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【2017.01.11 Petition Statement】
【2017.01.11 Petition Statement】
At the end of last year (2016), the DPP, citing “humanitarian considerations”, finalized plans for the integration of Chinese students into the NHI program — by means of a premium hike for all international and overseas-Chinese students, from 749 NTD (60% self-paid) to 1249 NTD (100% self-paid) per month. This proposed amendment to the National Health Insurance Act is currently under bipartisan review, and stands a good chance of enactment during the next Legislative Yuan session.
At the end of last year (2016), the DPP, citing “humanitarian considerations”, finalized plans for the integration of Chinese students into the NHI program — by means of a premium hike for all international and overseas-Chinese students, from 749 NTD (60% self-paid) to 1249 NTD (100% self-paid) per month. This proposed amendment to the National Health Insurance Act is currently under bipartisan review, and stands a good chance of enactment during the next Legislative Yuan session.
We express our utmost disappointment in the DPP for claiming “humanitarian and humane considerations” while hypocritically exacerbating the financial strain upon foreign students (including international, overseas-Chinese, and mainland Chinese students) across the board. As a social security measure, the NHI was designed to protect every member of our society — from citizens to foreigners seeking employment, immigration, or education — through the equal distribution and sharing of health risks.
We express our utmost disappointment in the DPP for claiming “humanitarian and humane considerations” while hypocritically exacerbating the financial strain upon foreign students (including international, overseas-Chinese, and mainland Chinese students) across the board. As a social security measure, the NHI was designed to protect every member of our society — from citizens to foreigners seeking employment, immigration, or education — through the equal distribution and sharing of health risks.
Foreign students, though differing in nationality and sometimes ethnicity, remain important members of Taiwanese society. Economically, many foreign students work part-time as research or teaching assistants, and pay income tax for their employment. Chinese students, who are not allowed to work, still contribute indirectly through spending and various sales taxes. Academically, foreign students are often involved in research, and contribute their talents in the numerous laboratories and field studies across a myriad of disciplines, with their work ultimately benefiting Taiwanese society on a whole. Foreign students should not be discounted, and they deserve fair and equal treatment under our social security system.
Foreign students, though differing in nationality and sometimes ethnicity, remain important members of Taiwanese society. Economically, many foreign students work part-time as research or teaching assistants, and pay income tax for their employment. Chinese students, who are not allowed to work, still contribute indirectly through spending and various sales taxes. Academically, foreign students are often involved in research, and contribute their talents in the numerous laboratories and field studies across a myriad of disciplines, with their work ultimately benefiting Taiwanese society on a whole. Foreign students should not be discounted, and they deserve fair and equal treatment under our social security system.
To avoid discrimination against the financially underprivileged, the NHI operates on an ability-to-pay basis — where premiums are determined by the insured person’s income. Therefore, while we welcome the integration of Chinese students into the NHI system, we believe the premium rates for all foreign students should also depend on their ability-to-pay. Currently, international and overseas-Chinese students are insured as “Unemployed persons” under category 6, item 2 of the NHI Act, paying premiums of 749 NTD per month — the equivalent rate of a Taiwanese with an income of 53,000 NTD per month. If the proposed amendment were to be passed, foreign students would have to pay a premium of 1249 NTD per month — the equivalent of a Taiwanese with an income of 87,600 NTD per month. For a group of students who already pay double the tuition of their Taiwanese peers for public universities —especially the Chinese students who cannot augment their income through employment of any form, or students from a disadvantaged financial background — the proposed premium hike is akin to another form of exploitation, and against the founding principles of the NHI.
To avoid discrimination against the financially underprivileged, the NHI operates on an ability-to-pay basis — where premiums are determined by the insured person’s income. Therefore, while we welcome the integration of Chinese students into the NHI system, we believe the premium rates for all foreign students should also depend on their ability-to-pay. Currently, international and overseas-Chinese students are insured as “Unemployed persons” under category 6, item 2 of the NHI Act, paying premiums of 749 NTD per month — the equivalent rate of a Taiwanese with an income of 53,000 NTD per month. If the proposed amendment were to be passed, foreign students would have to pay a premium of 1249 NTD per month — the equivalent of a Taiwanese with an income of 87,600 NTD per month. For a group of students who already pay double the tuition of their Taiwanese peers for public universities —especially the Chinese students who cannot augment their income through employment of any form, or students from a disadvantaged financial background — the proposed premium hike is akin to another form of exploitation, and against the founding principles of the NHI.
In response to common claims that foreign student coverage worsens the NHI’s financial crisis, and concerns over untaxed persons leeching off Taiwan’s medical resources, we would also like to take this chance to clarify and respond, and hopefully provide information to aid in the process of just legislation.
In response to common claims that foreign student coverage worsens the NHI’s financial crisis, and concerns over untaxed persons leeching off Taiwan’s medical resources, we would also like to take this chance to clarify and respond, and hopefully provide information to aid in the process of just legislation.
