Elderly people are exempted from health insurance premiums under 2 conditions. The Law and Political Yuan of Laofu does not countersign

Before the nine-in-one general election, Blue and White issued many election checks. The Legislative Yuan passed the amendment to the "Elderly Welfare Act" on the third reading last month, clearly stipulating that elderly people over 65 years old are conditionally exempt from health insurance premiums. The Executive Yuan said yesterday that the amendment involves three major issues, including deleting some medical subsidies. It has led to a gap in medical security for the economically disadvantaged elderly; it has increased a huge financial burden and violated intergenerational justice; it has infringed on the Executive Yuan's power to formulate policy plans and propose budgets in accordance with the Constitution. Executive President Zhuo Yongtai decided not to countersign; this is the ninth time Zhuo Kui has not countersigned.

Executive Yuan spokesperson Li Huizhi pointed out that this revision of the law deletes the legal basis for two types of subsidies: "partially borne expenses by the National Health Insurance" and "medical expenses not covered by the National Health Insurance" (self-paid medical treatment). The impact is six. 60,000 middle- and low-income elderly people. These vulnerable elders are not the recipients of the "Social Assistance Law" and only rely on the "Elderly Welfare Law" for subsidies. After the source of the law is deleted, not only will their existing medical security be damaged, but they may even fall into more serious financial difficulties due to their inability to afford medical expenses.

Li Huizhi said that the Constitution and the Budget Law regulate that the Executive Yuan is responsible for proposing the budget, and the Legislative Yuan will review it in accordance with the law; in accordance with the spirit of Article 70 of the Constitution and Article 91 of the Budget Law, the Legislative Yuan shall not propose proposals to increase government expenditures.

Li Huizhi added that this amendment has almost no real effect on reducing wealth. More than 80% of seniors aged 65 and above can be exempted from health insurance premiums, adding about 40 billion yuan in new funding every year. As our country enters a super-aging society, whether the government raises financial resources by adjusting existing policy plans, borrowing debt, or adjusting health insurance premiums, it may eventually become a burden for the young and middle-aged generations.

Li Huizhi emphasized that the government continues to invest in the care of the elderly. This year, long-term care will be extended to three people. 〇The budget has exceeded 110 billion yuan to improve the welfare of the elderly from the perspective of economic security, medical care and community support, including increasing the allowance for elderly farmers, the national pension and the living allowance for low- and middle-income elderly people, promoting health insurance subsidies, denture subsidies and free health examinations for the disadvantaged elderly over 70 years old, and continuing to strengthen care for the elderly living alone, community care and integrated medical and long-term care services.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shi Chongliang attended the meeting yesterday and said that the amendment to the "Elderly Welfare Act" has serious flaws. It not only deletes some medical subsidies, but also violates the basic structure of health insurance, including the spirit of mutual help and mutual benefit, capacity payment and generational fairness. He would like to appeal again, hoping to have more discussions and not to rush to promote the amendment of the law. "In the face of such serious flaws in the practice, it would be a serious dereliction of duty if I remained silent."

Chen Xiangguo, chairman of the National Federation of Medical Associations of the Republic of China, affirmed that the Executive Yuan has taken the courage to not countersign, safeguard the sustainability of health insurance and justice for generations, and avoid crowding out important resources such as cancer, critical care and rural medical care. "The right thing should be done."