Municipal Retirees Ask For Healthcare Cost Relief

BARNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL

Backstory: A petition was submitted requesting the Council consider increasing the town’s contributions to retiree health insurance from 50% to 70%. The Town Council authorized increasing town contributions for employee health insurance premiums up to 70% in 2023.

Why it matters: Petitioners call the current system a “retirement penalty”, a 20-percent cost jump the day you stop working.

What happened: At the January 29, 2026 meeting, the Town Council voted 10–0 to declare “merit” and consider the petition further. As retirees, President Tamash and Councilor Levesque recused themselves.

What they’re saying:

“The retirees were left out and we felt abandoned.”

Thomas Toomey, Retired Officer, 37.5 years of service

“People that have been retired can’t even afford to pay for their insurance.”

Patti Machado, 45-year town employee

What’s next: This was a vote on merit, not a final appropriation. The council must now complete a fiscal impact analysis for FY2027 and schedule a binding second vote.

The bottom line: With a unanimous vote and broad public support from a packed house of retirees, the remaining question is what will it cost the town?