What's in the crystal ball for HR professionals in 2015? The new year will have its share of surprises, but industry experts have identified several areas that will get a lot of attention from HR departments. 

First off, insurance changes associated with the Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act will continue to bear close watching. This includes the employer mandate, which goes into effect in 2015 for companies with 100 or more employees. Although many employers have successfully navigated the PPACA changes so far, the future of the program still is clouded in uncertainty, with another Supreme Court case threatening to undermine major parts of the health reform law.

The high deductible health plan model has many benefits, but employers are still challenged to find the right balance when shifting more cost to employees. Still, many see the rise of HDHPs as inevitable.