Blue and White have recently pushed forward in the Legislative Yuan the amendment to the law on exempting health care premiums for seniors over 65 years old. The Kuomintang group claimed today (18th) that only by subsidizing senior citizens' health care premiums from the central government can the injustice between urban and rural areas be eliminated. They criticized the double standard based on President Lai's past opinions and the stance of the Democratic Progressive Party candidates. Zhuang Ruixiong, secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party caucus, said that there is no contradiction between supporting the reduction of the burden on the elders and requiring stable financial resources and reasonable sharing between the central and local governments. "Welfare is not something that can only be applauded and cannot be settled; asking where the money comes from is not a split personality."
Zhuang Ruixiong said that supporting the elderly health insurance subsidy does not mean that any financial arrangement must be taken as it is. Local governments prepare budgets to promote subsidies and amend the law to require the central government to fully bear the burden, which involves different allocation of responsibilities. Advocating for the care of the elders is not about signing a blank check; we cannot rely on past opinions and ask the central government to foot all the bills today.
Zhuang Ruixiong pointed out that the six cities originally had elderly health insurance subsidies with different conditions and amounts. This revision of the law not only expands the subsidies, but also transfers the original local expenditures to the central government. Finance Minister Zhuang Cuiyun has stated that in the first nine months of this year, national tax revenue increased by 700 billion yuan compared with the same period last year, of which local governments increased by 450 billion yuan and the central government increased by 250 billion yuan. After the amendment of the Financial Planning Law, local financial resources have increased, and although the subsidy responsibilities have been moved to the central government, "When they cannot distribute the money, they say that the local governments need to take more, and when they pay, they say that the central government must cover it all. The income is moved to the local governments, and the bills are sent to the central government!"
Regarding fairness between urban and rural areas, Zhuang Ruixiong said that the central government should assist counties and cities with insufficient financial resources; but why should places that can afford it not share the burden? For elders who have already received full subsidies, switching payers may not necessarily increase their care. The money saved by local governments should be clearly explained whether to increase medical transportation, home services and community care. Urban and rural areas should be equitable. Places with insufficient resources should be given more care, and places with the ability cannot end up with one less bill.
In response to the comparison of provisions proposed by lawyer Lai Zhongqiang, convener of the Economy Alliance think tank, which revealed major issues in the revised law, Zhuang Ruixiong explained that the third reading of the provisions only retained health insurance premium subsidies. The original Article 22's subsidy provisions for "partial payment of expenses" and "medical expenses not covered by insurance benefits" were not retained. The two parties in the country must explain why these two provisions were deleted? How to protect the original legal source of medical subsidies for disadvantaged elders?
Zhuang Ruixiong emphasized that paying monthly premiums and paying medical expenses when you are sick are two different things. We can’t advertise extra benefits, but the original emergency protection has holes! Lin Jingyi, deputy minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, has also reminded that major legislative amendments should fully discuss the financial resources, scope of influence and implementation methods. A lack of evaluation may exacerbate the disadvantages of the weak. This is why the amendment of the law must be fully reviewed and cannot be rushed.
Zhuang Ruixiong believes that the Executive Yuan has stated that this full subsidy will require nearly 40 billion yuan this year, and it is a commitment to be paid every year. The revised law does not provide for stable financial resources, but also involves the separation of administrative and legislative powers and responsibilities. Now there is a problem of the deletion of weak medical subsidy provisions. At present, the bill has only passed the third reading and has not yet completed the process of promulgation and effectiveness. We cannot regard the third reading as a policy that has been implemented and then ask the Executive Yuan to accept it in full. The Executive Yuan should take legal and constitutional response actions within the scope of its powers granted by the Constitution.
He reiterated that the majority in Congress can allow the bill to be read for the third time, and cannot allow financial resources to appear out of thin air, let alone allow loopholes in the provisions to disappear automatically. Whoever takes the lead in amending the law must photoelectron clarify the issue. If he cannot finish pressing the voting machine, he will hand over the mess to the Executive Yuan.
