The supervisory committee of the Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) reached an initial consensus yesterday to raise premium rates for almost 7 million people next year to solve its financial difficulties.
In the face of the shortfall in the bureau's "safety reserve fund," which will be NT$24 billion (US$737 million) next year, the committee proposed hiking premiums for all military officials, civil servants, teachers, laborers, farmers, conscripts, low-income households and other professionals.
Although Premier Su Tseng-chang (
According to the committee, the shortage of the reserve fund will reach NT$1.5 billion by the end of this year, and the money gap will degenerate thereafter. Therefore, premium rate hikes are necessary and urgent, the committee said.
The nation's single military officials, civil servants and teachers, based on a monthly salary of NT$50,000 per month, will see their their monthly insurance fee increase from NT$691 to NT$723 under the new system.
Also, those who enjoy relatively high-incomes will suffer the most, as the monthly insurance fee for managers, self-business owners and professionals will be raised from NT$1,201 to NT$1,515, which is about 26 percent higher than the current figure.
The proposal will only become effective if it is passed by the committee and approved by Cabinet.
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