One by one at a city council meeting last month, Olathe residents — most of them retired city employees — came forward to voice concerns about rising health insurance premiums. Nine speakers in all addressed the council at its Nov. 4th meeting. “Ever since we received this information about the 2026 cost increase, we’re trying to figure out how we can afford it,” retired Olathe police officer Damon Bell said. “And to be honest, this is scary.” Health insurance premiums are going up across the U.S., and a high-profile battle over subsidies for those on the federal ACA marketplace led to the recent government shutdown. But in Olathe, another factor is at play. The city recently announced that it is sharply reducing its contribution to health care premiums for retired city employees next year — a decision that some of those impacted say is making them think twice about their retirement.
Read more: Johnson County Post
