The NHIA held the "Discussions on NHI Implementation Meeting" at Lianjiang County Hall on September 13. One topic of the meeting was helping the local economically-disadvantaged residents pay their overdue premiums through the charity fund. In 2022, the NHIA has thus far subsidized 39 households, and in other words, helped 56 Lianjiang County residents to pay NHI premiums totaling more than NT$910,000.

Affected by the pandemic, economic pressures have increased for some people. In addition to defer payment of premiums, the NHIA contacts county/city social welfare bureaus for lists of those in need. The NHIA also actively identifies vulnerable families who are unable to afford NHI premiums. For example, people qualified for low-income households, the near poor, people with middle- or severe-level disabilities who meet the criteria for financial hardship, and minors independently enrolling in NHI, their unpaid premiums which have been overdue before June 2022 will be paid by the charity fund. These charitable donations help a total of 39 households in the Lianjiang area. That is a total of NT$910,000 overdue premiums, with an average of about NT$16,500 per person.

The charity fund of the NHIA Taipei Division was established in 2002. Charitable donations mainly come from the general public and NHIA employees. Over the past 20 years, charitable donations have helped more than 2,300 disadvantaged families, about 4,800 people, with subsidies totaling more than NT$50 million, relieving the economic pressures of the disadvantaged families.

The NHIA stated that those who cannot pay their overdue premiums at one time are provided other measures, such as premium payment in installments and interest-free loan supported by the relief fund, easing the financial burden of the disadvantaged groups. For any questions, please call the NHIA hotline at 0800-030-598 or at 02-4128-678 for a mobile phone.