Taipei City boosts senior card benefits to 600 points, expands transport and medical aid

Taipei City is enhancing its senior citizen smart card program, boosting the monthly subsidy from 480 to 600 points beginning July 1. This initiative, approved by Mayor Chiang Wan-an, aims to broaden the scope of transportation and medical assistance for the elderly. New benefits include coverage for outpatient registration fees at Guandu and Wanfang Hospitals, along with a free 30-minute ride on YouBike 2.0E electric-assist bicycles. The city's Department of Social Welfare also plans further expansions, including increased subsidies for the Taoyuan Airport MRT and double-decker sightseeing buses in 2027. Future plans involve extending the card's usability to retail outlets such as pharmacies, convenience stores, and supermarkets, with a long-term goal of fully replacing existing cards with a second generation by 2029, featuring a points accumulation system. Department head Yao Shu-wen emphasized the program's role in supporting seniors' health and social participation, striving for a balance between fiscal responsibility and social welfare. The enhancements are designed to provide comprehensive support, enabling seniors to maintain their health, delay aging, and live more vibrant lives.

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We hope that through the upgrade and functional expansion of the senior citizen and caregiver card, we can provide all-round transportation support, and even become a key helper for seniors and people with disabilities to maintain health and delay aging, accompanying every citizen to go further and live more brilliantly.