TAIPEI (TVBS News) — On the 30th anniversary of the enactment of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Act, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced on Saturday (Jan. 6) that the satisfaction rate for the National Health Insurance (NHI) reached 91.2% in 2023.
The announcement marks the first time the satisfaction rate did not decrease despite an increase in insurance costs.
Shih Chung-liang, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), pointed out that reductions in satisfaction were seen in 2002 and 2006 following increases in insurance premiums and in 2013, following the implementation of the second-generation NHI.
The highest-rated aspects were accessibility to medical treatment followed by the quality of medical care, with third being the increased insurance costs. The satisfaction rate peaked during times of pandemic, presumably due to the implementation of home-based medical care services and enhanced medical accessibility.
Since 2021, the satisfaction rate has consistently been above 90%. During the pandemic, it reached a new all-time high.
In the last five years, Taiwan has been ranked number one in the global healthcare index published by the renowned data website NUMBEO. Taiwan's NHI budget has grown from NT$590.5 billion in 2015 to NT$875.5 billion in 2024, an increase of over 48%.
The survey involved 3,257 participants aged 18 in Taiwan. Although public satisfaction with NHI is high, the satisfaction among physicians is generally lower.