Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme is financially stable and does not require an increase in premiums at this time. Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan said this in response to media speculation about possible financial strain on the health budget.
When asked if premiums would rise next year, Mr. Chiu explained, “There are still many variables in estimating NHI finances, and resources can fluctuate. I cannot give a definitive answer now, but fundamentally, there is no need to raise NHI premiums.”
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has drafted a budget for 2026 that anticipates growth between 2.9% and 5.5%. If the highest estimate of 5.5% is used, the NHI budget could increase by NT$51.5 billion to NT$988.31 billion. This might put upward pressure on premiums in the future.
Taiwan’s NHI system, now over 30 years old, covers about 99% of the population—an achievement few countries can match.
However, the country faces long-term challenges. A rapidly aging population and declining birth rates mean healthcare costs will rise, while a shrinking workforce could threaten the system’s financial health. These demographic changes risk creating intergenerational inequalities and may make the public health insurance system unsustainable in the years ahead.
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