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Breaking through the limitations of the current system and fulfilling its commitment to building an age-friendly city, Nantou County will officially implement a subsidy for senior citizens' National Health Insurance (NHI) self-paid premium starting April 1. The program covers residents aged 65 and above, as well as Indigenous residents aged 55 and above. With no application process, no income-based exclusions, and automatic eligibility based on household registration, each eligible resident will save nearly NT$10,000 annually—a welfare upgrade that will be deeply felt by the community.

On March 24, the county government held a press conference in the first-floor lobby to announce the launch of the “Nantou County Senior Citizens’ National Health Insurance Self-Paid Premium Subsidy Program.” Deputy County Mayor Wang Rui-De, joined by distinguished guests, declared that beginning April 1, 2026, the county will subsidize NT$826 per month for all registered Nantou County residents aged 65 and above, and Indigenous residents aged 55 and above. This program aims to ease the financial burden on seniors while providing comprehensive care.

County councilors Chen Sue-Huei, Lee Chou-Chung, Huang Shih-Fang, Wu Chi-Nan, Chien Chien-Hsiang, Tsai Ming-Hsuan, Lin Ting-Li, Chuan Wen-Tsai, and Nantou City Mayor Chang Chia-Che attended the event.

Deputy Mayor Wang emphasized that with the full support of the County Council, Nantou is the first in Taiwan to launch such a program. By removing three major barriers— household registration length requirements, the application process, and wealth-based exclusions—the policy ensures that all eligible seniors are automatically included. The subsidy is set to benefit more than 100,000 seniors, particularly those with chronic illnesses or requiring long-term treatment, by reducing medical costs, encouraging healthcare utilization, and improving disease control effectiveness. Ultimately, this program seeks to enhance health outcomes and ensure seniors feel well-supported, realizing the vision of “Aging in Place, Healthy Living, and a Happy Nantou.”

Deputy Mayor Wang also noted that, according to Ministry of the Interior statistics from February 2026, Nantou County has a population of approximately 467,000, with 107,000 residents aged 65 and above—accounting for 22.84% of the population. This marks Nantou’s entry into a super-aged society. Seniors face rising healthcare expenses, compounded by the county’s vast geography and uneven distribution of medical resources, which heightens the cost of accessing care. Existing central and local subsidies primarily target low-income households, people with disabilities, or disadvantaged groups, leaving many ordinary seniors unable to benefit.

To ensure smooth implementation and effectiveness, the county government has established a cross-agency collaboration mechanism, working closely with the National Health Insurance Administration, MOHW and local township and city offices. Together, they will manage data verification, subsidy disbursement, and outreach efforts. The program will undergo regular reviews and tracking to allow for policy adjustments as needed. This ensures the system remains responsive to the evolving demands of a super-aged society while maintaining long-term sustainability and impact.