Undocumented Migrant Worker’s High-Risk Birth Highlights Gaps in Taiwan’s Health System

Taipei: When an undocumented Indonesian caregiver living in Taiwan became pregnant in January 2025, she saw it as a blessing, even though it was unplanned. Eight months later, her pregnancy had turned into a life-threatening nightmare. According to Focus Taiwan, Ellie (a pseudonym) and her baby survived, but her case, and the NT$1.7 million (US$53,886) unpaid bill it left, exposed major flaws in Taiwan's handling of migrant workers and its national health insurance (NHI) system. Ellie arrived in Taiwan in 2019, and the 34-year-old became undocumented in 2020 after leaving her employer. After working in Taiwan without legal status for four years, Ellie learned she was pregnant in January 2025. Because she was undocumented, she was not covered under Taiwan's compulsory NHI system, and Ellie avoided prenatal checkups for fear of being reported and deported. She held out until early September, when she sought help from the NGO Harmony Home Foundation in getting medical attention. The prognosis was not good.