MaPo, no, not all foreignors here have to have annual checkups.
For my first 3 years here on a legitimate work based ARC the only health check i had was a blood test, no pee in the bottle, poop in the cup or anything. It was only when i moved across to a JFRV that for the first time had to do these. The blood test was only done once at the outset of the ARC, thereafter nothing until my status changed
No health test whatsoever for me for getting my ARC
From what I understand as of this year (as opposed to last year or the year before that…grr), once you have your ARC, you don’t have to do a yearly exam to renew it anymore.
ARC holders who get them through their wives don’t have to do health checks. And we can renew every three years, instead of every year. Silvio has a valid point with respect to the health test – the rules were just changed, and with respect to the retirement and access to research funding.
Vorkosigan
Ok… I’ve now gone through the health check for my ARC three times. Today was the third visit to Ren Ai and I came away a bit confused.
They didn’t require me to pee in a cup?!?!?! Not that I’m really complaining, but I had “saved” up before I left the house this morning to make sure I’d be able to. My first time “through the system” I went over with a secretary from the school that had just, 30 minutes before, hired me. Unfortunately, not knowing I was going to get a health check that day, I had relieved myself prior to the interview. I ended up drinking like 4 bottles of water and juice at the hospital and, still, I wasn’t able to produce a sample till every other part of the check was done.
Anyway, last year (my second time), like today, I decided to go “prepared.” And, I was glad when the time came. But, I was surprised today when the guy who took my blood, after looking at my paperwork, told me to go for the x-ray. I asked him (in my mixture of Chinese and English), if I had to go give the urine sample… pointing to the “urine counter” to emphasize my point. He just shook his head and said, “No urine… no urine.”
The paper from the school (my new employer), as well as the paper from Ren Ai, telling me the procedure, all made mention of a urine test. Did I miss something? Should I contact the hospital and ask what is going on? Did they change the procedure, but never change the paperwork? I mean, both still mentioned the stool sample, which I’ve never had to do any of the times I’ve been there.
What’s up? Anyone know?
if no urine…do they still charge as much as they used to …?! i remember it was about 1150 NTD last year…
It was $630…
Come to think of it, I don’t remember what it was last year. But, I think you may be right that it isn’t as expensive. 
I took my health test in Taoyuan about a month ago and wasn’t asked to pee either…their loss not mine!
I had to give a poo sample last year, but I had already had an elephant sized dump an hour before the test. Ended up getting a laxative balloon to shove up my arse. So this time I saved my dump, despite the dying effects of a Hong Kong stomach bug. And guess what? No urine sample and no poo sample.
Just did a health check at Ren Ai. Didn’t explain that this was for my dive into the uncharted territory of two employers, one ARC. In fact didn’t tell them anything except ‘teacher medical’.
NT$630! They checked that my heart was beating, weighed and measured me, asked me to recognise the letter E through the eyepiece, took a little blood, and zapped me with the uranium machine. (Or whatever.) That was it. No poop or pee.