The core principles of the second-generation National Health Insurance (NHI) system lay in fairness, quality and efficiency, Premier Sean Chen reiterated at a meeting of the Executive Yuan today. These principles were declared by the Department of Health (DOH) after careful consideration and extensive communication with all sectors of interest, and they represent the largest consensus possible.
Since the reformed NHI took effect January 1 this year, Chen noted, much public attention has been focused on the matter of supplementary premiums, with many questioning the fairness of premium payments and whether disadvantaged citizens are truly being helped. To clear the confusion, the premier asked the DOH to step up communications with the public and promptly correct misunderstandings.
As for the new supplementary premium mechanism, the original idea was to charge premiums based on total household incomes but that idea was never adopted, said Chen. It was changed and improved upon into what is now the supplementary premium concept. The same conclusion was reached by the Legislative Yuan after numerous and lengthy discussions.
Currently, the DOH is actively addressing all criticism and feedback on implementation of the second-generation system. Aside from explaining policies in a clearer manner and emphasizing the core principles, the DOH will rectify and respond to any misinformation circulating in the public. Attention will also be devoted to execution issues, such as collecting premiums in a way that minimizes the sense of deficit felt by unemployed or economically disadvantaged persons.
The DOH will also review the public's feedback on new or existing problems encountered after the system's reform. Solutions will be drafted and will serve as reference for the next round of improvements.