Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) won't countersign an amendment requiring the
central government to cover NHI premiums for certain seniors.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) laid out three reasons for the
premier's decision not to ratify the legislature's move to waive premiums for
seniors who meet a means test.

The first is the 40 billion NT a year it would cost to fully subsidize around
80 percent of people aged 65 and older. She said this would likely divert
funding from elderly care, long-term care and other welfare programs

Lee said the second concern is that low-income seniors could lose access to
medical assistance because no other law requires local governments to cover
their medical expenses.

Thirdly, she warned that the cost would continue to rise as Taiwan's
population ages, placing a greater financial burden on younger generation

This brings to nine the number of bills passed by the Legislature that have
been blocked from taking effect amid a political standoff between the ruling
DPP and opposition parties.

CNA_JvW