With COVID-19 cases rising in Taiwan, people are crowding hospitals to obtain medical certificates for insurance purposes. This is adding pressure to an already stressed out medical system.
Taiwan is in the middle of a surge in COVID-19 cases. Hospitals are already pressed dealing with those who need medical attention. But, now, people looking for payouts on their COVID-19 insurance are complicating things.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that the problem lies with the insurers. They’re requiring claim filers to obtain physical medical certificates as proof of infection.
Chen says the policy is a waste of already scarce resources. He says insurers should accept digital medical certificates.
Insurance Expert Chen Yu-hsin says that physical documents are required because they include detailed patient information that digital certificates don’t have.
By some estimates, insurers are expected to pay-out up to NT$90 billion in COVID-19 insurance claims during this wave of infection.
Financial regulator Chiu Shu-ching says that people shouldn’t worry about not getting their pay-out.
She added that claimants have two years to file for their money, and that as long as they have proof of infection, they will get paid.
The government emphasizes that what’s important at this moment is to avoid hospitals to not put additional strain on the medical system.