With the 2026 National Health Insurance (NHI) global budget nearing NT$1 trillion, the National Health Insurance Committee (NHIC) confirmed that as NHI safety reserves are expected to remain at around the legally mandated threshold of two months’ expenditure, NHI premium rates will remain unchanged at 5.17% through 2026. The NHIC also did not make further recommendations on adjustments to supplemental premium rates.

Following a 13-hour negotiation with the hospital, Western medicine clinic, dental, and traditional Chinese medicine departments, the NHIA on Sept. 24 submitted a 2026 NHI global budget of NT$988.335 billion, reaching the 5.5% upper growth limit approved by the Executive Yuan.

The NHI safety reserve, which serves as the NHI’s emergency operating fund, is legally required to cover at least one month of expenditure. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang previously stated that the reserve is expected to remain close to two months of expenditure, supporting the decision to keep NHI premium rates unchanged.

Citing National Health Insurance Administration estimates, NHIC Executive Secretary Chou Shu-wan stated that even without injections from the central government budget, the 2026 NHI safety reserve will still reach nearly two months of expenditures. Therefore, the NHI premium rate will remain at 5.17%. She added that the MOHW has submitted the 2026 NHI global budget to the Executive Yuan for approval.

The 2026 NHI global budget comprises NT$685.306 billion for hospitals, NT$186.199 billion for clinics, NT$58.369 billion for dentistry, and NT$36.429 billion for traditional Chinese medicine, as well as NT$22.032 billion for other services—an increase of NT$1.149 billion, or 5.5% from the previous year—bringing the total to NT$988.335 billion.

Regarding the NHI’s long-term fiscal challenges, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) indicated that it is still exploring several approaches, including removing the cap on supplemental income contributions.

However, the MOHW noted that such reforms require cross-agency coordination and currently have no confirmed timetable. Executive Secretary Chou added that the National Health Insurance Committee (NHIC) did not discuss changes to supplemental premium rules during the meeting.

[2025-11-19/Central News Agency]