Taiwan's 2027 Health Insurance Budget Draft Proposes 5.5% Growth

Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) committee is deliberating the draft budget for 2027, with projections indicating a growth rate between 2.619% and 5.5%. The committee aims to ensure the safety reserve fund remains between one and three months of expenditure, a requirement that is expected to be met.

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The high projected growth rate for next year's National Health Insurance budget is 5.5%, with a low projection of 2.619%.

The discussions also touched upon the rising costs of medical services and the need for stable budgets to support healthcare professionals. A specific point of concern was the discrepancy between the NHI's estimated annual drug price increase and the actual procurement prices faced by hospitals. The Social Insurance Department will investigate this further.

Furthermore, the committee addressed the critical issue of healthcare worker shortages and salaries, urging the Ministry of Health and Welfare to develop a comprehensive plan and secure stable funding. Suggestions included supplementing the budget with public funds and strengthening the referral system to improve patient flow between different levels of care. The management of self-paid medical items and their costs was also highlighted.

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The association is currently reviewing items with relatively low payment standards and assessing whether adjustments are needed.

Community hospital representatives noted the significant investment in national health in recent years, with NHI budget growth nearing the higher projection. They expressed hope that maintaining a 5.5% growth rate for the upcoming year would help rectify long-standing issues of underpaid services, enable salary increases for medical staff, and improve working conditions, fostering a positive cycle within the healthcare system.

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If the growth rate for next year's National Health Insurance budget can be maintained at 5.5%, it will help improve the situation of long-term low payment standards.