Great News for Seniors Aged 65+! 7 Counties Announce 'No NHI Premiums' – Automatic Payment Without Application; One County Also Exempts Children Under 6

In response to the challenges of declining birth rates and population aging, several local governments across Taiwan have successively launched subsidy programs covering National Health Insurance (NHI) premiums for young children and elderly citizens. This wave of welfare initiatives includes Taitung County, Chiayi City, Nantou County, Hualien County, Miaoli County, Hsinchu City, and Pingtung County. For unemployed individuals or seniors, the government will now fully absorb the monthly NHI premium of NT$826, saving eligible families nearly NT$10,000 annually.

Will child-rearing burdens be significantly reduced? Taitung County launches full NHI premium subsidies for children starting July

Taitung County’s Department of Social Affairs submitted a supplementary budget of NT$38 million for the 'Subsidy Program for NHI Premiums for Children Under 6 Years Old,' which was approved by the Taitung County Council and officially implemented starting July 1. All children under 6 years old registered as residents of Taitung County will have their monthly NHI premiums fully covered by the county government, benefiting thousands of families.

Taitung County Councilor Huang Chi-wei noted that parents of children under 6 are typically aged between 18 and 35, a group still establishing their careers and economic stability. He emphasized that child-rearing costs continue to rise and that raising the next generation is a shared societal responsibility. The government should treat expenses incurred by young parents as national expenditures, alleviating financial pressure through reduced fixed costs and thereby encouraging higher birth rates.

The Social Affairs Department explained that this new policy complements Taitung’s existing NT$40,000 childbirth subsidy for first-time parents, creating a more comprehensive child-rearing environment. To minimize administrative burdens on parents, the program operates on a no-application, proactive basis. The county government automatically cross-references enrollment data with the Central Bureau of National Health Insurance to identify eligible recipients and process subsidies without requiring any action from families.

Which seniors qualify for NHI premium exemptions? Conditions and timelines across 7 counties

In addition to child welfare, NHI premium subsidies for the elderly are also being rolled out across various counties:

Chiayi City

On July 1, Chiayi City announced that seniors aged 80 and above will no longer need to pay NHI premiums. The proposal was approved by the Chiayi City Council on July 3. With the supplementary budget passed, the policy is expected to take effect as early as July, benefiting approximately 11,450 seniors.

Taitung County

Starting January 2026, full subsidies will be provided to residents aged 70 and above who have lived in the county for at least one year and resided in Taiwan for more than 183 days during the year. The policy includes no asset test (non-means-tested), expected to benefit nearly 30,000 seniors. The Social Affairs Department will proactively register and pay on their behalf—no application required.

Nantou County

Starting April 1, 2026, Nantou County will follow suit, subsidizing NHI premiums for residents aged 65 and above (55 and above for indigenous peoples). Approximately 100,000 residents across the county will benefit. The Department of Social and Labor Affairs will proactively submit eligible lists to the NHI Administration each month, with subsidy payments made directly by the government.

Hualien County

Starting June 1, 2026, the program will expand to cover residents aged 65 and above who have lived in the county for at least one year, with a maximum monthly subsidy of NT$826 per person. The county government will consolidate data and process applications automatically, eliminating the need for individual applications. Residents are reminded not to voluntarily cancel their NHI coverage, as this could affect their insurance rights.

Miaoli County

A pilot program is scheduled to begin in July 2026, targeting residents aged 80 and above who are registered and living in the county. Approximately 25,000 seniors are expected to benefit, with full details to be announced progressively.

Hsinchu City

The subsidy is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, targeting residents aged 65 and above (55 and above for indigenous peoples) registered in Hsinchu City, excluding those already receiving full subsidies from other government agencies. The program will be non-means-tested and require no proactive application.

Pingtung County

A new system will be fully implemented in January 2027, expanding subsidies to residents aged 65 and above (55 and above for indigenous peoples) who have lived in the county for at least one year and have an annual comprehensive income tax rate below 5%. The monthly subsidy will be up to NT$826 per person, with an estimated 170,000 beneficiaries. The program requires no proactive application, and starting July 2024, low-to-moderate-income seniors will be prioritized for subsidies.

Do residents need to apply in person? Most counties adopt proactive, registration-based便民 mechanisms

An analysis of NHI premium subsidy programs across counties shows that the vast majority of local governments have adopted streamlined, citizen-friendly operational models. Programs in Taitung County (for both children and seniors), Nantou County, Hualien County, Hsinchu City, and Pingtung County all rely on local social affairs departments to proactively interface with the NHI Administration via data integration and eligibility verification.

Eligible individuals do not need to prepare documentation or visit government offices. Subsidy payments are settled directly between the government and the NHI Administration, allowing beneficiary families and seniors to enjoy these social welfare benefits without any additional steps.