By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
The Ministry of Health and Welfare might broaden the eligibility standards of the long-term care 3.0 policy to include patients suffering from stroke and terminal cancer, and some foreign permanent residents, it said on Dec. 6.
Deputy Ministry of Health and Welfare Lue Jen-der (呂建德) made the comments at a news conference on welfare policy for retired women in Taipei, saying the ministry expects to unveil a revised long-term care program next year.
In 2017, the government promulgated the long-term care 2.0 policy to provide subsidies and assistance to some Taiwanese older than 65 and Taiwanese of indigenous background older than 55 with impairments requiring care.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan, right, speaks to a reporter in Taipei on Dec.7.
Photo: CNA
The current version of the policy does not include people younger than 65 and not granted a certificate for a mental or physical handicap, resulting in the exclusion of Taiwanese who have trouble living without carers due to a stroke or cancer, Lue said.
Health officials are mulling changes to allow the policy to cover Taiwanese whose ability to live without assistance has been impaired by a stroke and cancer patients with a life expectancy shorter than six months, he said.
The 3.0 version of the policy might qualify some foreigners for subsidized long-term care if they obtained permanent resident status via the government’s retention programs for skilled foreign workers, Lue said.
The policy amendments being proposed would limit long-term care benefits to foreigners with a continuing year of residence, with other eligibility standards based on age and degree of impairment being the same, he said.
The ministry is gathering the opinions of outside experts and the public before committing to the policy changes, Lue said, adding that the Cabinet might see a finalized proposal in the middle of next year.
The Taiwan Association of Family Caregivers approves of the government’s long-term care 3.0 plans based on the available details, association secretary-general Chen Ching-ning (陳景寧) said.
Many stroke patients were denied care for not being old enough or received care too late to have a successful recovery because the papers take six months to process, she said.
Giving stroke patients the support they need can relieve the burden on their families and improve their chances of recovery, preventing more severe impairments from taking root, she said.
The proposed changes to eligibility standards for foreign nationals might not be enough as spouses need care just as much as skilled professionals, she added.
