRAGMATISM AND TRADITION.
THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WANT TO BE ABLE TO RUN THEIR COMPANY AND TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE.
IN THE END, IDEOLOGY AND POLITICAL RHETORIC SEEM TO HAVE NO TRACTION WHEN IT COMES TO BELKNAP TIRE’S BOTTOM LINE.
FOR NHPR NEWS, THIS IS MARK BEVIS.
