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Toddlers get free health insurance

Children under three from impoverished families will be exempted from national health insurance premiums from April 4 to coincide with the nation's Women's and Children's Day, Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday.

Noting that the new measure will benefit 24,000 children, Hsieh said it will be adopted in line with President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) earlier directive that the government assist low-income families with young children by excepting the children from health insurance payments.

The insurance premium exemption for children under three will help reduce the financial burden for low-income families by an estimated NT$137 million annually, Hsieh said.

The government has exempted out-patient and hospitalization fees for all local children under three since 2002, Hsieh said, adding that the results of a series of public opinion surveys show that 93 percent of respondents support this measure.

Hsieh also announced that the government will offer subsidies for elementary and junior-high schools in Aboriginal communities to purchase flat-panel TVs in connection with the planned launch of an Aboriginal TV channel in July.

Meanwhile, Hsieh said the Executive Yuan will raise the ratio of female commissioners in various commissions or councils under its jurisdiction to accentuate the government's resolve to promote gender equality in political participation and policy formulation.
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