Taiwan launches Health Coin program to reward preventive care

Taiwan's new 'Health Coin' incentive program saw high initial engagement, with over 200,000 people joining within the first 24 hours of its launch on October 1. The program uses digital tools to reward citizens for completing preventive health tasks, such as receiving vaccinations (including influenza and COVID-19), undergoing public cancer screenings, and completing adult health check-ups.

Participants can accumulate coins through the National Health Insurance Administration’s 'Health Wallet' app and the 'Health GO' app. For example, completing a colorectal cancer screening earns 900 coins, with an additional 1,350 coins available if a follow-up colonoscopy is performed within 180 days of a positive result. Starting in December, accumulated coins can be redeemed for health-related products at convenience stores, pharmacies, gyms, insurance companies, and hospitals, with a minimum threshold of 1,000 coins.

While the rollout has been successful, some elderly users reported difficulties navigating the identity verification and app-linking processes. Health officials have pledged to provide additional guidance and hands-on assistance at community centers and health clinics. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is addressing hospital overcrowding during holiday periods by offering incentives for primary care clinics to remain open, aiming to divert non-emergency cases from major hospital emergency rooms.