First, the 40% government subsidies of current foreign student premiums serve not only to “subsidize” these students, but also to expand the NHI financial pool and ultimately benefit all those who are insured. Given the lower average healthcare usage of younger populations in comparison to middle-aged to elderly populations, the insurance of young people into the NHI actually benefits the system on a whole. According to statistics presented in October of last year by Dr. Shang Tung-fu (head the Department of Social Insurance, Ministry of Health and Welfare), 35,000 foreign students only utilized 53% of self-paid premiums in 2014 (103 to 106 million remained of 223.8 million NTD collected). In other words, foreign students have been self-sufficient in terms of medical expenditure, and government subsidies to foreign students remain available to the general NHI financial pool. Second, foreign students are subject to several forms of taxation in Taiwan, from sales tax, indirect taxation, and a higher income tax in comparison to nationals when employed.
First, the 40% government subsidies of current foreign student premiums serve not only to “subsidize” these students, but also to expand the NHI financial pool and ultimately benefit all those who are insured. Given the lower average healthcare usage of younger populations in comparison to middle-aged to elderly populations, the insurance of young people into the NHI actually benefits the system on a whole. According to statistics presented in October of last year by Dr. Shang Tung-fu (head the Department of Social Insurance, Ministry of Health and Welfare), 35,000 foreign students only utilized 53% of self-paid premiums in 2014 (103 to 106 million remained of 223.8 million NTD collected). In other words, foreign students have been self-sufficient in terms of medical expenditure, and government subsidies to foreign students remain available to the general NHI financial pool. Second, foreign students are subject to several forms of taxation in Taiwan, from sales tax, indirect taxation, and a higher income tax in comparison to nationals when employed.
We are a group of students from Hong Kong, Macau, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, studying in Taiwan, and we can no longer sit by and watch as the DPP proposes to exploit financially disadvantaged foreign students under the guise of “equality” and benevolence. To all who are a member of society: we urge you to recognize this attempt at exploitation for what it is, and to hold empathy for the position of foreign students. To all students and those interested in justice, please consider supporting this petition, and lend us your voice in our fight against the premium hikes that jeopardize health coverage for all foreign students.
We are a group of students from Hong Kong, Macau, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, studying in Taiwan, and we can no longer sit by and watch as the DPP proposes to exploit financially disadvantaged foreign students under the guise of “equality” and benevolence. To all who are a member of society: we urge you to recognize this attempt at exploitation for what it is, and to hold empathy for the position of foreign students. To all students and those interested in justice, please consider supporting this petition, and lend us your voice in our fight against the premium hikes that jeopardize health coverage for all foreign students.
We hereby list our demands:
We hereby list our demands:
1. The DPP should not raise current premium rates for foreign students, and Chinese students should be insured at the current rate:
1. The DPP should not raise current premium rates for foreign students, and Chinese students should be insured at the current rate:
We demand the withdrawal of the DPP-sponsored NHI Act Amendment proposal from the legislative process. Chinese students should enter the NHI by the same means as foreign students: through the change in their status from “Stay” to “Residence”.
We demand the withdrawal of the DPP-sponsored NHI Act Amendment proposal from the legislative process. Chinese students should enter the NHI by the same means as foreign students: through the change in their status from “Stay” to “Residence”.
2. Reexamine the premium rates for Category 6 persons in accordance with the NHI’s ability-to-pay principles:
2. Reexamine the premium rates for Category 6 persons in accordance with the NHI’s ability-to-pay principles:
For unemployed or non-caregiving persons under Category 6, the 749 NTD monthly premium (equivalent rate of person with a 53,000 NTD monthly income) still incur a heavy financial burden. We propose the reconsideration of current Category 6 premium rates in accordance with ability-to-pay principles.
For unemployed or non-caregiving persons under Category 6, the 749 NTD monthly premium (equivalent rate of person with a 53,000 NTD monthly income) still incur a heavy financial burden. We propose the reconsideration of current Category 6 premium rates in accordance with ability-to-pay principles.
Endorsed Organizations: （按照筆劃順序排列）
Endorsed Organizations: （按照筆劃順序排列）
Indonesian Student Association、反教育商品化聯盟、中山放狗社、中正學費平等小組、中國文化大學陸生聯誼會、中興大學永續學社、國立中正大學大陸學生聯合會、元智大學僑生聯誼會、世新大學學生勞動權益行動小組、北大翻牆社、北醫義鬥社、台大大陸社、台大大新社、台大濁水溪社、台大中華復興社、臺藝浮洲人民公社、T-WHY台灣打工度假青年、交大敵霸閣社、社會主義前進、怡保旅台同學會 ISAIT、赴台大陸學生聯合會、東吳跳馬社、東海台研人間、東海大學陸生聯誼會、東吳大學陸生聯誼會、東華烏頭翁社、東海灰社、台灣國際勞工協會Taiwan International Workers Association（TIWA）、南洋台灣姊妹會TransAsia Sisters Association, Taiwan (TASAT) 、師大人文學社、政大種子社、政治大學學生勞動權益促進會、高教工會青年行動委員會、高教工會陽明大學勞權小組、夏潮聯合會、國立台灣大學大陸同學會、國立台灣大學學生會、國立台灣大學研究生協會、國立臺灣科技大學僑生聯誼會、國立臺灣科技大學大陸同學會、國立臺灣師範大學港澳同學會、國際社會主義前進、國立台灣海洋大學陸聯社、淡江大學陸生聯誼會、輔大黑水溝社、輔仁大學陸生聯誼會、勞動人權協會、實踐大學陸生聯誼會、《跨時》編輯委員會、暨大拾事社
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