Taiwan provides health insurance for migrant workers in case of COVID-19 infection

By The China Post, Taiwan/ Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network

According to The China Post, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC, 金管會) approved a health insurance plan for migrant workers on Tuesday, which would cover their medical and hospitalization costs up to NT$500,000 if they should contract COVID-19 within 30-days of arriving in Taiwan.

The commercial health insurance was first designed by Fubon Insurance Co. after Taiwan announced plans to re-open borders for migrant workers due to severe labor shortages.

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The first health insurance for migrant workers is approved. (Photo / Provided by the FSC)

The FSC revealed that five other companies have also submitted their commercial health insurance plans for approval, including Chung Kuo Insurance Co., LTD (兆豐產險), Hotai Insurance (和泰產險), Taian Insurance (泰安產險), Shinkong Insurance (新光產險), and Cathay Century Insurance (國泰世紀產險).

The new health insurance plan will make sure that should migrant workers contract COVID-19 infections within a month after their arrival, they don’t need to worry about the hospitalization and medical bills, as they will be considered “imported COVID-19 cases” and the insurance will cover up to NT$500,000 of the relevant costs.

According to the FSC, migrant workers need to give fill in a written consent form to their employers in order for them to purchase the health insurance for the workers before they enter Taiwan.

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The health insurance covers their medical and hospitalization costs up to NT$500,000 if they should contract COVID-19 within 30-days of arriving in Taiwan. (Photo / Retrieved from the Pixabay)

For every migrant worker, employers will be required to pay between NT$1,100 to NT$1,200 though those who have hired five or more migrant workers can purchase group insurance, which is priced slightly lower.

The FSC also reminded everyone that the health insurance plan only covers the 30-day period; if migrant workers contract the virus after one month in Taiwan, it will be considered a local infection and relevant fees will be covered by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC, 中央流行疫情指揮中心).

Authorization of this article from【The China Post】By Vivian Hsiao