President Ma Ying-jeou says that Mainland Chinese students in Taiwan should have the same healthcare coverage as other students. Ma was speaking on Friday during a student forum at the National Taipei University of Technology.
In November, a bill for including Mainland students in Taiwan’s national health insurance scheme was put off due to opposition from the DPP and the Taiwan Solidarity Union.
Ma responded to the concerns of Chinese students at the forum, saying he and the Cabinet support the bill on the basis of equal rights. He said the bill also makes economic sense, since young people pay more into the healthcare system than they use. Ma said that DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen is not addressing the issue of extending coverage to Mainland students.
“Not only can foreign workers and students receive healthcare coverage, so can inmates in prison. I think there is no reason to exclude Mainland students. They should have the same coverage as international students," said Ma, "Why must we be stingy? DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said she supported the bill, but her party’s legislators said no, and insisted on revising the Universal Healthcare Act instead. I think her support lacks sincerity. Put simply, the number of Mainland students isn’t big and it won’t affect the finances of the healthcare system. Why must we drag our feet? I support extending healthcare to Chinese students.”