National Health Insurance (NHI) premiums are to be raised next year in line with adjustments to wages, which would affect about 8.21 million people, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday.
Of those affected, 7.71 million are to see their monthly premiums increase slightly by an average of NT$21 (US$0.64), while 100,000 would see an average maximum increase of NT$831 and 400,000 would pay less, the ministry said.
The adjustments would result in an NT$8.6 billion injection of funds into the healthcare sector, it added.
Photo: Taipei Times
In response to the minimum wage being raised to NT$28,590 from NT$27,470, the ministry revised the NHI’s premiums table, increasing the amounts.
Those primarily affected by the adjustments are employees; those who are self-employed or independent; those with no fixed employers, but who are in occupational unions; and farmers, fishers or members of conservancy associations, it said.
Since 2021, income growth for high-income earners has outpaced that of low-income earners, Department of Social Insurance deputy head Chen Chen-hui (陳真慧) said.
To ensure equal access to insurance, the maximum premium amount has been adjusted from NT$219,500 to NT$313,000. That would affect 100,000 people with an average monthly increase of NT$831, Chen said.
Meanwhile, of the 400,000 who would be paying less, 370,000 would have their premiums reduced by NT$4 to NT$6, while 30,000 would have reductions of NT$508 to NT$603.
The limit on out-of-pocket expenses for hospitalizations has also been adjusted, increasing from NT$50,000 to NT$51,000 for a single visit and NT$84,000 to NT$86,000 for the year, the ministry said.
That is not applicable for those with severe illnesses or from low-income households, the ministry added.
About 10,800 people would be affected, and it is expected to bring in NT$11.98 million to the insurance system, the ministry said.
The National Health Insurance Administration has also approved a special temporary fund of NT$5 billion for new cancer drugs which are intended to be part of treatment options, but are not yet covered due to budget limitations.
Other changes next year include updating the classification of diseases to more precisely diagnose people, and expanding the integrated care program to new areas and increase its service capacity to 50,000 people.
The Health Promotion Administration is also expanding subsidies for preventive health checkups next year to include those aged 30 to 39, and would be offered once every five years. The subsidy amount per checkup would also increase from NT$520 to NT$880.
Health checkups for people aged 40 to 65 are free once every three years, and includes a physical examination, blood tests, kidney tests and health consultations. People aged 65 or older, indigenous people aged 55 or older, and polio patients aged 35 or older may receive the checkup once a year.
Cancer screenings for colon cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer are also to be expanded starting next year, and would have a NT$6.8 billion budget. It is estimated that cancer screenings could reach 12 million by 2030.
The National Pension Insurance rate is being increased from 10 percent to 10.5 percent, increasing the average monthly premium of about 2.39 million people by NT$39.
About 130,000 people from low-income households or with severe disabilities who are fully subsidized by the government would not be affected.
CSBC Corp, Taiwan (台灣國際造船) yesterday released the first video documenting the submerged sea trials of Taiwan’s indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or Narwhal, showing underwater navigation and the launch of countermeasures. The footage shows the vessel’s first dive, steering and control system tests, and the raising and lowering of the periscope and antenna masts. It offered a rare look at the progress in the submarine’s sea acceptance tests. The Hai Kun carried out its first shallow-water diving trial late last month and has since completed four submerged tests, CSBC said. The newly released video compiles images recorded from Jan. 29 to
DETERRENCE EFFORTS: Washington and partners hope demonstrations of force would convince Beijing that military action against Taiwan would carry high costs The US is considering using HMAS Stirling in Western Australia as a forward base to strengthen its naval posture in a potential conflict with China, particularly over Taiwan, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. As part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, Washington plans to deploy up to four nuclear-powered submarines at Stirling starting in 2027, providing a base near potential hot spots such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. The move also aims to enhance military integration with Pacific allies under the Australia-UK-US trilateral security partnership, the report said. Currently, US submarines operate from Guam, but the island could
RESTRAINTS: Should China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, China would be excluded from major financial institutions, the bill says The US House of Representatives on Monday passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act, which states that Washington would exclude China from participating in major global financial organizations if its actions directly threaten Taiwan’s security. The bill, proposed by Republican Representative Frank Lucas, passed with 395 votes in favor and two against. It stipulates that if China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, the US would, “to the maximum extent practicable,” exclude Beijing from international financial institutions, including the G20, the Bank for International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. The bill makes it clear that China must be prepared
Taiwanese trade negotiators told Washington that Taipei would not relocate 40 percent of its semiconductor production to the US, and that its most advanced technologies would remain in the nation, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said on Sunday. “I told the US side very clearly — that’s impossible,” Cheng, who led the negotiation team, said in an interview that aired on Sunday night on Chinese Television System. Cheng was referring to remarks last month by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, in which he said his goal was to bring 40 percent of Taiwan’s chip supply chain to the US Taiwan’s almost
RSS