Clipping Board » Medical Myths ─ The truth about healthcare is often different from what you intuitively think.
According to statistics, the National Health Insurance Bureau spends up to 25 billion NTD annually on cold-related reimbursements, with the average number of medical visits for colds per person per year being 3.61. However, a recent survey found that 57% of patients seeking medical attention for colds do not actually need to see a doctor; they could recover naturally with more rest at home.
If calculated based on the annual health insurance expenditure of 25 billion NTD on cold treatments, the domestic health insurance budget wasted on unnecessary cold-related medical visits amounts to over 13 billion NTD, severely impacting the health insurance burden.
The Central Health Insurance Bureau commissioned the College of Nursing at Taipei Medical University to conduct a study titled "Establishing a Communication Education Mechanism to Enhance Public Awareness of Medical Resource Usage—Using Upper Respiratory Tract Infections as an Example." The survey results indicate that the timing of seeking medical attention for colds among the public needs to be better guided to avoid unnecessary resource wastage.
The study found that among 237 individuals aged 18 and above who sought medical attention for upper respiratory tract infections at medical centers, regional hospitals, or local clinics, only 43% exhibited symptoms that necessitated medical attention for upper respiratory tract infections, while the rest did not require medical visits.
The Health Insurance Bureau pointed out that the annual outpatient reimbursement is approximately 240 billion NTD, with cold-related medical visits accounting for about 25 billion NTD, roughly one-tenth of the total. In other words, for every 10 NTD spent on health insurance outpatient services, 1 NTD is used for treating colds.
From the perspective of health insurance payments, if a patient visits a medical center for a cold, the Health Insurance Bureau must pay an average of 572 NTD per visit. If the visit is to a regional hospital or local clinic, the cost is 553 NTD per visit. Based on an average of 3.61 visits per person per year, each person in Taiwan costs the Health Insurance Bureau 2,100 NTD annually for minor colds.
This survey also found that among domestic patients seeking medical attention for colds, about 57% do not exhibit necessary symptoms, such as fever or cough. Most people may visit the hospital for minor symptoms like headaches or nasal congestion.
The Health Insurance Bureau noted that necessary symptoms for seeking medical attention for upper respiratory tract infections include an oral temperature exceeding 39.4°C, rapid breathing, and gastrointestinal or neck lymph node swelling and inflammation. If the symptoms are mild, simply resting more can lead to recovery without the need for medical attention.
57% of Cold Visits Waste Money
If calculated based on the annual health insurance expenditure of 25 billion NTD on cold treatments, the domestic health insurance budget wasted on unnecessary cold-related medical visits amounts to over 13 billion NTD, severely impacting the health insurance burden.
The Central Health Insurance Bureau commissioned the College of Nursing at Taipei Medical University to conduct a study titled "Establishing a Communication Education Mechanism to Enhance Public Awareness of Medical Resource Usage—Using Upper Respiratory Tract Infections as an Example." The survey results indicate that the timing of seeking medical attention for colds among the public needs to be better guided to avoid unnecessary resource wastage.
The study found that among 237 individuals aged 18 and above who sought medical attention for upper respiratory tract infections at medical centers, regional hospitals, or local clinics, only 43% exhibited symptoms that necessitated medical attention for upper respiratory tract infections, while the rest did not require medical visits.
The Health Insurance Bureau pointed out that the annual outpatient reimbursement is approximately 240 billion NTD, with cold-related medical visits accounting for about 25 billion NTD, roughly one-tenth of the total. In other words, for every 10 NTD spent on health insurance outpatient services, 1 NTD is used for treating colds.
From the perspective of health insurance payments, if a patient visits a medical center for a cold, the Health Insurance Bureau must pay an average of 572 NTD per visit. If the visit is to a regional hospital or local clinic, the cost is 553 NTD per visit. Based on an average of 3.61 visits per person per year, each person in Taiwan costs the Health Insurance Bureau 2,100 NTD annually for minor colds.
This survey also found that among domestic patients seeking medical attention for colds, about 57% do not exhibit necessary symptoms, such as fever or cough. Most people may visit the hospital for minor symptoms like headaches or nasal congestion.
The Health Insurance Bureau noted that necessary symptoms for seeking medical attention for upper respiratory tract infections include an oral temperature exceeding 39.4°C, rapid breathing, and gastrointestinal or neck lymph node swelling and inflammation. If the symptoms are mild, simply resting more can lead to recovery without the need for medical attention.