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Update Date: 2009/08/06 21:05 (Central News Agency Reporter Chen Qingfang, Taipei, 6th)
Newly appointed Health Minister Yang Zhiliang stated today that the National Health Insurance (NHI) premium rate is proposed to increase from the current 4.55% to 5.13%, with the accompanying measure being "robbing the rich to aid the poor." If this cannot be achieved, he would "end himself." In the future, priority will also be given to promoting the second-generation NHI, which calculates premiums based on total household income.
Yang Zhiliang said in the evening that the NHI Bureau will submit a proposal within one month. Once the Health Ministry reports it to the Executive Yuan for approval, it will be implemented quickly.
Yang Zhiliang explained that he is raising premiums in accordance with the "National Health Insurance Act." The Control Yuan yesterday reprimanded the Health Ministry and NHI Bureau for failing to adjust the premium rate as required by law. Therefore, if he does not raise premiums, he will be impeached. If the Legislative Yuan disagrees, his only option would be to end himself, "that's how politics works."
The National Health Insurance Act stipulates that premium rate adjustments within 6% fall under the authority of the competent authority. Yang Zhiliang said this is a law passed by the Legislative Yuan, so there will naturally be accompanying measures, such as "robbing the rich to aid the poor," while continuing to curb waste and collecting unpaid fees from local governments.
Regarding "robbing the rich to aid the poor," Yang Zhiliang explained that the current maximum insured monthly salary is NT$131,700. Wealthy individuals earning above this limit pay the same premium, which is unfair. In the future, the upper limit will be raised to make the wealthy pay more.
As for impoverished households on the margins who do not meet the low-income household criteria and must bear premiums, Yang Zhiliang believes the burden is too heavy for these low-to-middle-income groups. In the future, impoverished households with incomes exceeding 1.5 or 2 times the minimum living expenses of low-income households will enjoy more premium discounts and exemptions.
Yang Zhiliang pointed out that the NHI is facing financial difficulties, with a deficit of NT$60 billion by the end of this year. This has led to hospitals not filling vacancies, nurses being overworked to the point of near collapse, and many new drugs and technologies not being covered by the NHI. If the public does not pay slightly higher premiums now, they may find life-saving drugs expensive and uninsured when they fall seriously ill.
Using commercial insurance as an example, he noted that the government and employers do not subsidize premiums. However, the NHI is different—employees with fixed employers only need to pay 30% of the premium, while employers and the government cover the remaining 70%, ensuring lifelong NHI medical care. "If I were a worker, I would definitely demand an immediate premium increase."
After raising the NHI premium rate, Yang Zhiliang believes the future reform direction should prioritize the second-generation NHI, as it calculates premiums based on "total household income," which is fairer. If the second-generation NHI cannot pass, he will settle for the 1.5-generation NHI, which calculates premiums based on "individual total income." 980806
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 090806/ 5/ 1ohvv. html
New Director Yang Zhiliang: NHI Premium Rate May Rise to 5.13%
Newly appointed Health Minister Yang Zhiliang stated today that the National Health Insurance (NHI) premium rate is proposed to increase from the current 4.55% to 5.13%, with the accompanying measure being "robbing the rich to aid the poor." If this cannot be achieved, he would "end himself." In the future, priority will also be given to promoting the second-generation NHI, which calculates premiums based on total household income.
Yang Zhiliang said in the evening that the NHI Bureau will submit a proposal within one month. Once the Health Ministry reports it to the Executive Yuan for approval, it will be implemented quickly.
Yang Zhiliang explained that he is raising premiums in accordance with the "National Health Insurance Act." The Control Yuan yesterday reprimanded the Health Ministry and NHI Bureau for failing to adjust the premium rate as required by law. Therefore, if he does not raise premiums, he will be impeached. If the Legislative Yuan disagrees, his only option would be to end himself, "that's how politics works."
The National Health Insurance Act stipulates that premium rate adjustments within 6% fall under the authority of the competent authority. Yang Zhiliang said this is a law passed by the Legislative Yuan, so there will naturally be accompanying measures, such as "robbing the rich to aid the poor," while continuing to curb waste and collecting unpaid fees from local governments.
Regarding "robbing the rich to aid the poor," Yang Zhiliang explained that the current maximum insured monthly salary is NT$131,700. Wealthy individuals earning above this limit pay the same premium, which is unfair. In the future, the upper limit will be raised to make the wealthy pay more.
As for impoverished households on the margins who do not meet the low-income household criteria and must bear premiums, Yang Zhiliang believes the burden is too heavy for these low-to-middle-income groups. In the future, impoverished households with incomes exceeding 1.5 or 2 times the minimum living expenses of low-income households will enjoy more premium discounts and exemptions.
Yang Zhiliang pointed out that the NHI is facing financial difficulties, with a deficit of NT$60 billion by the end of this year. This has led to hospitals not filling vacancies, nurses being overworked to the point of near collapse, and many new drugs and technologies not being covered by the NHI. If the public does not pay slightly higher premiums now, they may find life-saving drugs expensive and uninsured when they fall seriously ill.
Using commercial insurance as an example, he noted that the government and employers do not subsidize premiums. However, the NHI is different—employees with fixed employers only need to pay 30% of the premium, while employers and the government cover the remaining 70%, ensuring lifelong NHI medical care. "If I were a worker, I would definitely demand an immediate premium increase."
After raising the NHI premium rate, Yang Zhiliang believes the future reform direction should prioritize the second-generation NHI, as it calculates premiums based on "total household income," which is fairer. If the second-generation NHI cannot pass, he will settle for the 1.5-generation NHI, which calculates premiums based on "individual total income." 980806
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 090806/ 5/ 1ohvv. html