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Here in the midlands a city struggling to make ends meet. Now, its retirees, doing the same. Wednesday night Columbia city leaders are meeting to discuss a new retirement plan that will save the city money, but cost retirees a lot more.

Joyce Beam is one... of close to a hundred retired columbia employees, packing city hall, demanding answers.

"They promised me that I'd have insurance coverage the rest of my life and that's not what's happening," says Beam.

Beam's upset because she says the city only notified her yesterday of possible changes. In a tough economy, the city is introducing new insurance coverage plans for retiree's spouses and their children. Leaving beam, who retired 11 years ago, worried about her husband's coverage.

"Things do change," says Beam. "And the city is going to have to change with it. But first they're going to have to let those retirees and working people know what they're doing."

"We can not continue in the route we've been going," says City Councilman Daniel Rickenmann.

Councilman Daniel Rickenmann, who introduced the plan, says it will help the city lower its health insurance debt. Under Rickenmann's plan, taxpayers would only cover premiums for current retirees and those retiring in the next year. Monthly premiums for family coverage would rise to more than seven hundred dollars from the previous 250.

"Look., are we going to make everybody happy? No. The reality is that. But can we do an overall plan that is good for the whole community? Yes. And I think that's been our whole objective," says Rickenmann.

The council, listening to suggestions from the meeting, will consider grace periods and coverage changes within it's blue cross blue shield plan.

"I think if council does what they say they're going to do... then we'll be happy campers a little longer. If they don't there's going to be people out there for hydes one of these meetings," says Beam.

After getting feedback tonight... the city is still fleshing the details. Council votes on the plan May 6th.