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Government to increase spending on farmers and telemedicine
The cabinet has approved a NT$131 billion budget to raise the allowances received by individuals on social welfare programmes and to increase monthly pension payments for farmers aged 65 and over.
According to cabinet spokesman Lin Zi-lun, the measures will take effect on 1 January 2024. The announcement comes after the Ministry of Health and Welfare presented a report on the government's social welfare programs involving disadvantaged families and middle-to-low income seniors, as well as elderly farmers. The payouts for individuals in these groups are adjusted every four years, with the last time being in 2020.
The cabinet spokesman says latest adjustments have been made based on the growth of the consumer price index and are expected to benefit roughly 3 million vulnerable people and elderly farmers. The move means the monthly pension payout for elderly farmers will be raised to NT$8,080 while the monthly living allowance for low-income families will be raised to between NT$2,306 and NT$18,195.
Separately, the National Health Insurance Administration plans to broaden the scope of telemedicine services for individuals with disabilities. According to administration director-general Shi Chong-liang, the move is aimed at better meeting the needs of an increasingly ageing population. Shi says a budget of approximately NT$300 million will be allocated for a one-year expanded telemedicine trial programme beginning in the first quarter of next year. The telemedicine programme was launched in 2021.
It currently caters to individuals registered as ADL patients who receive home care and reside in 64 townships and villages in remote mountainous regions and outlying islands. However, it only accounts for about 17% of Taiwan's total 368 townships and villages. The National Health Insurance Administration says under the new plan, the service will be available to more ADL patients who are being cared for at home or in nursing facilities in other cities and counties.
In other health-related news the Ministry of Health and Welfare has also proposed changes to National Health Insurance coverage for hospital stays. The ministry has announced a draft proposal to raise the maximum out-of-pocket limit from the current NT$48,000 to NT$50,000 per hospitalisation for the same illness. Additionally, the cumulative out-of-pocket limit will be raised from NT$80,000 to NT$84,000. Officials say the proposal takes into account annual adjustments to the average national income. The change is expected to take effect on New Year's Day next year, and is estimated to affect around 10,900 people. The ministry says it will not impact people who are economically disadvantaged, or those with severe illnesses who are already exempt from these limits.
Meanwhile, the cabinet has also approved a proposal by the Ministry of Labor to raise the monthly minimum wage by 4.05%. The hike means the monthly minimum wage will be increased to NT$27,470 while the minimum hourly wage will rise by NT$7 to NT$183. The revisions will take effect on 1 January of next year. The government says the increases will affect some 1.79 million salaried employees and 600,000 hourly workers. However, it will not apply to live-in migrant caregivers and domestic helpers, who are not covered by the Labor Standards Act.
