The simplest way to apply for long-term care services in Taiwan is by dialing the 1966 Long-Term Care Hotline or contacting the Long-Term Care Management Center in your locality; after an in-home assessment by a care management specialist, individuals assessed at Long-Term Care Need Levels 2 to 8 qualify for 4 major benefit categories: personal care and specialized services with monthly subsidy quotas of NT$10,020 to NT$36,180, where ordinary households pay a 16% co-payment while low-income and medium-low income households pay 0%. The Long-Term Care 10-Year Plan 3.0 has been approved by the Executive Yuan and implemented starting in 2026, accessible through the 1966 hotline; from 2026 (ROC 115), dementia patients of any age and recipients of Post-Acute Care (PAC) integrated care programs under National Health Insurance (健保) are also eligible.
Reminder: This article is compiled under the Long-Term Care Service Application and Benefit Regulations (amended June 19, 2025 / ROC 114, taking effect in stages on September 1, 2025, January 1, 2026, and July 1, 2026) and Ministry of Health and Welfare (衛生福利部) materials. Registered medium-low income households (Category 1) pay a 0% co-payment, distinct from Category 2 households that pay 5%. Actual care levels, subsidy amounts, and out-of-pocket shares are determined by care management centers and contracted providers.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Under Article 2 of the Regulations, individuals experiencing physical or mental disability who meet one of the following qualifications may apply to their local Long-Term Care Management Center or municipal government:
| Eligibility Criteria | Explanation |
|---|
| Aged 65 or older | Aged 55 or older for indigenous persons |
| Holding a Disability Certificate | Physical or mental disability of any age |
| Dementia diagnosis | No age restriction starting January 1, 2026 / ROC 115 (previously restricted to aged 50+) |
| Post-Acute Care (PAC) integration program patients | Enrolled in PAC programs announced by NHI Administration during assessment period (from Jan 1, 2026) |
- Care and professional services: Home care, day care, family caregiving, along with professional services from physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and nutritionists.
- Transportation subsidies (monthly, identical for levels 2–8): Categorized by residence area: Taipei City belongs to Area 1 (NT,680); New Taipei City belongs to Area 2 (NT,840), with Wulai, Shiding, Pinglin, Pingxi, Shuangxi, and Gongliao districts in New Taipei City belonging to Area 4 (NT,400). Restricted to medical visits, rehabilitation, or dialysis.
- Assistive devices and barrier-free home modifications (every 3 years): Package 1 provides NT,000, or from July 1, 2026 (115), beneficiaries may opt for Package 2 of NT,000 (choose one). Package 2 is restricted to selected devices like commode chairs, crutches, and walkers, rentals of 5 categories of smart technology assistive devices, and barrier-free home modifications (capped at NT,000 within 3 years); individuals who claimed Package 1 before June 30, 2026 must wait 3 years before applying for Package 2.
- Respite care services: Providing relief to family caregivers via day care centers, neighborhood long-term care stations, residential institutions, or in-home care attendants. Respite care subsidies are not payable when there is no family caregiver or assisting individual.
Assessments classify needs into Levels 1 to 8: Level 1 denotes non-disabled status and is excluded from benefits; Levels 2 to 8 receive subsidies. Persons residing in 24-hour residential institutions or group homes receive separate statutory subsidies under central regulations and do not use these community/home-based benefit quotas, though they may consult the "Subsidy Scheme for Users of Residential Long-Term Care Institutions" for institutional subsidies up to NT$180,000 annually.
Application Procedure: From 1966 to Service Delivery
- 1. Application: Dial the 1966 hotline (mobile or landline; voice menus allow selecting language, region, and county to apply for family members residing elsewhere), contact local care centers, apply via hospital discharge planning teams, or submit online.
- 2. In-home assessment: Care management specialists assess the applicant at home, determine need levels and subsidy amounts, and formulate a care problem roster.
- 3. Formulating care plan: Case managers at Community Integrated Service Centers draft customized care plans based on identified needs, approved by the care management center.
- 4. Service delivery: Contracted long-term care providers deliver services; co-payments are collected directly by providers following service.
Care management centers conduct periodic re-evaluations according to central timelines, re-approving levels and quotas accordingly (Article 6). Editorial guidance: If a family member's condition changes significantly, consult your case manager or care center regarding early reassessment.
Overview of the Four Major Benefit Quotas
| Long-Term Care Need Level | Personal & Professional Care (Monthly) | Respite Care (Annual) |
|---|
| Level 2 | NT$10,020 | NT$32,340 |
| Level 3 | NT$15,460 | NT$32,340 |
| Level 4 | NT$18,580 | NT$32,340 |
| Level 5 | NT$24,100 | NT$32,340 |
| Level 6 | NT$28,070 | NT$32,340 |
| Level 7 | NT$32,090 | NT$48,510 |
| Level 8 | NT$36,180 | NT$48,510 |
The four benefit categories also include transport services (medical care/rehabilitation/dialysis trips only, under Article 8) and assistive devices / home barrier-free environment improvements. Assistive devices Group 1 has a quota of NT$40,000 every 3 years; starting July 1, 2026, Group 2 adds NT$60,000 every 3 years for designated smart technology assistive rental equipment, with home barrier-free renovations capped at NT$20,000. Families employing live-in migrant domestic caregivers can utilize 30% of personal/professional care quotas (excluding home care services), transport, assistive devices, and respite care during caregiver leaves under Article 10.
