In July 1994, the National Health Insurance Act was enacted, bringing medical care insurance to the public mass. From that point forward, individual risks were covered by the nation and the medical burdens for rare disease sufferers reduced dramatically.
Since the implementation of national health insurance, many patients have sought care rather than give up on treatment. National health insurance alleviated the burden of bludgeoning medical bills. However, rare disease patients are different. They still have enormous medical bills even though their illnesses are incurable and they fit the definition of catastrophic illness: Still, about 20-30% of rare disease patients are not eligible to receive the catastrophic illness coverage and must handle part of the medical costs on their own. In the long run, the costs are too taxing for the average family. TFRD recognized the seriousness and urgency of the problem, and had been advocating the classification of rare diseases under catastrophic illnesses through different channels. In 2002, the Department of Health finally responded positively to our request. Today, rare disease patients no longer have to shoulder the burden of medical costs on their own. Their right to receive medical care is further ensured. Through the foundation's hard work, on August 23, 2002, the Bureau of National Health Insurance formally announced that rare diseases are under the category of catastrophic illnesses.
Patients with rare diseases are covered for most of their medical needs and no longer need to renew their NHI cards. As for rare diseases that have not been reviewed or officially proclaimed as rare diseases, the Department of Health promises to assist patients to receive benefits on an ad-hoc basis.
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