Great News for Seniors Aged 65+! 8 Counties Announce 'No Need to Pay Health Insurance Premiums' — Automatic Payment Without Application, Implementation Timeline, Eligibility, and Full Breakdown of Subsidies Across 14 Counties

Taiwan’s society is transitioning into a super-aged structure, making healthcare and fixed living expenses for elderly citizens a pressing concern for many households. In recent years, multiple county governments across Taiwan have rolled out subsidy programs to assist seniors with their National Health Insurance (NHI) premium payments. Those who qualify can have their premiums fully covered or directly paid by local governments, effectively reducing monthly financial burdens.

However, many people mistakenly believe that simply turning 65 automatically exempts them from paying NHI premiums. In reality, according to the current National Health Insurance Act, NHI is a mandatory social insurance. All eligible nationals are legally required to pay premiums. Therefore, reaching age 65 alone does not automatically waive this obligation.

To alleviate the medical burden on the elderly, both central and local governments have adopted diverse forms of NHI subsidies. Some counties implement a "no application required, direct payment" model, allowing residents to benefit without visiting government offices. Others impose strict conditions based on income tax rates, assets, or other wealth-exclusion ("pai-fu") criteria, resulting in varying eligibility thresholds and operational methods across regions.

Could you save nearly NT$10,000 annually? What are the differences in subsidy standards between the six major cities and other counties?

For Category 6 insured individuals—those without salaried income and not covered under family dependents—monthly NHI premiums represent an unavoidable fixed expense. If they qualify for full premium subsidies from local governments, and with a maximum monthly subsidy of NT$826, annual savings could reach nearly NT$10,000. This is a meaningful financial relief for retired seniors.

Currently, 14 counties across Taiwan have implemented various levels of senior NHI subsidy programs. Key regulations by county are summarized below:

- Taipei City: Registered for at least 1 year, residing domestically for at least 183 days, aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous people). Maximum monthly subsidy: NT$826. No wealth exclusion, no application required. - New Taipei City: Registered for at least 1 year, aged 65+ (55–64 for indigenous), comprehensive income tax rate below 5%. Max subsidy: NT$826. 5% wealth exclusion applies, application required. - Taoyuan City: Registered and residing for at least 1 year, domestic residence ≥183 days, aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous), income tax rate below 20%. Max subsidy: NT$826. 20% wealth exclusion, no application. - Taichung City: Registered ≥1 year, aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous), income tax rate <5%. Max subsidy: NT$826. 5% wealth exclusion, no application. - Tainan City: Registered ≥1 year, aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous), income tax rate <5%. Max subsidy: NT$826. 5% wealth exclusion, no application. - Kaohsiung City: Registered ≥1 year, domestic residence ≥183 days, aged 65+, income tax rate <5%. Max subsidy: NT$826. 5% wealth exclusion, no application. - Hsinchu City: To be implemented in Q4 2026. Aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous). Max subsidy: NT$826. No wealth exclusion, no application. - Miaoli County: Pilot starting July 2026. For those aged 80+. Max subsidy: NT$826. Automatic matching, no application. - Nantou County: Implemented from April 1, 2026. Aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous). Max subsidy: NT$826. No wealth exclusion, no application, no need to cancel existing coverage. - Yunlin County: Scheduled to launch January 1, 2027. Aged 65+ seniors, max subsidy: NT$826. Administered per operational guidelines. - Chiayi City: Implemented from July 1, 2026. For those aged 80+ with registration ≥6 months. Max subsidy: NT$826. No application, direct payment. - Pingtung County: Phase 1 (July 2026) targets low-to-mid-income seniors aged 65–69; Phase 2 (Jan 1, 2027) expands to all seniors aged 65+ with income tax rate ≤5%. Max subsidy: NT$826. 5% wealth exclusion, no application. - Hualien County: Implemented from June 1, 2026. For those aged 65+ with registration ≥1 year, or low-to-mid-income seniors aged 65–69. Max subsidy: NT$826. No application, no need to cancel coverage. - Taitung County: Implemented from January 1, 2026. For seniors aged 70+ with registration ≥1 year and domestic residence ≥183 days. Full premium payment provided. No wealth exclusion, no application.

Counties with NHI Premium Exemption

| County | Eligibility | Max Monthly Subsidy | Wealth Exclusion / Application | Implementation Time | |--------|-------------|------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------| | Hsinchu City | Aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous) | NT$826 | No exclusion, no application | Q4 2026 (estimated) | | Miaoli County | Aged 80+ | NT$826 | Automatic matching, no application | Pilot from July 2026 | | Nantou County | Aged 65+ (55+ for indigenous) | NT$826 | No exclusion, no application, no cancellation | From April 1, 2026 | | Yunlin County | Aged 65+ | NT$826 | Per operational guidelines | Estimated Jan 1, 2027 | | Chiayi City | Aged 80+, registered ≥6 months | NT$826 | No application, direct payment | From July 1, 2026 | | Pingtung County | Phase 1: Low-income 65–69; Phase 2: Aged 65+, tax rate ≤5% | NT$826 | 5% exclusion, no application | Phase 1: July 2026; Phase 2: Jan 1, 2027 | | Hualien County | Registered ≥1 year, aged 65+; or low-income 65–69 | NT$826 | No application, no cancellation | From June 1, 2026 | | Taitung County | Registered ≥1 year, aged 70+, domestic residence ≥183 days | Full payment | No exclusion, no application | From Jan 1, 2026 |

Want to confirm if your senior family member qualifies? Check these 3 core criteria and contact your local household registration office.

To determine whether your elderly family member qualifies for the subsidy, begin with these three key indicators:

1. Age Threshold: Confirm whether the senior meets the age requirement set by the county (typically 65 or 80 for general seniors, 55 for indigenous people).

2. Registration and Residency Duration: Verify if the senior has been registered for at least six months to one year, and whether they meet the 183-day domestic residency requirement imposed by certain counties.

3. Income and Wealth Exclusion Criteria: Check whether the senior’s or household’s comprehensive income tax rate is below the local threshold of 5% or 20%.

Since online information may become outdated, the most reliable method is to directly call or visit the county government’s social affairs bureau, township district office, or social welfare unit in the senior’s registered location. Clarifying the latest local policies ensures accurate understanding of the senior’s entitled rights and allows them to confidently enjoy government-provided social benefits.