Taiwan launches microinsurance for heat injuries

Taiwan has launched its first hospitalization-benefit microinsurance policy aimed at heat injuries, with nearly 32,000 low-income households in Tainan included in a premium-free trial plan for a year. The Ministry of Environment yesterday held a news conference along with the Financial Supervisory Commission, the Tainan City Government and Nan Shan Life Insurance Co (南山人壽) to announce the measure. Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) said that Nan Shan last year proposed the idea to the ministry and the commission approved the heat injury microinsurance policy on May 28. Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei Times The measure is part of the ministry’s “cool age climate care action,” he said. It is different from regular check-in services for elderly people living alone, as it focuses on the 5 percent of the population most vulnerable to heat injuries and uses technology to detect increased risks, Peng said. More than 3,000 people in Taiwan sought medical help for heat-related medical problems every year, he said, adding that elderly people have a higher risk. The microinsurance policy provides a lump-sum hospitalization benefit capped at NT$10,000 for people aged 15 to 75 from low to medium-income households, including people living alone. The insurance premium is to be fully borne by the Nan Shan Life Charity Foundation, Peng said. Tainan was chosen for the one-year trial period, he said, adding that he expects the measure to be extended to cover all six special municipalities. Tainan Environmental Protection Bureau Secretary-General Chu Mei-kuei (朱玫瑰) said the number of heat-related medical visits by people aged 65 to 74 nationwide climbed from 333 in 2015 to 791 in 2024, nearly 2.5 times as many as in the past decade. Many elderly people are not sensitive to heat and tend to avoid using air-conditioning to save on electricity costs, she said. However, the risk of ischemic stroke more than doubles when temperatures rise above 35°C, Chu said. The city has collaborated with National Cheng Kung University to develop an indoor temperature forecast model, she said. The model can be used to forecast indoor temperature changes within a short period based on current outdoor temperatures, Chu said. A graded system has been established to provide care via phone calls or home visits with cool-down supplies or guidance on nearby cool spots, based on risk levels, she said. SHOW OF SUPPORT: The US said it was ‘deeply concerned’ about the Pacific nation’s decision, as Taiwan is a reliable partner and its relationships provide ‘significant benefits’ Taiwan is reassessing its economic ties with Papua New Guinea (PNG) after the Pacific nation on Wednesday unexpectedly ordered the immediate closure of Taipei’s representative office in Port Moresby, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. The ministry convened a meeting to discuss potential responses, which included reviewing Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases from Papua New Guinea, Lin said, adding that the nation’s imports of about 1.2 million tonnes of LNG annually accounted for about one-third of the Pacific nation’s LNG exports and were a major source of revenue for the country. In 2024, Papua New Guinea exported US$5.36 BIG DREAMS: The education ministry said it hoped that by hosting the competition next year, it could help Taiwan nurture talented students and foster global connections Taiwanese high-school students over the weekend swept four gold medals at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in Lithuania, and secured three golds and one silver at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Uzbekistan. All four members of the Taiwan team for IBO — Hsu Ting-jui (許庭睿) from Taichung First Senior High School, Chen Yu-chen (陳語晨) from Taipei First Girls’ High School, and Chan Wei-chun (詹緯濬) and Yao Yi-keng (姚亦耕) from Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School — received gold medals in the competition, which was held from Sunday last week to yesterday, the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania said in a Taiwan and the US have agreed to jointly produce the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST)-developed Chien Feng I (勁蜂一型, Mighty Hornet I) drone, a high-level government official familiar with the matter said. The Mighty Hornet I, which is in service with the Marine Corps, has passed live-fire tests, including being launched from fast-moving surface ships, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Under the collaboration — which must still undergo a national security review and receive budget approval from the legislature — Taiwan and the US would jointly produce the attack drone, while the US would WARTIME RISK: Increased Chinese vessel activity might be rehearsals on how to sever Taiwan’s Pacific supply lines from allies, local officials said Taiwan detected a sharp rise in Chinese coast guard and research vessel activity around the nation last month, prompting Taipei to plan drills simulating Chinese escalations off its Pacific coast, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said. Taiwan reported 55 Chinese government vessel sightings, including coast guard and research boats, around the nation last month, up from 30 in May, CGA data showed. The sightings surged 83 percent from May and 120 percent from the 25 sightings a year earlier. The tally excluded sightings around Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast. The figures underscore the growing role of China’s coast guard in Beijing’s latest