The Rundown

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but it's still uncertain how health care reform will affect credit unions. 
• HR leaders and experts are certain, however, that health care insurance premiums will keep increasing because of new mandates, fees and taxes.
• Private health care exchanges, defined contribution plans, high-deductible options and workplace wellness program can help better manage health insurance.

It's clear that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, is the law of the land. But it's not so clear yet how the new law will impact credit unions over the next two years when the bulk of the health reform laws go into effect.

That uncertainty is creating more challenges for credit union HR leaders like Monica Horger, vice president of human resources for the $681 million Michigan First Credit Union in Lathrup Village, Mich.

In addition to the law's mandates, fees and taxes that are expected to increase insurance premiums, Horger said Obamacare is increasing the credit union's administrative costs. But other HR experts like Brad Pricer, human resources process leader at CUNA Mutual Group in Madison, Wis., said there are opportunities for credit unions to control and predict health care costs year over year through the emergence of private health care exchanges and defined contribution health care benefits.