Care for disadvantaged groups in the second generation NHI-National Health Insurance Administration Ministry of Health and Welfare-NEWS

In response to Premier Wu Den-yih’s instructions to the Department of Health (DOH) to clarify the reasons for national health insurance (NHI) card suspensions and to formulate effective countermeasures to address the problem, the DOH is committed to the following, in accordance with the spirit of the second-generation national health insurance, to provide greater assistance to disadvantaged groups.

1.Informing anti-NHI card suspension hotline callers of assistance measures

Starting in May this year, the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) NHI service hotline (0800-030-598) now provides information on NHI card suspensions, countermeasures and other assistance. Moreover, the BNHI has informed local (city/district/town/village) administration offices and village/borough chiefs of their authority to produce certificates of poverty to help disadvantaged groups receive medical aid using the NHI in emergency or critical situations.

2.Building an interactive platform with local governments, hospitals and schools

The BNHI regional divisions are actively seeking to build a platform with social organizations, hospitals and schools to provide comprehensive and timely NHI assistance to disadvantaged groups.

For instance, the NHI regional divisions have sent to local governments a list of financially challenged persons who are over 65 or under 18 years of age and whose NHI cards have been blocked on account of payment defaults. Local government officials will visit these groups to assist them with applications for social relief and NHI premium subsidies.

The BNHI is further working with hospital social services and social welfare groups to offer help to the disadvantaged whose cases remain unresolved, in addition to partnering with charity organizations to help them with premium payments.

Furthermore, the BNHI is committed to the construction of a NHI Campus Reporting Network in cooperation with local educational institutes and schools, to help children who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault settle their NHI debts.

With years of experience in assisting the underprivileged, the BNHI is aware that disadvantaged groups do not easily seek help unless absolutely necessary. In order to reach out to these people, village/borough chiefs, social workers, hospitals, schools and police officers are encouraged to report to their local authority or the BNHI once they have made contact with such persons. It is hoped that with help from all sectors of the community, the medical problems of the disadvantaged can be alleviated.

Disadvantaged persons who receive a NHI premium subsidy from the government can still receive medical aid using their NHI during the period of subsidy, despite previous payment default. Disadvantaged persons include people from low-income households, handicapped persons, senior citizens over 70 years of age from low-and-middle-income families, aborigines under 19 or over 55 years of age who are insured under the sixth insurance category, children or teenagers under 18 years of age from low-and-middle-income families, unemployed workers and subsidy recipients of welfare donation of tobacco products for health.

As some 600,000 people have had their NHI cards suspended, the BNHI is dedicated to understanding the reasons for suspension and coming up with solutions. Currently, with certificates of poverty produced by village or borough chiefs or if recognized by hospital social workers to be financially incapable of honoring premium payments, people can still receive medical aid as NHI insured.

Member hospitals of the Integrated Delivery System (IDS) since December 1, 2009

Taipei Division