The ROC Ministry of Education has been planning since June to include mainland Chinese students in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program, according to Chu Chun-chang, an official with the MOE Department of Higher Education, Aug. 12.
Students seeking degrees would be provided coverage in line with regulations for mainland Chinese researchers working for Taiwan industries or academic institutions, since they stay in the country for long periods, Chu said.
Chu made the remarks following a report by local newspaper the China Times that opposition Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Ping-jui has proposed amending the National Health Insurance Act to cover mainland Chinese students studying in Taiwan for over six months.
“Currently, mainland Chinese students who study in Taiwan cannot enjoy NHI because according to Article 17 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, these students are ‘staying’ in the nation, not ‘residing,’” Chu said.
“We will invite the Mainland Affairs Council and Department of Health to discuss the matter,” Chu said. “If a consensus is reached, the policy will be effective for incoming mainland Chinese students starting September, as well as for students who are already in Taiwan; however, it will not be applicable to short-term exchange students.”
In addition, Chu said the MOE is considering relaxing employment restrictions for mainland Chinese students to allow them to serve as part-time research assistants, for the benefit of their studies. “The key to promoting the export of Taiwan’s higher education, attracting outstanding overseas talent and enhancing the international competitiveness of local universities is to let every incoming student learn actively,” he noted.
The ministry is also planning to permit the students to take part in skills tests organized by the government or private sector, but they will remain ineligible for licensing exams, Chu added.
