Taiwan Today

Department of Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang responded to an opposition lawmaker’s questioning of Taiwan’s second-generation health plan Dec. 5, stating that the government is doing its best to ensure most people receive maximum coverage for minimum premiums. “The 2G health scheme will actually reduce premiums for 60 percent of the insured,” Yaung said. “This equates to around 11 million people, which is not a bad result.” Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Sue-ying criticized the plan during a joint news conference with the National Health Insurance Civic Surveillance Alliance. “The new system should be based on the principle that those who have more money and earn more should be required to pay higher premiums,” she said. According to Huang, it is unfair to calculate premiums for the unemployed and those with no income based on the minimum wage of NT$17,280 (US$573) per month, while retired individuals receiving a monthly pension would be exempt. The lawmaker proposes health insurance premiums for unemployed workers and individuals with no income be set at a minimum level of NT$350 per month, and those under 20 should be exempt. The 2G health scheme, which has yet to pass final reading in the Legislature, would see premiums calculated on total household income, rather than an individual’s salary. The plan aims to address a number of shortcomings in the current system, including efficiency, fairness and finances. (SB-JSM)