For the sustained promotion of welfare policies and attendance to all Taichung citizens, the Taichung City Social Affairs Bureau added real wealth restrictions to Health Insurance Subsidies for the Elderly. The city Social Affairs Bureau stated that in pursuit of fairness and justice, the City Government reviewed the Elderly Health Insurance Subsidy for effectiveness and fairness, with an additional budget added for “Senior Care One-Stop Service” and “Long-term Care 2.0” policies. With the hopes of “one more Evergreen Learning Classroom, one less nursing home”, and making every penny worth its while in helping elders truly in need.

Today (22nd ), the Taichung City Council called the 7th interim meeting of the second session, with Social Affairs Bureau Director Lue Jen-der proceeding with reports on the “Taichung City Government Significant Social Policies Direction Project Report”, focusing on the results of the 2015 and 2016 child care service, elderly care service, social security net, social empowerment project, integrated social welfare measures and the 2017-established “Women's Welfare and Gender Equality Office”, redistribution of rehab resources, establishment of public-owned private-run day care centers and other major policies.

Councilors Chu Nuan-ying, Li Tian-sheng, Duan Wei-yu, Zheng Zhao-rong and Chen Qing-long were concerned about the necessity of adjustment to the health insurance subsidies for elders beyond 65 years old.

Director Lu pointed out that for the sustainability of welfare policies, the city government pursued fairness and justice by adjusting the Health Insurance Self-Expense Subsidies for the Elderly Plan with adding a wealth restriction. The subsidy has been restricted to include only low to lower-middle income elders above 65 years old, which will save an estimated 6 billion dollars in the budget over five years.

He goes on to explain that of the original 180 thousand elders eligible for the Health Insurance Subsidy throughout the city, 90 thousand of them own estates valuing over 7.5 million along with 3 million in savings. Adding the annual population growth of 15 thousand elders, it may burden the city treasury and crowd out plans and execution of other social welfare policies. Therefore, by means of reviewing its effectiveness and fairness, it is hoped to help more elders in actual need.

In the meantime, the City Government will add a budget to carry out “Senior Care One-Stop Service” and “Long-term Care 2.0” policies, amplifying their benefits in hopes of “increasing one more Evergreen Learning Classroom and lessening one more nursing home”. Upholding the spirit of social investment and making every penny worth its while by setting up more Evergreen Learning locations, Elderly Meal Sharing, Love Guardian Stations and Care Locations. By making good use of limited resources, the “progressing” form of welfare could be sought out in avoidance of the “bankruptive” welfare of Southern Europe.

In addition, councilor Chang Jing-fen, Chang Liao Nai-long and Li Rong-hong were concerned about the fund for the “Community Development Subsidy Plan” promoted by the City Government.

To this, Director Lu pointed out that for previous years; over 24 million dollars in the budget were composed for application by the 608 communities of the city. However, the community subsidy funds this year were composed under commission fees, thus they were cut 20% in accordance to council resolution, with 20 million dollars remaining. Thus subsidies must be readjusted for fair distribution to every community application. The interim meeting will motion for a budget increase to raise subsidy quota and awaits the support of council members in supplementing community development resources.