Situation 2:
After obtaining his bachelor's degree in Taiwan, Mick decided to settle down in Hualien and is currently searching for employment opportunities.
Q1: Do I need to change my NHI card if I change my residency status from student to work permit?
A1: No, you don't need to change your NHI card if you change your residency status from student to work permit. The responsibility for handling your registration and fees of the NHI program will simply be transferred from the university to your employer.
Q2: If I am in Taiwan on a job-seeking ARC, can I obtain NHI independently? How can I do that? Where should I go?
A2: Residents of Taiwan who are unemployed or in between jobs and are on a job-seeking ARC need to maintain their insurance coverage without interruption. If you're in this situation and unable to enroll as a legal dependent of a relative (such as parents, spouses, or children), your household's registered local administrative office becomes your insurance registration organization. Please enroll in the National Health Insurance Program through that office.
Address: No. 36, Xuanyuan Road, Hualien City, Hualien County 970009
Phone number: (03)833-2111
Q3: Can I contact emergency services at 112 and get assistance in English?
A3: If you find yourself in need of emergency assistance and/or can't reach a network, you can dial 112, which is the Emergency Rescue telephone number. After calling, you can select English or Chinese as the service language. 112 may then connect you to 119 (Fire and Ambulance) or 110 (Police).
Situation 3:
While on a weekend trip to the mountains with friends, Linda encountered an emergency situation and needed assistance but was unable to reach the 110 or 119 emergency hotlines.
Q1: Can I contact emergency services at 112 and get assistance in English?
A1: If you find yourself in need of emergency assistance and/or can't reach a network, you can dial 112, which is the Emergency Rescue telephone number. After calling, you can select English or Chinese as the service language. 112 may then connect you to 119 (Fire and Ambulance) or 110 (Police).
Q2: How can I communicate my address in English to emergency services, and will the operator understand me?
A2: In general, there's no guarantee you'll find an operator who speaks fluent English or any English at all, which can be frightening in an urgent medical situation. However, here are a few recommendations you can use in this difficult situation.
-
Copy the location from Google Maps in Chinese and send it to a Chinese-speaking friend to call an ambulance for you.
-
Knock loudly on random doors in your residential area. You can ask a neighbor to call an ambulance for you.
-
If you're outside, ask any passersby for help to call an ambulance. Even if they don't speak English, just give them your phone with 119 dialed, and they should understand.
-
If the operator understands simple English, try naming landmarks instead of your address, like a big mall, university, school, train station, bus stop, and so on.
-
You can try calling Emergency Rooms directly. These hospitals, such as Mennonite Christian Hospital at (03) 8241150, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital at (03) 856 1825, and Hualien Hospital at (03) 8358141 ext. 2100, 2101, have Emergency Rooms open 24 hours. These hospitals are very modern.
I hope this information helps you if you ever need it! Don't hesitate to ask more questions! Stay safe!