NHI IC Card introduction

The medical system of Taiwan has ushered in a new era in January 2004.  The paper card that has been implemented for over eight years was completely replaced by the NHI IC card.  Ever since then, citizens going for medical institutions, only need to show the NHI IC card to received all needed medical services.

◎ Age of Paper Card
Since the implementation of the Taiwan national health insurance in March 1995, in addition to the paper card, the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) has also issued catastrophic illness Card, Children Health Handbook, and Pregnant Woman Health Handbook, and so on.  When citizens went to the hospital, sometimes they needed to carry two or three different cards.  In addition, with the paper card, it needed to be renewed after six uses.  And each year, it required an across the board issuing of new cards. These caused some inconvenience of both the insured as well as the insurance units, and thus increase the cost of healthcare administrative operations.

◎ Implementation of NHI IC Card Result
The above-mentioned issues have been resolved following a total replacement of the paper card with NHI IC card.  It has the size of a credit card, which includes an embedded miniature IC chip that integrates various medical certificates, and doesn't need to replace for some five to seven years.
Cardholders may opt to include their photo on the NHI IC card. If they include their photos, then there is no need for them to carry any additional ID when visiting the doctor. This makes it even easier for cardholders to use medical services

◎The Benefits of NHI IC Card
The NHI IC card is a service tool that is both secure and convenient. Under a safety mechanism, it can be operated on-line or off-line; just like a portable mini computer.  Therefore, the healthcare operations of the IC card brings us efficiency in many aspects through its features unique and safety features:

‧The public can not only conveniently receive medical care using one card, but also inquire about the insurance and/or fee owing situation and the other medical-related records.
‧Medical institutions can simplify registration operations and increase the accuracy of medical expense data applied for.
‧The insurer can eliminate laborious administrative work in card-changing.
‧BNHI can integrate various medical certificates, reduce the occurrences of mistaken, redundant and over-applications by medical institutions, and further reduce the duplication of examinations and so on. Plus, this can achieve the goals of providing public convenience and preventing medical waste.
‧Between May to December of 2003, the SARS outbreak in Taiwan caused a public panic.  At that time, the BNHI kept abreast of the public's medical data through the uplink system of the IC cards, to effectively prevent the spread of SARS.