Podcasts: How the Affordable Care Act Impacts HVAC Contractors

A: In 2010 we saw a number of instantaneous changes to the laws that cover health insurance plans and how they operate. One of the first things implemented was the allowance of adult dependent children to be covered through age 26. In 2011 and 2012 a number of changes were made to overall health care coverage and the rules that govern them. … Almost 50 changes were implemented between 2010-2012. The individual mandate, or the requirement that everyone have insurance, either from your employer, an exchange, or from a private market or state exchange, was set to start in 2014. [Per the mandate] If you don’t have coverage, then you’ll pay a $95 fine when you pay your taxes. That fine is scheduled to double and triple every year after that.

Q: Hasn’t the individual mandate been delayed?

A: Yes, that has been delayed until 2015. There was a lot of pressure on the White House to get this in place. The IRS is the one who will be administering the Affordable Care Act provision, yet I’m not sure the IRS had the ability to figure out how this will all work. This is indicative as to how Congress works. Looking back, all the big issues that Congress has dealt with, whether it’s the budget, debt ceiling, or spending bills, they tend to punt issues. They say, ‘We have to deal with this now, but let’s see if we can find a way to delay it.’

Charlie McCrudden
Senior vice president of government affairs
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)

Publication date: 12/23/2013

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!