The system for temporarily suspending National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage has been abolished starting today, meaning that eligible citizens and residents must remain continuously insured and pay insurance premiums.
The cancelation began with a court case two years ago involving a Taiwanese citizen living overseas surnamed Lee (李).
Lee returned to Taiwan once annually during Lunar New Year, but did not comply with regulations to suspend NHI and was pursued for not making insurance payments.
Photo: Taipei Times
Lee filed a constitutional interpretation with the Constitutional Court, which ruled that the NHI suspension system contravened the principle of legal reservation.
The court declared the system would be abolished two years after the ruling, which is today.
Currently there are about 210,000 people with suspended insurance, including those living and working overseas, studying abroad and crew members of fishing vessels, according to statistics from the National Health Insurance Administration.
With the abolishment of the suspension system, NHI revenue would increase by about NT$2.3 billion (US$70.34 million) annually.
Starting today, the agency would no longer accept applications to suspend health insurance.
If citizens have a national residence registered, they must remain continuously insured and pay insurance premiums, it said.
Those who require urgent medical attention when abroad may pay out-of-pocket for local treatment and submit related documents to the agency for reimbursement, it said.
For those who applied for insurance suspension on or before yesterday, if they stay abroad for more than six months, the suspension would remain valid until they return to Taiwan and apply for reinstatement, the agency said.
However, if they stay abroad for less than six months, the suspension would be canceled and any payments missed during the suspension period must be paid back, it said.
With the cancelation of the suspension system, those who are eligible for insurance must register under their appropriate legal status, it added.
Monthly payment notices would be sent to each insured party’s mailing or e-mail address, it said.
Electronic payments can be made via credit card, checking account or mobile payments including iPass Money, Jkopay and Taiwan Pay, it said.
Citizens living abroad can also choose to set up automatic monthly payments via bank transfer or credit card, it added.
The agency is notifying all parties who currently have their insurance suspended of policy changes through official letters and e-mails.
More information about changes in NHI suspension and payment policies can be found on the agency’s official Web site.
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