According to statistics on catastrophic illnesses collected by the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), the NHIA issued certificates of catastrophic illnesses to 915,254 patients in 2014, accounting for 3.87% of the insured population. Also, NT$167.9 billion NHI health expenditures (accounting for 27.30% of total NHI health expenditure) were used by those patients. That is to say, patients with catastrophic illnesses — who account for about 4% of all covered individuals — used 27% of the NHI health expenditure. In other words, out of every NT$100 paid into NHI, NT$27 goes to patients with catastrophic illnesses.

As of December 2014, 915,254 patients received catastrophic illnesses certificate. This is 8,142 fewer certificates than 2013, a decrease of 0.88%. A total of 974,720 certificates were valid in 2014, which is 11,567 fewer certificates than 2013, amounting to a decrease of 1.2%. The greatest reduction in certificates — a decrease of 17,712 — was related to a drop in the number of certificate issued for cancer patients. In 2014, NHI health expenditure that used by catastrophic illnesses patients were 167.9 billion points, an increase of 5.39 billion points (3.3%) compared to 2013. These figures illustrate that patients with catastrophic illnesses are significant beneficiaries of the NHI. In particular, the medical expenses of patients with Catastrophic Illnesses have increased in recent years, underscoring the fact that NHI has reduced the medical burden of such patients considerably.

Thanks to advances in technology and medicine, treatment options now exist for many different types of cancer. Many cancers have been cured through medical services provided by the NHI, and the quality of life of patients previously suffering from cancer is now no different than patients with non- catastrophic illnesses. In addition, a study commissioned by the NHIA shows that the utilization of NHI by patients with thyroid cancer and patients with first stage breast cancer, oral cancer, or cervical cancer three years after being issued a certificate is similar to that of patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and high cholesterol. Based on the doctrine of fairness of medical expenses, the NHIA determined in September 2013 that cancer patients must comply with the original approved criterion, i.e. “a patient who needs active or long-term treatment”, in order to renew their certificate. In addition, the relevant treatment assessment issued by the patient's attending physician must be submitted and approved by a professional review of the NHIA in order for patients to obtain a catastrophic illnesses certificate. As a result, there was a slight decline in the number of certificate issued for cancer patients in 2014.As for patients who have not been reissued a catastrophic illnesses certificate, we should congratulate them on getting better. These patients only need to pay co-payment in accordance with regulations, and their rights will not be affected.

The spirit of the NHI system is mutual aid: healthy young people help the old and infirm while high-income people help those with low-income, thereby ensuring that illness does not lead to poverty. With the support of the NHI, medical burdens of patients are lessened substantially. In the future, the NHIA will continue to uphold the spirit of service, assume the role of a good insurance administrator, provide care to vulnerable members of society, enhance medical quality, help people seek proper treatment, strengthen the public’s awareness of health management, and call on the public to treasure our medical resources and make sure every dollar of insurance paid into the system by the public will be used where it is needed most while maximizing the effectiveness of the NHI.