As the National Health Insurance program provides easy access to healthcare and removes the financial burden of health services, there is a small portion of patients whose numbers of medical visits are too high. To ensure the patient’s safety and preserve limited medical resources, since 2010, the BNHI has been conducting special consultations with patients whose total medical visits reach 100 over the previous year (excluding patients of major diseases or illnesses). In 2011, the heavy users who were consulted by the Bureau of National Health Insurance reduced their doctor visits by 24% in 2012; that it total medical visits reduced by almost 950,000, and the medical expenditures were cut by NT$829 million. Approximately 33,000 patients are consulted every year.
To provide more consultations to frequent visitors, starting April 2013, the Bureau lowers the consultation threshold from 100 medical visits to 90 medical visits. The number of consulted patients this year is expected to increase from 330,000 to 590,000. The consultation letters to patients will be sent by the end of May to remind patients of the importance of preserving medical resources. Furthermore, starting May 2013, a patient whose outpatient medical visits over 20 a year will be reminded when he or she visits a doctor with the NHI card. Doctors will understand the reason and provide assistance to such patients in order to help them and make the medical resources properly used.
The Bureau stressed that people should seek a doctor if sick but it is also important to have a correct mindset towards healthcare. Meanwhile, patients with chronic diseases should be equipped with the ability of self-care. People are also encouraged to download the brochure "125 Tips to Stay Healthy" from the website of the Department of Health to learn more about self-care and the right ways to make a medical visit.
If you receive a consultation letter from the Bureau and have questions regarding medical visits, please call the contact number as shown on the letter. Meanwhile, you may call the National Health Insurance hotline at 0800-030-598 for service.