Insurance costs killing my HVAC retirement savings in Minnesota

Up in Minnesota, my workers comp just jumped to $4500 a year for my three-man crew doing mostly residential heat pump installs. With Trane units going up in price too, it's hard to save for retirement when premiums eat into profits like that. I've been looking at group plans through the HVAC Contractors Facebook group, but damn, it's frustrating.

Insurance companies are screwing us all, especially with claims from slip and falls on icy roofs.

PE firms buying up carriers and jacking rates, it's a racket.

Hit 65 this year and my savings finally topped $200k from smart investing early on.

Customer calls at midnight about a frozen evaporator, and if I don't have coverage, I'm toast.

We all feel that pinch when premiums double overnight.

Proud to say I switched to a self-insured setup and saved 30% last year.

This sucks, man. My back's shot from installs, and now no nest egg?

What kind of coverage do you guys have for equipment theft? Mine got hit last winter.

Never skimp on liability, had a guy sue over a bad install and it cost me $10k out of pocket.

SharkBite for refrigerant lines? Nah, stick to soldered copper, insurance hates shortcuts.

Frustrated as hell, been paying into this for 15 years and rates keep climbing with no end.

Boss makes us work without proper PPE to cut costs, pisses me off.

Try bundling with your truck insurance, knocked $800 off my annual for the van.

Ever try the HVAC Techs Network for group rates? Saved my buddy a bundle.

Just got a claim denied because of 'pre-existing' on a compressor failure, total BS.