Safety Reserves Nearing Lower Limit, May Increase in 2028; Shih Chung-liang: NHI Should Increase When It Needs To
Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-liang, acknowledged that the National Health Insurance (NHI) fund's safety reserves are projected to approach the lower limit by the end of next year (2027), potentially leading to premium hikes in 2028. While most people dislike premium increases, Shih emphasized that the NHI is a social insurance system and "should increase when it needs to." He stated that the ministry would strive to secure various sources of funding for the NHI.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 16:24
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 16:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 17:55 (1h 23m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei, 9th) National Health Insurance (NHI) data shows that by the end of next year, safety reserves will be approximately 1.03 months, approaching the lower limit, and premiums may face increases in the year after next. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang frankly admitted that he believes most people do not want an increase, but NHI is a social insurance, and "it should increase when it needs to." He will strive to secure various opportunities to inject funds into the NHI.
"NHI Safety Reserves" are like revolving funds that a family should prepare for emergencies. According to NHI law, the minimum safe level is based on 1 month. The third meeting of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Health Insurance Committee announced the NHI budget estimate for next year (2027). Revenue is estimated based on the 2026 general premium rate of 5.17% and supplementary premium rate of 2.11%, resulting in insurance income of NT$895.5 billion. Insurance costs are mainly based on the 2026 total of NT$988.335 billion, and the 2027 total is temporarily estimated at 5.5%, so insurance costs are NT$977.22 billion.
According to the estimation, the NHI's revenue and expenditure for 2027 are expected to have a deficit of NT$81.721 billion. By the end of the year, the safety reserve will be NT$83.342 billion, which is about 1.03 months of insurance benefit expenditure. However, according to NHI law, if the safety reserve is less than 1 month of NHI expenditure, NHI premiums need to be adjusted. Therefore, in the year after next, there is a possibility of insufficient safety reserves, triggering discussions about whether to increase premiums.
Shih Chung-liang told the media today that financial forecasts need to look at the "model." The NHI Committee uses long-term financial forecasts during discussions. However, in recent years, domestic economic changes have been significant, with a clear increase in supplementary premium income and salary adjustments that were relatively uncommon in the past. Using long-term financial forecasts for short-term financial predictions would be less accurate.
In the short term, Shih Chung-liang believes that there will still be 2.8 months of safety reserves, NT$200 billion, next year. In the past three years, the total growth in expenditure has been between NT$40 billion and nearly NT$60 billion. Based on this growth trend, corresponding to the safety reserve level, there will definitely be no need to adjust premiums next year.
He said that as for the financial estimate for the year after next, last year's financial settlement needs to be completed by June this year. Coupled with the recent hot stock market, there will be a considerable injection into supplementary premiums, so it would be better to predict the year after next in the second half of the year.
Regarding public concern about whether premiums will increase, Shih Chung-liang stated that he believes most people do not want premium increases, but NHI is a social insurance, mutual assistance and mutual benefit, with its own financial mechanism, looking at the situation of general premiums and supplementary premium income. "It should increase when it needs to," and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will explain when financial forecasts are more accurate.
When asked by the media whether he would seek appropriations from the Executive Yuan as in previous years, Shih Chung-liang jokingly said that when he was the Director-General of the NHIA, he had the nickname "Military Dependents' Village Mother," meaning he would go everywhere to earn money and make good use of limited income to support a large family. He hopes that NHI finances will be as sound as possible, so he will strive for any opportunity. (Edited by Lee Heng-shan) 1150509
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(Central News Agency reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei, 9th) National Health Insurance (NHI) data shows that by the end of next year, safety reserves will be approximately 1.03 months, approaching the lower limit, and premiums may face increases in the year after next. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang frankly admitted that he believes most people do not want an increase, but NHI is a social insurance, and "it should increase when it needs to." He will strive to secure various opportunities to inject funds into the NHI.
"NHI Safety Reserves" are like revolving funds that a family should prepare for emergencies. According to NHI law, the minimum safe level is based on 1 month. The third meeting of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Health Insurance Committee announced the NHI budget estimate for next year (2027). Revenue is estimated based on the 2026 general premium rate of 5.17% and supplementary premium rate of 2.11%, resulting in insurance income of NT$895.5 billion. Insurance costs are mainly based on the 2026 total of NT$988.335 billion, and the 2027 total is temporarily estimated at 5.5%, so insurance costs are NT$977.22 billion.
According to the estimation, the NHI's revenue and expenditure for 2027 are expected to have a deficit of NT$81.721 billion. By the end of the year, the safety reserve will be NT$83.342 billion, which is about 1.03 months of insurance benefit expenditure. However, according to NHI law, if the safety reserve is less than 1 month of NHI expenditure, NHI premiums need to be adjusted. Therefore, in the year after next, there is a possibility of insufficient safety reserves, triggering discussions about whether to increase premiums.
Shih Chung-liang told the media today that financial forecasts need to look at the "model." The NHI Committee uses long-term financial forecasts during discussions. However, in recent years, domestic economic changes have been significant, with a clear increase in supplementary premium income and salary adjustments that were relatively uncommon in the past. Using long-term financial forecasts for short-term financial predictions would be less accurate.
In the short term, Shih Chung-liang believes that there will still be 2.8 months of safety reserves, NT$200 billion, next year. In the past three years, the total growth in expenditure has been between NT$40 billion and nearly NT$60 billion. Based on this growth trend, corresponding to the safety reserve level, there will definitely be no need to adjust premiums next year.
He said that as for the financial estimate for the year after next, last year's financial settlement needs to be completed by June this year. Coupled with the recent hot stock market, there will be a considerable injection into supplementary premiums, so it would be better to predict the year after next in the second half of the year.
Regarding public concern about whether premiums will increase, Shih Chung-liang stated that he believes most people do not want premium increases, but NHI is a social insurance, mutual assistance and mutual benefit, with its own financial mechanism, looking at the situation of general premiums and supplementary premium income. "It should increase when it needs to," and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will explain when financial forecasts are more accurate.
When asked by the media whether he would seek appropriations from the Executive Yuan as in previous years, Shih Chung-liang jokingly said that when he was the Director-General of the NHIA, he had the nickname "Military Dependents' Village Mother," meaning he would go everywhere to earn money and make good use of limited income to support a large family. He hopes that NHI finances will be as sound as possible, so he will strive for any opportunity. (Edited by Lee Heng-shan) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
Unauthorized reproduction, public broadcasting, public transmission, or use of the text, images, and videos on this website is prohibited.