FSC Focuses on 3 Groups for New Home Care Insurance, Excluding Home Chemotherapy

CNA Taipei, Taiwan (Reporter: Su Si-yun) The public is closely watching whether a new home care insurance policy will be launched by the end of the year. The FSC stated today that the current data on the incidence of home care for acute conditions provided by the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare includes three types: pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and soft tissue infections, and does not include home chemotherapy. Life insurance companies are still studying the experience data.

The NHIA has been promoting a trial plan for home care for acute conditions since July 2024. The plan applies to patients with infectious diseases, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and soft tissue infections, who find it inconvenient to go out. Medical care is provided by medical professionals visiting the patient's home.

Medical care is gradually shifting from hospitalization to outpatient care and even home hospitalization. However, this type of care is not covered by commercial insurance. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the FSC held a meeting to assess the feasibility of developing new products. Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-liang, stated yesterday that the planning for home hospitalization will be expanded to include chemotherapy for all types of cancer, with an expected launch in the second half of the year.

Liu Chun-bin, the chief secretary of the Insurance Bureau of the FSC, explained that the current data on the incidence of home care for acute conditions provided by the NHIA focuses mainly on three types: pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and soft tissue infections. The data does not currently include the incidence of chemotherapy for cancer. Life insurance companies are researching the relevant experience data and are in the process of developing products.

Regarding when there might be an opportunity to launch a new home care insurance policy, Liu Chun-bin stated that while companies are aware of public expectations, no companies have submitted applications yet. Shang Kuang-chi, the chief secretary of the FSC, mentioned that companies are actively developing products, but it is still uncertain whether new products will be launched by the end of the year.

Liu Chun-bin explained that in the past, insurance policies were designed by considering the experience incidence rate. This is because it is necessary to consider the future frequency of occurrence and the payment of insurance benefits, and to calculate the insurance premium income. If the insurance premium does not match the future incidence rate, it may result in greater risk. The FSC maintains a good relationship with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and if there are new contents in the trial plan for home care for acute conditions, further discussions will be conducted.

The public is concerned about whether the new home care insurance policy will be expensive. Liu Chun-bin stated that companies will also study whether it meets market demand and set the price accordingly.

The Insurance Bureau explained that for the new version of the insurance policy, if the main coverage is currently three types of illnesses that can be treated at home for acute conditions, after the companies develop the product, if home care for acute conditions also includes new illnesses, the companies can redesign for four types of illnesses, and may need to adjust the premiums. In practice, companies can launch a new version of the insurance policy, and the old version of the insurance policy will be discontinued.