DOH promises to offer more flexible insurance system

Department of Health (DOH) Director-General Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲) said yesterday the department plans to accommodate those who are unable to pay their health insurance premiums.

During legislative proceedings, DPP Legislator Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said it was unfair that those who are unable to pay the premiums are barred from the National Health Insurance Program.

About 600,000 to 700,000 people are unable to pay their premiums. Most of them are unemployed.

"According to current regulations, people cannot enjoy National Health Insurance Program benefits until they pay back all their outstanding premiums," Lai said.

Lai said the regulations generate anger and make people less willing to pay up.

"I suggest the DOH make new regulations that allow people to rejoin the program with a low down payment," Lai said.

About 97 percent of people keep up with their health insurance premiums.

Lai added that being more flexible would help get the remaining 3 percent to contribute to the program

In response, Twu said the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) would continue to urge those who are able but unwilling to pay the premiums to pay up.

"However, for those who are really unable to pay the premiums, the DOH is designing a project to lighten their burden," Twu added.

The purpose of the project is to enable these people to join the National Health Insurance system.

"But the project must be equitable and reasonable," Twu said.

The BNHI has launched a debt repayment program to help those who, since 1997, have had difficulties paying their premiums.

However, the DOH plans to improve upon the bureau's program by making it easier for people to pay their outstanding premiums, according to Wu Hsien-ming (吳憲明), director of the department's National Health Insurance Task Force.

Wu, director of the department's National Health Insurance Task Force, said the project will be sent to the Executive Yuan for consideration this month or next month.

"People who take part in the project can rejoin the insurance program with an even lower down payment. Furthermore, they do not need to pay any interest," Wu explained.

"If the Executive Yuan approves the project, the plan will be sent to the legislature. New regulations need to be made to implement the project," Wu said.

Meanwhile, the BNHI has created a fund to help those unable to pay their premiums.

"Last year, the bureau spent about NT$40 million to help around 10,000 people," said Shih Yu-chu (時玉珠), general manager of the bureau's Department of Underwriting.

According to Shih, the fund pays first for those who are unable to pay their premiums so that they can join the National Health Insurance Program.

"These people can return the money to the fund later on," Shih said.