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Taiwan Expat Health Insurance

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is an island nation located close to the south east coast of the People’s Republic of China, informally known as “China”. Taiwan has an approximate population of 23 million people and its capital city, Taipei, is located on the northern part of the island. Situated along the Tropic of Cancer, Taiwan enjoys a marine sub tropical climate with a wet season typically from January to March. Humid conditions during the month of May also bring substantial rainfall. A varied topography which includes attractions such as mountain ranges, numerous national parks and pristine beaches has made Taiwan a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.

Following their defeat to the Communists during the Chinese civil war, the Kuomintang (KMT) retreated to Taiwan and established the Republic of China. Intellectuals, entrepreneurs and leading businessmen soon followed and Taiwan began implementing political and economic reforms that would prove crucial to the country’s development. The success of these reforms is widely referred to as an economic miracle and Taiwan, along with South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong is often referred to, in economic terms, as one of the ‘Four Asian Dragons’. Today, Taiwan’s economy is largely export driven and is heavily reliant on the manufacture and sale of electronics and technology.

Taiwan Healthcare System

Health facilities and services in Taiwan are of an extremely high standard and expatriates and their families are well catered for. The Taiwanese Department of Health is responsible for the delivery of health care in accordance with a system known as National Health Insurance (NHI) which aims to provide equal access to primary health care coverage for all citizens and residents of Taiwan. NHI is a compulsory social insurance plan in which premiums are paid by participants through direct taxation from salary which is then supplemented by government funding and out of pocket payments. When first introduced in 1995, NHI adopted a payment for services system for both private and public practitioners. This system was easily manipulated by practitioners as they began administering unnecessary services and drugs charges to patients with the intention of seeking increased reimbursement from the state. Faced with increasing losses and difficulties in controlling costs, in 2002 the Department of Health decided to replace the system with a prospective global payment system that is designed to accurately assist in the budgetary process for the country’s annual health costs.

With approximately 99 percent coverage across the country’s population, the NHI has been successful in improving accessibility to high quality health care for individuals and families covered by the scheme who can now enjoy benefits such as medical and dental consultations, maternity, emergency care and even traditional Chinese medicine. The NHI will cover a certain amount of the cost associated with treatment with the patient required to pay the outstanding balance. Once a citizen has joined the scheme, they are issued with a medical insurance card which remains valid even in the event of redundancy or a change in their employment status. While expatriates and their families are required, by law, to join the scheme within four months of receiving their alien residence certificate (ARC) and work permit, expatriates with private health insurance are allowed to maintain and use their policy if they so wish. Indeed, large numbers of expatriates supplement the NHI scheme with private Taiwan health insurance.

Symptomatic of national health insurance schemes throughout the developed world, the NHI has encountered a number of problems since its inception. There are numerous medical facilities throughout the country and patients have little problem accessing medical care yet there is a chronic shortage of personnel and some doctors are dangerously overworked. Exaggerated waiting times are common and doctor-patient consultations are usually very brief. The annual costs involved in delivering the NHI scheme far exceed incomes received through premiums and this ongoing deficit has forced the Department of Health to seek loans from banks. The government tried to introduce increases in patient premiums but the adverse public reaction prevented the government from implementing the proposal. A doubling of the number of elderly patients in the next decade is expected to impact even further on the health care system. As the majority of the population is reluctant to pay extra for health care, the current situation cannot continue. Many Taiwanese citizens, aware of the impending health care issues, possess private health insurance which will ensure access to high quality medical care should the need arise.

Conscious of the language and cultural barrier expatriates encounter when using NHI facilities, the Department of Health established a number of ‘Special Clinics’ which cater to expatriates only. These clinics operate in an English speaking environment independent of the NHI. Consequently, waiting times are shorter and referral to hospitals or specialists is straightforward and in many cases expedited. As the clinics are privately operated, expatriates seeking treatment at a clinic are required to pay out of pocket or they must invoke their private Taiwan health insurance policy.

Taiwan is located in an area of regular seismic activity and in March 2010 an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck the southern part of the island. Typhoons also affect the island during the months of July and October. In the event of a natural disaster, emergency protocols must be adopted by all residents that will reduce the risk of injury and prevent the spread of disease. Emergency services can be contacted by dialing 119.

Expatriates required to spend a significant amount of time in Taiwan should seek appropriate medical advice prior to their arrival in the country. Vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid fever and Japanese Encephalitis are advised. Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito and outbreaks can occur in large cities and towns. Residents are required to keep their homes and gardens clean to prevent creating damp conditions that attract mosquitos.

Taiwan Expat Health Insurance

Taiwan has an effectively functioning health care system which assists expatriates and their families with any medical situation that may arise. Purchasing a Taiwan expat health insurance plan can provide prompt access to high quality and state of the art medical facilities. To learn more about Taiwan expat health insurance or to receive a free international medical insurance quote, contact a Global Health Insurance adviser today.

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