Columbia and VIA why ?

[neville clynes]

Hopefully, Columbia's  Gerry Rosberg or Michael Bloom will elaborate as needed.

My understanding is that  VIA has been contracted  to administrate a subsidy , in this case a contribution to a HSA (health savings account ) for participating retirees. This means to obtain the Columbia contribution to a retiree's HSA , previously 220 dollars/annum , raised to 900/annum for 2024, a retiree MUST OBTAIN their MEDIGAP policy using VIA as the agent.

Columbia has chosen not to administer the HSA account for retirees . The reason given is that it would be costly, this cost has not been revealed. VIA carries this cost in exchange for the agent's fees they receive directly from the MEDIGAP insurers.

VIA has refused to administer the HSA contribution for retirees who obtain their MEDIGAP policies on their own. Apparently , VIA's arrangement with NYU is diffferent and DOES ALLOW retirees to get their HSA subsidy even if they get their MEDIGAP polciy on their own. M. Rosberg has stated that VIA refused this arrangement with Columbia.