The MOHW has announced that the Copayment Adjustments Plan will take effect on May 15, 2022. The plan includes adjustments to copayment for medications, tests and examinations, and emergency care in order to realize the spirit of equality and to rationally allocate medical resources.

Rather than managing financial stress, the purpose of copayment adjustments is to build up patients' responsibility by taking a small part in their medical expenses, and to encourage them to cherish limited NHI resources and reduce unnecessary medical expenses.

Adjustments include:

1. Medication copayment (outpatient care)

(1)District hospitals and clinics will be applied to the current rule. Drug expenses less than NT$100 are exempted from copayment; 20% of the drug expenses is charged with a ceiling of NT$200 for drugs expenses at NT$101 or more.

(2)New rules apply to medical centers and regional hospitals. 20% of the drug expenses will be charged with a ceiling NT$300.

(3)For patients who have a chronic illness refill prescription, the copayment of the first filling will be made in accordance with general drug prescriptions; the second filling prescriptions and those after will be exempted. 

2. Test and examination copayment

(1)At medical centers: Patients referred to a medical center will be charged a 10% copayment with a ceiling of NT$200. Patients without a referral will be charged a 20% copayment with a ceiling of NT$400.

(2)At regional hospitals: Patients referred to regional hospitals will be charged a 10% copayment with a ceiling of NT$150. Patients without a referral will be charged a 20% copayment with a ceiling of NT$300.

(3)At district hospitals: The copayment is fully waived for drug expenses below NT$500. Those at NT$501 or more will be charged 10% with a ceiling of NT$100. 

(4) At Western medicine clinics, dental clinics, and Chinese medicine clinics: tests and examinations expenses under NT$1,000 are exempted from copayment. Those at NT$1,001 or more are charged a NT$100 copayment.

3. Emergency care copayment

(1)At medical centers: Copayment for triage level 1 to level 2 is reduced from NT$450 to NT$300; for triage level 3, copayment remains NT$550; for triage level 4 to level 5, it is raised from NT$550 to NT$800.

(2)At regional hospitals: Copayment for triage level 1 to level 2 is reduced from NT$300 to NT$200; for triage level 3, copayment remains NT$300; for level 4 to level 5, it is raised from NT$300 to NT$600.