A recent National Health Insurance Committee (NHIC) meeting was held to assess the National Health Insurance premiums rate for 2023. In consideration of an increase in the minimum wage, the addition of NT$24 billion in funding allocated by the Executive Branch, the National Health Insurance safety reserve is expected to stay above the required threshold equivalent to one month’s expenditures, the NHIC recommended that the premiums rate be kept at 5.17 percent, to be finalized and officially announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare before Jan. 1, 2023.

NHIC Executive Secretary Chou Shu-wan said that during the NHIC meeting on Oct. 14, committee members assessed that as the NHI safety reserve will remain above one month’s expenditure, they and other experts have agreed to maintain the current NHI premiums rate. According to the NHIA, although the falling number of dependents will lead to a NT$1.9 billion decrease in NHI revenues, the impact will be offset by the estimated NT$5.6 billion increase in revenues as a result of changes to the NHI income bracket following a hike to the minimum wage. The Executive Yuan has also allocated an additional NT$24 billion in funding to ensure that the safety reserve stay above one month’s expenditures.

In consideration that NHI finances remain sound and the fact that many people are still being affected by the pandemic and rising inflation, the NHIC agreed to maintain the current NHI rate of 5.17 percent. As the 2023 NHI global budget is expected to reach NT$830 billion and facing continued financial pressures and impending premium rate increases, the NHIC provided a number of recommendations including strengthening the NHI’s fiscal balance, better implementation of the referral system, with the hopes of improving management and reduction of NHI.

[2022-11-18/China Times]