Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC) approved the proposed range for the 2027 National Health Insurance (NHI) global budget on August 13. The annual growth rate is set between 2.619% and 5.5%, bringing total medical expenditure to between NT$1.014955 trillion and NT$1.043449 trillion, exceeding the NT$1 trillion mark for the first time. The proposal will be submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval, and reciprocal negotiations will begin three months prior to the start of the next year, within the approved total budget.

National Development Council (NDC) Minister and Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯) stated that the lower growth estimate of 2.619% was calculated based on factors including the insured population structure, medical costs, and changes in the number of insured individuals. It represents the minimum increase required to maintain the basic operation of the existing healthcare system. The upper estimate of 5.5% takes into account the NHI’s overall financial position, the need to maintain healthcare quality, and the continued implementation of the government’s “Healthy Taiwan” policy agenda, while preserving room for negotiations.

Taiwan’s rapidly aging population, declining birth rate, and changing healthcare needs have continued to place pressure on the NHI system. The NHI global budget has already recorded 5.5% growth for two consecutive years in 2025 and 2026. The current formula for calculating the lower estimate is primarily based on growth in medical service costs and demographic factors, multiplied by the share of general service expenditures. The National Health Insurance Committee (NHIC) has recommended reviewing the formula to better reflect demographic and healthcare changes.

Despite continued increases in the global budget, financial pressure on the NHI remains significant. Previous estimates by the NHIC showed that under growth rates of 2.619% and 5.5%, the system would still face deficits of NT$84.3 billion and NT$55.9 billion, respectively. Its safety reserve would fall to approximately 1.01–1.4 months of insurance benefit expenditures, approaching the statutory minimum of one month under the National Health Insurance Act. The NHIC has therefore reiterated the need to secure additional government budget allocations or other funding sources without raising insurance premiums. Since 2023, the government has increased funding for the NHI through regular and special budgets, with approximately NT$20 billion in additional government funding bringing the 2026 global budget to NT$1.0082 trillion.

【2026-08-14/China Times】