Even though the Department of Health emphasizes that the reform will lower the National Health Insurance rate for around 60 percent of the citizens, and will not increase the burden for the underprivileged, civil groups are still questioning if the calculation system is fair.

To support passage of a draft amendment for the second generation National Health Insurance Law, Health Minister Yaung Chih-Lang appeared at the Legislative Yuang where he answered questions.

He emphasized that after passage of the reforms, the premiums would drop from an original 5.17% to about 2.7% for 60 percent of citizens.

He said this will not increase the burden on the poor or otherwise steal money from this group.

According to the Department of Health, if Mr. and Mrs. Ma raise two young children with an income of 60,000 NTD a month, and his wife is a participant in the national pension program, their current health insurance premium in the present system is 3,772 NTD each month.

But under second-generation health insurance, housewives and the unemployed under the age of 65, will be assessed at 17,280 NTD calculated as part of family income with a family of four requiring just 2,087NTD in insurance premium which is a discount of 1,685 NTD.

However, apart from pensions being included as income, there is controversy over total household income being calculated to determine health insurance premiums, a direct copy of national income tax system.

Some speculate that this is not fair, as it may include overseas income, stock and land transactions.

For example, Mr. and Mrs. Yang are both white collared workers, and his monthly salary is 50,000 NTD and his wife's salary is 30,000 NTD and under the current system they pay 1,241 per month.

But, under the second generation of health insurance, their premiums would rise to 2,160 for a gain of 919 NTD.

Yaung repeatedly stressed that second generation health insurance premium system is more fair than the current system,

but public opinion and legislators have been careful in their deliberations as there appear to still be many problems to solve.

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