Just a day after the presidential election, the National Health Insurance Bureau has begun to address the workability of campaign vows to allow China-based Taiwanese businesspeople to receive insurance coverage at designated hospitals in China for non-emergency treatment.
In recent years, complaints from China-based Taiwanese businessmen have focused on their inability to cash in on the benefits of the nation's extensive health insurance due to the fact that they live abroad.
Before Saturday's elections, President Chen Shui-bian (
"Currently, according to relevant health insurance laws covering overseas medical treatment, any unexpected accidents or emergency situations that require medical attention are eligible for reimbursement upon return to Taiwan," said Liu Chien-hsiang (
"With regard to regular hospital visits, organ transplants and other difficult procedures performed in China, these are not covered by Taiwan's health insurance," Liu said.
However, the Department of Health maintains that the priority for national health insurance is to cover the medical costs of those living in difficult economic situations or those with unique medical conditions.
"If we are to allow China-based Taiwanese businessmen to have the same benefits abroad as those at home, then we will have to make amendments to the National Health Insurance Law [
He said the bureau would have to work with establish designated hospitals that would be willing to accept Taiwan's National Health Insurance program.
"The other problem that arises has to do with that of fairness to others living overseas. Other Taiwanese living abroad would want the same benefits," Liu said.
The bureau was unable to balance its budget this past fiscal year and faces the prospect of increasing premiums.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
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