Taiwan's Health Ministry to Launch 'Health Coins' in October! Beyond Tea Eggs, Negotiations Underway for Insurance Premium Discounts

The long-awaited 'Health Coins' program will launch in October. HPA Director-General Shen Jing-fen announced on the 12th that the overall plan will be presented to the Executive Yuan next week. In addition to previously announced redemptions at convenience stores—such as tea eggs, chicken breast, sugar-free soy milk, and healthy meal boxes—recent discussions have begun with life insurance companies. The goal is to allow citizens who engage in preventive health behaviors, such as health screenings and cancer checks, to receive insurance premium discounts without needing to spend Health Coins.

The HPA has confirmed that the foundational app architecture for 'Health Coins' is complete. In the first phase, redemptions will focus on health-related food items available at convenience stores, including mineral water, sugar-free beverages, tea eggs, and chicken breast.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Director-General Shen attended the Taiwan Young Patients Association's '2026 Youth Health Forum' and revealed the latest planning progress on 'Health Coins' during a media briefing.

Shen stated that the 'Health Coins' project is now entering the detailed confirmation stage, with several partner companies already providing sample redemption items. The offerings are rich and diverse, primarily including health foods, sugar-free drinks, sugar-free soy milk, healthy meal boxes, chicken breast, and tea eggs.

Shen also mentioned that the HPA has recently been in talks with life insurance companies. The insurers are eager to support public awareness campaigns and have proposed allowing preventive actions—such as health check-ups, physical exams, and cancer screenings—to be used to offset insurance premiums. Insurers are particularly interested in whether policyholders actively care for their health, and are willing to offer discounts and incentives to those who comply with health policies, even without using Health Coins.

Shen emphasized that 'Health Coins' are currently in the final confirmation phase. In addition to reporting the plan at the Presidential Office's 'Healthy Taiwan Committee' in August, a presentation will also be made to the Executive Yuan next week. The program is currently scheduled to launch in October.