Healthcare and Health Insurance questions

Life Health & Fitness
1

Hello everyone,

I am in the final stage of my Gold Card application, with my passport submission scheduled in a few weeks. As I prepare for relocation, I have a few questions regarding health insurance in Taiwan.

National Health Insurance (NHI) Enrollment
From my understanding, since I work remotely/freelance, I can only enroll in NHI after six months of continuous residence in Taiwan. Additionally, I cannot leave the country for more than 30 days during this period, or else the clock resets.

Given that I plan to travel frequently between Taiwan and Canada, I assume I won’t be able to qualify for NHI unless I stay for six consecutive months without interruption. For example, if I stay in Taiwan for two months, return to Canada for two months, and then come back, I would have to restart the six-month waiting period. Am I understanding this correctly?

Health Insurance Options Before NHI Eligibility
In cases like mine, where do people typically get health insurance before qualifying for NHI? Is private health insurance common, and is the premium relatively high? Since I may not meet the requirements for NHI right away, would it make sense to get travel or emergency insurance, similar to what Canadians use when visiting the U.S.?

Healthcare System Differences
For Canadians or Americans who have experience with Taiwan’s healthcare system, how does it compare? I am pre-diabetic and don’t require prescription medication, but I do need blood work every three months.

In North America, I typically start with my family doctor, often through a telehealth appointment. If an in-person visit is needed, I go to their clinic. If further attention is required, my doctor refers me to a specialist. For lab work, my doctor sends a requisition to a lab via email, and I simply visit the lab to get tested. I can then check my results online and discuss them with my doctor. We rarely go to a hospital or ER unless it’s a true emergency, like a car accident.

How does this process work in Taiwan? For example, if I need a glucose level check every three months, do I go directly to a lab, or does a doctor need to authorize the test first? What is the typical procedure?

I appreciate your time and look forward to your insights. Thank you!

2

Are you planning to stay a Canadian resident (with their healthcare)? If so I’d think about whether to stay out of Taiwan’s NHI since it can be tricky to cancel afterwards especially once you obtain Taiwan APRC. Healthcare is affordable in Taiwan out of pocket.

3

To be honest, I have no idea since I’ve never been to Taiwan. That said, for at least the first year or so, I plan to remain a Canadian resident for tax and healthcare purposes. There’s always the possibility that I’ll end up liking Taiwan and decide to stay permanently.

Glad to hear that healthcare there is affordable! Unlike here, if you’re uninsured and need to visit the ER, a few days’ stay can easily cost $10,000 or more. For example, Quebec is technically considered a separate nation within Canada in some respects. If we travel to Montreal, we need to get travel insurance because their health system doesn’t directly bill British Columbia’s or Ontario’s. Instead, I’d have to pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement from my provincial government.

So is Taiwan similar to Mexico in terms of healthcare costs—very cheap to see a doctor? I also wonder about dental care. Dental work isn’t covered in Canada, so I went down to Tijuana twice for root canals. I was terrified of being shot or kidnapped, thats how desperate I was… lmao.

4

It’s similar here. They charge a few thousand dollars per night just for the room.

5

Several thound Taiwan or Canadian dollars?