Taiwanese citizens prohibited from suspending health insurance payments while abroad

台灣民眾在國外期間禁止暫停繳納健康保險

National Health Insurance Administration cancels option to temporarily suspend health coverage payments


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese citizens can no longer suspend National Health Insurance payments when living abroad according to new regulations introduced on Monday.

Previously, Taiwanese citizens could suspend NHI payments when overseas for more than six months. Under the old scheme, health insurance coverage could be reinstated after making just three months of payments, per CNA.

The NHI said it will no longer accept applications for suspension of health insurance. As long as citizens have household registration, they are required to make monthly payments.

Citizens wishing to unenroll from the NHI program can only do so by terminating their household registration. Meanwhile, individuals living abroad for more than four years must now live in Taiwan for six months before they can reenroll in the NHI program, in addition to paying premiums for their first two years out of the country.

NHI said a grace period is being given to those who have applied for suspension of insurance before Dec. 22 and have been abroad for more than six months; they will be able to suspend health insurance contributions until returning to Taiwan.

According to the National Health Insurance Administration, 210,000 individuals have applied to suspend their NHI contributions, the majority being Taiwanese living abroad, while another group are overseas Taiwanese students. By eliminating the suspension of health insurance payments, NHIA is expected to recoup NT$2.3 billion (US$70.3 million).

As for foreigners residing in Taiwan, their NHI coverage will be adjusted according to their household registration. The date on which their household registration indicates they have left the country, they will immediately surrender their health insurance coverage.

The NHIA recommends citizens living abroad automate their health insurance contributions through bank deposit accounts or credit cards. Also, monthly insurance notices can be sent to a designated e-mail, with multiple forms of payment accepted, such as credit card and mobile payments.