During the Health Committee’s review of regulations on National Health Insurance (NHI) data management, Minister of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Chiu Tai-yuan on May 9 responded to Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Liao Wei-hsiang’s questions about whether NHI premium rates will be increased in 2026 in response to forecast that the NHI reserves will fall below the legally mandated threshold of one month’s expenditure if the NHI global budget is increased at the upper end of the proposed growth parameters. Minister Chiu replied that the current assessment is that increases to the NHI premium rates is unlikely, given that financials remain sound from inflows including supplemental premiums and a NT$20 billion allocation from the Executive Yuan, as well as higher premiums contributions from a higher minimum wage, as well as copayments.

When asked to comment on Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung’s remark that adjustments to the NHI premium rates will depend on further negotiations, Minister Chiu said that Minister without Portfolio Chen was speaking from a wider perspective, while the MOHW is focused on implementation. Regarding KMT Legislator Liao’s suggestion to remove various non-medical expenditures from the NHI global budget and to increase funding for specific items, including raising the Cancer Drug Fund from NT$5 billion to NT$10 billion, as well as allocating NT$2 billion for the orphan drugs earmark and NT$0.5 billion for enhanced insurance services, Minister Chiu said that the MOHW would make its best effort to meet these goals.

During the meeting, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-pin also urged the central government to allocate funding for infectious disease prevention and public health efforts to address seasonal epidemics. In response, Minister Chiu said that amendments to the NHI Act would be considered to increase NHI’s revenue streams.

[2025-6-9/Up Media]