According to an online survey produced by LevelFunded Health, a national health insurance agency, 87 percent of small businesses that offer group health care saw health insurance premiums rise by 25 percent since 2014, with 12 percent experiencing premium increases of 50 percent or higher.

While it faces challenges in the Supreme Court and threats of repeal from newly elected Republican congressional leaders, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is likely here to stay. In 2015, it’s probably best for contractors to proceed assuming health care reform will be a part of business for the foreseeable future.

Charlie McCrudden, senior vice president of government relations, ACCA, discusses the Affordable Care Act and the impact it will have on HVACR contractors. 

I am here to report that the HVAC business community has put the phrase “cautiously optimistic” behind them.

 I travel a lot in this job and have the opportunity to meet with people all along the HVAC chain. Ever since the great crash of 2008, when I asked people how they see business going in the next 12 months, they inevitably told me that they were cautiously optimistic. Well, that is not entirely true as during that first year everyone was either depressed, mad, or defeated. 

As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is implemented in phases over several years, some HVACR business owners are fearful of the program’s potentially detrimental effect on the cost of employee health care coverage.