Five legislative committees on Jan. 17 jointly reviewed the Cabinet’s special budget bill to distribute surplus tax revenue to the public. The special budget bill will allocate NT$380 billion to improve the resilience of Taiwan’s society and economy. Of which NT$100 billion has been earmarked to shore up the finances of the health and labor insurance systems as well as state-run Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower), which has bore the cost of keeping electricity prices stable. 

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-tse asked the Ministry of Health and Welfare how the surplus tax revenue could help the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, to which Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan replied that as there is an injection of NT$24 billion in government funding for 2023, there is no need to raise NHI premiums. However, looking ahead to 2024, there could be a financial shortfall of around NT$20 billion.

Kuomintang Legislator Tseng Ming-chung said that the ruling DPP should provide further clarity on the Cabinet’s special bill, and specify how the NT$100 billion surplus tax earmarked for the NHI and Taipower will be used. In response, Minister Hsueh said that he is hoping for NT$20 billion for the NHI. Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun said that he is hoping for at least one-third of the NT$100 billion to be allocated to shore up the Labor Insurance Fund. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua said that after the NHI and takes its fair share of the surplus tax, more could be allocated to Taipower. Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics Minister Chu Tzer-ming said that further discussion is required as several government ministry are eyeing the NT$100 billion.

[2023-1-17/CNA]