Hualien candidate promises free health insurance for 0-18 year olds

Chang Chun-hsiung, an independent candidate for Hualien County magistrate, has unveiled a key policy proposal: eliminating National Health Insurance premiums for children aged 0 to 18. Chang, who is also the Hualien County Council Speaker, announced this initiative on Father's Day, framing it as a measure to alleviate the significant financial pressures faced by parents in raising their children. He stated that if elected, the county government would subsidize the monthly insurance premiums, up to 826 New Taiwan dollars per child. This would mean children from birth to adulthood would have their health insurance costs covered by the government, with families receiving this support automatically. Chang emphasized that this policy aims to share the responsibility of child-rearing between the government and families, acknowledging the high cost of living and raising children in Hualien due to factors like tourism and transportation expenses. He assured that the financial implications would be carefully calculated and managed to ensure stable funding without negatively impacting other essential services like education or rural healthcare. The proposal is part of a broader effort to support young families and encourage them to raise children in Hualien.

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Happy Father's Day, and thank you to every dad, mom, and caregiver who works hard for the family!