Co-payment Ratios: How Much Do Low-Income, Medium-Low, and General Households Pay?
| Household Category | Personal Care & Respite | Assistive Devices & Barrier-Free | Transport Subsidies (Zone 1 / 2 / 3 / 4) |
|---|
| Category 1: Low-income, medium-low income households, or Article 5 living allowance recipients | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Category 2: Medium-low income senior living allowance item 2 or disability living allowance | 5% | 10% | 10% / 9% / 8% / 7% |
| Category 3: Ordinary households | 16% | 30% | 30% / 27% / 25% / 21% |
For example, for a Level 4 ordinary household with a monthly personal care quota of NT$18,580, using the entire quota results in an out-of-pocket payment of approx NT$2,972 (NT$18,580 × 16%, rounding down decimal amounts). Amounts exceeding quotas or prices above ceilings are paid fully out-of-pocket. Care management and policy-incentive services are free from co-payments and do not deduct quotas (Articles 14 and 15). Unused personal care and transport quotas may be preserved for up to 6 months within the approval cycle under Article 12, after which unused balances lapse; quotas cannot be transferred between categories (Article 7).
Finding Service Windows in Taipei and New Taipei
| Item | Taipei City | New Taipei City |
|---|
| Application hotline | 1966 | 1966 (select New Taipei on voice menu) |
| Care management center | Taipei Long-Term Care Management Center: No. 233, Jinzhou St., Zhongshan Dist., Fax: 02-2537-6533 | New Taipei Long-Term Care Management Center (address subject to 1966 transfer or city announcements) |
| Transport zoning | Entire city is Zone 1 (NT$1,680 monthly) | Most districts Zone 2 (NT$1,840); Wulai, Shiding, Pinglin, Pingxi, Shuangxi, Gongliao are Zone 4 remote (NT$2,400) |
For independent living renovations, see senior-friendly home renovation subsidies in Taipei; for municipal transit discounts, see Senior Card points and transit discounts in Taipei and New Taipei; for preventive checkups, check adult preventive health checkups and frequencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dialing 1966 cost money?
When launching the 1966 hotline in November 2017 (ROC year 106), the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that the first 5 minutes of each call are toll-free; current charges are subject to official and telecom notices. Service hours are Monday to Friday 8:30–12:00 and 13:30–17:30.
How much do medium-low income households pay for long-term care?
Registered low-income and medium-low income households belong to Category 1, paying 0% co-payment. Category 2 (qualifying for senior living allowances item 2 or disability living allowance) pays 5% for personal/professional care; ordinary households pay 16%.
Can families employing migrant domestic caregivers apply for long-term care?
Yes. They can use 30% of the personal and professional care quotas (excluding home care services), transport, assistive devices, and home barrier-free improvements, as well as respite care during caregiver leave periods.
Can unused long-term care quotas accumulate over time?
Remaining monthly quotas for personal care and transport may be retained for up to 6 months within the approval cycle, after which unused balances expire; quotas cannot be transferred across different categories.
Are application procedures the same between Long-Term Care 2.0 and 3.0?
Yes, applications remain centered on dialing 1966 or contacting care centers. Long-Term Care 3.0 adds dementia coverage of all ages and PAC recipients in 2026, and adds Group 2 smart assistive device rentals in July 2026.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information for general reference only; for specific care plans, contact the Long-Term Care Hotline at 1966, Taipei Long-Term Care Management Center, or New Taipei Long-Term Care Management Center.
Sources
- National laws and regulations database: Long-Term Care Service Application and Benefit Regulations (amended June 19, 2025 / ROC 114, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Article 2 eligibility, Article 6 reassessment, Article 13 quota retention upon reassessment, Article 7 need levels, Article 8 transport restrictions, Article 10 migrant caregiver limits and Group 2 rules, Article 11 respite restrictions, Article 12 six-month quota rollover, Article 14 three household categories, Article 15 co-payments, Article 22 implementation dates.
- National laws and regulations database: Schedule 2 Need levels and benefit quotas (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Levels 2–8 quotas, 4 transport zones, assistive devices Group 1 NT$40,000 and Group 2 NT$60,000, barrier-free improvements NT$20,000 cap, respite NT$32,340/48,510.
- National laws and regulations database: Schedule 3 Transport service zoning table (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Taipei City Zone 1, New Taipei City Zone 2, New Taipei remote districts (Wulai etc.) Zone 4.
- National laws and regulations database: Schedule 5 Co-payment ratios (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Category 1 0%, Category 2 5%/10%/9%/8%/7%, Category 3 16%/30%/27%/25%/21%, rounding down.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Long-Term Care Portal (1966): Applying for long-term care services (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): application channels, 4-step workflow, eligible recipients including 2026 additions, quota schedules, migrant caregiver rules, service hours.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Long-Term Care Portal (1966): Assistive devices and home barrier-free environment improvements (updated July 22, 2026 / ROC 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): direct reimbursement, July 1, 2026 smart assistive technology rental rollout.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Long-Term Care Portal (1966): Long-Term Care 10-Year Plan 3.0 (created December 31, 2025 / ROC 114, updated March 9, 2026 / ROC 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Executive Yuan approval on December 31, 2025, implementation from 2026, eight major pillars.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: 1966 Long-Term Care Service Hotline launched (November 24, 2017 / ROC 106, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): first 5 minutes toll-free, voice menu county selection for out-of-town family members.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: Long-Term Care 3.0 moderate-to-severe care support upgraded: residential institution subsidies up to NT$180,000 annually (September 10, 2026 / ROC 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): residential facility user subsidies applied separately.
- Department of Health, Taipei City Government: Taipei Long-Term Care Management Center (updated September 30, 2026 / ROC 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): address No. 233, Jinzhou St., Zhongshan Dist., phone 1966, fax 02-2537-6533.
Related reading: Apply for an Assistive Device Subsidy in Taiwan: Two Routes
