Hopewell may walk back decision ending retirees’ health insurance premium reimbursements

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- Hopewell City Council may reverse its decision to end health insurance premium reimbursements for retirees.

The city previously announced that it would be phasing out health insurance premium reimbursements for retirees starting in mid-2026. Currently, retirees are set to receive half as much starting on July 1, 2026 and then nothing starting on July 1, 2027.

"However, members of Council and City staff have raised a concern that a phase out would cause a hardship upon those retirees," the city said in a Nov. 25 press release.

Because of these concerns, Hopewell City Council will take up a vote on whether or not the city should reinstate these reimbursements on Dec. 9.

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"Regardless of the outcome of that vote, retirees who remain on the City’s health plan will see no changes and those aged 65 and older will continue to receive the same supplemental benefits," the city said in the release.

For more information, you can reach Hopewell's Public Information Officer, Ginger Holland, by phone at 804-541-2243 or by email at PIO@hopewellva.gov.