Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
【China Times / Zhang Cuifen / Taipei Report】2009.02.17
The National Health Insurance Supervisory Committee of the Department of Health discussed the "1.5-generation" NHI plan on the 16th, proposing to increase the burden on high-income earners. Civil groups argue that during an economic downturn, everyone is looking to earn extra income, and the 1.5-generation NHI reform is heading in the wrong direction. The photo shows citizens waiting at the Taipei Joint Service Center of the NHI Bureau to complete their enrollment procedures. (Photo by Chen Yicheng)
The Department of Health has proposed an NHI reform plan, but civil groups criticize it as merely "half-baked." They argue that the government should simultaneously address issues of medical quality and pharmaceutical waste rather than simply "squeezing money" from the public. Teng Xihua, spokesperson for the Civilian Health Insurance Supervision Alliance, pointed out that the 1.5-generation NHI will inevitably increase the burden on employers and workers, and experts at the meeting hope it won’t be implemented during an economic downturn.
Teng Xihua noted that the current NHI fees are divided into six categories and 14 subcategories, with different premiums for general employees, veterans, occupational unions, military personnel, and civil servants based on their status. However, this has led to opportunistic enrollment issues, such as supermodel Lin Chi-ling, who earns a high income but is insured under the minimum wage category due to lacking a fixed employer, sparking criticism.
**New System Only Half-Done, Affecting Ordinary Citizens**
Teng Xihua believes that while the Department of Health’s new NHI system could bring in an additional NT$44.4 billion annually, the central government would still need to find other funding sources to cover new expenses, and it fails to resolve opportunistic enrollment. During yesterday’s meeting, most committee members expressed deep concerns about the government’s proposal.
While most members agree that premium adjustments are necessary, they insist the government should increase premiums for the wealthy rather than burden the general public.
Teng Xihua stated that the 1.5-generation NHI will undoubtedly place a significant burden on employers and workers, and experts at the meeting hope it won’t be rolled out during an economic downturn.
**Supervision Alliance: Direct Implementation of Second-Generation NHI for Fairness**
The Supervision Alliance also advocates abolishing the current six-category, 14-subcategory system and directly implementing the second-generation NHI, which calculates premiums based on total household income to achieve fairness. They also call for simultaneous legal revisions to ensure financial transparency, information disclosure, and payment systems, addressing issues of medical reimbursement and quality to demonstrate the government’s sincerity in NHI reform. The government cannot ignore systemic flaws while repeatedly demanding more money from the public.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=5,63& id=4761
1.5-Gen Health Insurance Criticized: Demanding Money without Fixing Loopholes
The National Health Insurance Supervisory Committee of the Department of Health discussed the "1.5-generation" NHI plan on the 16th, proposing to increase the burden on high-income earners. Civil groups argue that during an economic downturn, everyone is looking to earn extra income, and the 1.5-generation NHI reform is heading in the wrong direction. The photo shows citizens waiting at the Taipei Joint Service Center of the NHI Bureau to complete their enrollment procedures. (Photo by Chen Yicheng)
The Department of Health has proposed an NHI reform plan, but civil groups criticize it as merely "half-baked." They argue that the government should simultaneously address issues of medical quality and pharmaceutical waste rather than simply "squeezing money" from the public. Teng Xihua, spokesperson for the Civilian Health Insurance Supervision Alliance, pointed out that the 1.5-generation NHI will inevitably increase the burden on employers and workers, and experts at the meeting hope it won’t be implemented during an economic downturn.
Teng Xihua noted that the current NHI fees are divided into six categories and 14 subcategories, with different premiums for general employees, veterans, occupational unions, military personnel, and civil servants based on their status. However, this has led to opportunistic enrollment issues, such as supermodel Lin Chi-ling, who earns a high income but is insured under the minimum wage category due to lacking a fixed employer, sparking criticism.
**New System Only Half-Done, Affecting Ordinary Citizens**
Teng Xihua believes that while the Department of Health’s new NHI system could bring in an additional NT$44.4 billion annually, the central government would still need to find other funding sources to cover new expenses, and it fails to resolve opportunistic enrollment. During yesterday’s meeting, most committee members expressed deep concerns about the government’s proposal.
While most members agree that premium adjustments are necessary, they insist the government should increase premiums for the wealthy rather than burden the general public.
Teng Xihua stated that the 1.5-generation NHI will undoubtedly place a significant burden on employers and workers, and experts at the meeting hope it won’t be rolled out during an economic downturn.
**Supervision Alliance: Direct Implementation of Second-Generation NHI for Fairness**
The Supervision Alliance also advocates abolishing the current six-category, 14-subcategory system and directly implementing the second-generation NHI, which calculates premiums based on total household income to achieve fairness. They also call for simultaneous legal revisions to ensure financial transparency, information disclosure, and payment systems, addressing issues of medical reimbursement and quality to demonstrate the government’s sincerity in NHI reform. The government cannot ignore systemic flaws while repeatedly demanding more money from the public.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=5,63& id=4761