The Executive Yuan on Thursday approved draft amendments to the Farmer Health Insurance Act which will increase the monthly insured amount from NT$10,200 (US$332) to NT$20,400 (US$664) and double maternity benefits and funeral allowances. The amendments will require farmers who newly register under the farmer health insurance program to also enroll in the farmer occupational accident insurance program. These changes are designed to care for farmers and reduce the financial burden of funeral expenses for their families.
Proposed by the Council of Agriculture, the draft amendments call for three key changes, the premier said. First, the monthly insured amount—which has not been adjusted in 33 years—will double. Second, in accordance with the doubled monthly insured amount, maternity benefits will also double from NT$20,400 (US$664) to NT$40,800 (US$1,328). Third, funeral allowances will also double from NT$153,000 (US$4,987) to NT$306,000 (US$9,974). These changes will assist farmers by providing for their most fundamental needs.
Premier Su directed the Council of Agriculture to communicate and coordinate with all party caucuses once the amendments are submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation, to complete the amendment process as soon as possible.