TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) Presidential Candidate Hou Yu-ih proposed on Tuesday (Sept. 5) that elders above 65 would be fully subsidized for health insurance, but with a wealth-check standard in place.
According to Hou's policy, only those whose income tax payment is less than 20% would be eligible for the subsidy, a measure that would benefit approximately 4 million seniors.
Former Health Minister Chen Shih-chung expressed concerns regarding Hou's proposal, emphasizing that it would require a well-defined financial source or be rendered empty talk.
Under the current health insurance subsidy system, New Taipei City and Keelung City do not have an exclusion term for the rich, while in Taipei and Taoyuan, the income tax payment must be less than 20%. For Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Tainan, it must be less than 5%.
Hou promised to uphold the existing health insurance subsidy system post-elections. However, he intends to implement a term including those paying 5-20% of the income tax for Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and the central government. Moreover, his policy would enable all 4 million countrywide seniors to enjoy the health insurance subsidy post-adjustments.
Hou dictates that for the new policy to be successful, approximately NT$16 billion must be added to the nation's finances. He suggested increasing health expenditures to 8% of the GDP would suffice.
On the other hand, Hou expressed his trust in the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) policies of increasing tourism income by permitting mainland Chinese tourist groups and promoting the cancer foundation. However, as many policies ring similar to his, he jokingly reminded the ruling party to clearly state their sources when adopting his policies to avoid plagiarism allegations.