Current Retiree - Officers
As a retired Officer, you remain an important member of the Columbia University community. You and your family are eligible for various benefits—so be sure to take advantage of them.
Accessing Retirement Benefits
Columbia University partners with Via Benefits to offer Medicare-eligible Officer retirees and their Medicare-eligible spouses a wide selection of health care plans. These include lower cost options with coverage comparable to the current retiree medical UnitedHealthcare plans.
Via Benefits is the nation’s oldest and largest private Medicare marketplace. Participants work directly with an experienced benefit advisor to provide personalized, unbiased support.
In addition, Columbia offers a tax-free Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) if you enroll in a medical plan through Via Benefits.
In 2024, the HRA amount is $900 for an individual retiree and $450 for their covered spouse.
In 2025, Columbia University is increasing the HRA amount to $1,500 for an individual retiree and $750 for their covered spouse.
Additional Catastrophic Rx HRA funding is available for eligible retirees that may face out-of-pocket cost burden after reaching the catastrophic Medicare Part D threshold.
Medical, prescription and vision benefits are available upon retirement if you have satisfied the eligibility requirements. To be eligible, Officers must be 55 years or older and have 10 or more years of service with the University, after age 45. Certain employment statuses do not apply to the service requirement; please contact the Columbia Benefits Service Center at 212-851-7000 or [email protected] for confirmation of eligibility.
Medical plan options vary based on your age at retirement:
Dental coverage is available upon retirement if you have satisfied the eligibility requirements. To be eligible, Officers must be 55 years or older and have 10 or more years of service with the University, after age 45. Certain employment statuses do not apply to the service requirement; please contact the Columbia Benefits Service Center at 212-851-7000 or [email protected] for confirmation of eligibility.
Tuition benefits are available upon retirement if you have satisfied the eligibility requirements. To be eligible, an Officer must be 55 years or older and must have completed 10 years of continuous benefits-eligible service as a regular, full-time Officers on or after age 45 and must have retired immediately after termination of employment with Columbia University.
The following tuition benefits are available after retirement: College Tuition Scholarship (CTS), Primary Tuition Scholarship (PTS) and Tuition Exemption.
If you are in phased retirement, you will be treated as an active full-time Officer for purposes of tuition benefits until your date of retirement.
Whether you were receiving contributions from Columbia University to your University Retirement Plan or making contributions to your Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan (VRSP), the contributions end at retirement but your funds remain available.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by TELUS Health, is a network of free or discounted services to support your personal success and help with everyday challenges, including child and eldercare issues and substance abuse support services.