Health insurance in Taiwan: NHI and international protection
Taiwan: the local NHI scheme covers residents with an ARC card. Here is what to check, and when an international insurance provides useful supplementary coverage.
At a glance
- The NHI is a mandatory health insurance scheme for foreign residents holding an ARC, according to the official body.
- The timing of entry into the NHI depends on status: employee, self-employed, spouse, other resident. The six-month waiting period does not apply to everyone.
- Loss of the ARC leads to loss of NHI rights: monitor renewal dates.
- International insurance can supplement the local scheme: hospitalization, evacuation, mobility, and top-ups according to your priorities.
- For routine care, the insured person generally pays the costs upfront and then requests a reimbursement.
In Taiwan, foreigners who reside with an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) generally fall under the national health insurance, the National Health Insurance (NHI). International health insurance is therefore not a mandatory requirement in principle for a covered resident, but it can be a useful supplement to the local scheme depending on your situation.
Your status determines the enrollment procedures and the start date of your rights. An international coverage plan is then chosen based on local coverage and your stays outside of Taiwan.
The local scheme: the NHI
The NHI is presented by the authorities as a mandatory social insurance. According to the official body, any Taiwanese citizen registered at a domicile (household registration) and any foreigner residing in Taiwan with an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) must enroll, regardless of age, gender, or professional status. The insured pay contributions and access care under the same conditions.
A point of attention: the NHI is based on holding a valid residence permit. It is not a right linked to nationality or a simple tourist stay. Travel advice does not provide information on the rights of a local resident.
Employee, self-employed, spouse: different situations
The applicable scheme depends on your status. According to the organization, here are the described cases.
- Employed worker with a work permit and ARC, notably under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals: enrollment is carried out by the company, as of the hiring date.
- Employer or self-employed person falling under the categories of specialized or high-level professionals provided for by the regulations: registration goes through a NHIA agency, as of the creation of the activity.
- Spouse, minor children, and adult children unable to live independently due to a disability of certain foreign professionals: enrollment occurs upon receipt of their Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).
For other residents holding an ARC, the source mentions enrollment after six full months of residence, with precise counting rules for absences. This waiting period condition does not apply to everyone in the same way. It depends on the status, notably the legal nature of the employment. Have your case verified by the local body or your employer before building a coverage plan.
How contributions are calculated
According to the organization, contributions for employees are based on the monthly salary, and those for employers or self-employed individuals on the activity income, according to a scale of insured amounts. The indicated formula is: insured amount x contribution rate x contribution share x (1 + number of dependents). The company deducts the employee share and pays it to the administration, along with its own contribution. The contributions for dependents are calculated in the same way and paid by the insured.
We do not provide any amounts here: rates and scales evolve and must be consulted on official websites.
Loss of rights: the residence permit is the proof
Monitor the validity of your residence permit and have the continuity of your enrollment confirmed during a renewal, a change of employer, or a departure. An end date for a private contract and an end date for local rights cannot be inferred from one another.
What the local scheme does not necessarily cover
The NHI is a local scheme. International insurance can meet needs that you wish to cover, without being able to claim that they are all absent from the local scheme. Here are the points to examine with an advisor.
- The period before enrollment. If your situation involves a delay before entering the NHI, you may need transitional coverage.
- Mobility. If you travel often outside of Taiwan, the NHI does not necessarily cover care received abroad. Verify the conditions with the organization.
- Evacuation and repatriation. These benefits depend on the contract. They are triggered by medical decision, according to the terms of the policy, and not at the free choice of the insured.
- Major financial risks. Hospitalization remains the basis of solid protection. Depending on the contract, you may benefit from free choice of establishment and prior agreement from the insurer for the payment guarantee.
- Top-ups. Optical, dental, and maternity are added to a hospitalization base. These are options, not isolated contracts.
Routine care: the upfront payment of costs
With international insurance, for routine care, the insured generally pays the costs upfront and then requests a reimbursement. For expensive or recurring care, direct payment can sometimes be organized, after agreement from the insurer and acceptance by the provider. This is not a general rule and should not be assumed.
For the international contract studied, verify the free choice of establishment, then request prior agreement from the insurer for a hospital payment guarantee. The hospital must also accept the payment terms; a deposit or an out-of-pocket balance may remain.
What to prepare before moving
- Specify your status: employee, self-employed, dependent spouse, other type of stay.
- Ask your employer or the local body for the exact date of entry into the NHI, in writing.
- Note the expiration date of your ARC and plan for the renewal.
- List your regular travels outside of Taiwan.
- Identify your priorities: hospitalization, maternity, dental, optical, evacuation.
- Compare what the NHI covers for you with what you wish to add, without over-sizing.
Local resident or traveler: do not confuse
Information intended for tourists does not describe the rights of a resident holding an ARC. Conversely, a short-term visitor is not covered by the NHI. Depending on your length of stay, your visa, and your professional situation, the need for coverage changes. Visa and residence rules must be verified with Taiwanese authorities before departure.
How to proceed without making mistakes
The right reflex is to start from your actual situation rather than a general rule. An exchange with an Izem Expat advisor allows you to identify what the local scheme already covers for you, what is missing, and what it is reasonable to add. You can request offers for Taiwan, without necessarily going through the diagnostic. If you prefer to take stock first, the optional diagnostic is also available. Official departure information can be found on the National Development Council page dedicated to the NHI.
An Izem Expat advisor remains available for a free exchange, at your own pace.
Consult other country guides · Understand the benefits of an international insurance
Your questions about Taiwan
Is the NHI mandatory for a foreigner in Taiwan?
According to the official body, the NHI is a mandatory social insurance for foreigners residing in Taiwan with an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), regardless of their status. The precise conditions of enrollment depend on your situation: verify with the local body.
Must one wait six months to be covered by the NHI?
Not for all profiles. The source mentions a six-month residence waiting period for certain residents holding an ARC, but people employed legally can enroll as of the hiring date. Your status determines the applicable rule: have it confirmed in writing.
Are my spouse and my children covered by the NHI?
The source indicates that, for certain foreign professionals, the spouse, minor children, and adult children unable to live independently due to a disability enroll upon receipt of their ARC. The contributions for dependents are paid by the insured. Verify if your status falls into this framework.
What happens to my NHI if my residence permit expires?
According to the official body, a foreign resident loses their right to the NHI when their residence permit expires and must disenroll. Anticipate the renewal to avoid a period without coverage.
Is an international health insurance always necessary in Taiwan?
No, it cannot be claimed as such. It can supplement the NHI according to your needs: period before enrollment, travel outside of Taiwan, evacuation, hospitalization with free choice of establishment, or top-ups like dental. An exchange with an advisor allows you to decide based on your case.
Is routine care covered without upfront payment with an international insurance?
Generally, no: the insured pays the costs upfront and then requests a reimbursement. For expensive or recurring care, direct payment can sometimes be organized with the agreement of the insurer and the provider, but it is not systematic.
Reviewed by an Izem Expat advisor
Rules and prices may change: confirm the terms applying to your situation before taking out cover.