Taiwan Emergency Room Guide: 119, Triage, and What You'll Pay

Calling 119: Ambulances

• 119 is Taiwan's emergency number for ambulance and fire. (110 is police.)
• Ambulance transport by the fire department is free — you won't get a bill for the ride itself.
• The crew will take you to the nearest appropriate hospital; you can request a specific hospital, but they may decline if it's too far or your condition needs a closer facility.
• Have your NHI card and ID ready if possible, plus a list of medications you're taking.

Triage: Who Gets Seen First

Taiwan's ERs use a five-level triage system (檢傷分類, based on the Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale):

• Level 1 – Resuscitation: life-threatening, seen immediately (cardiac arrest, severe trauma).
• Level 2 – Emergent: seen within ~10 minutes (chest pain, stroke signs, severe bleeding).
• Level 3 – Urgent: seen within ~30 minutes (fractures, moderate burns, high fever with concerning signs).
• Level 4 – Less urgent: seen within ~60 minutes (sprains, simple lacerations, mild infections).
• Level 5 – Non-urgent: seen within ~120 minutes (cold symptoms, minor rashes, prescription refills).

This is why a mild cold at the ER means a very long wait — and a high bill. If it's not urgent, go to a clinic or urgent-care setting instead.

What the ER Costs

Since July 2023, ER copayments are a flat rate by hospital tier (triage level no longer matters):

On top of the copayment, you'll also pay the hospital's own registration fee (掛號費), which varies by hospital (often NT$300+ for ER at medical centers). Tests, imaging, and medications in the ER bill through NHI normally.

The ER Process

1. 掛號 (register) at the ER counter with your NHI card.
2. 檢傷 (triage): a nurse assesses your vital signs and assigns a triage level.
3. 看診 (see the ER doctor): examination and orders for tests.
4. 檢查/治療 (tests and treatment): blood work, X-ray, CT, IV fluids, stitches, etc.
5. Disposition — one of three outcomes:

- 離院 (discharged home) with prescriptions and follow-up instructions.

- 留觀 (observation): kept in the ER observation area for hours (sometimes overnight) for monitoring or waiting on test results.

- 住院 (admitted): moved to a ward bed if you need inpatient care.

If you're admitted, the ER copayment is typically folded into the hospitalization billing — ask the billing counter (批價櫃檯) if anything is unclear.

After the ER: Follow-up Care

Leaving the ER isn't the end of the story — what happens next matters:

• Read the discharge papers (出院/離院衛教單): they list your diagnosis, prescribed drugs, wound-care instructions, and warning signs that mean "come back immediately" (return precautions). Keep this paper.
• Book the follow-up: ER doctors usually tell you to see a clinic or specialist within a few days. Book it before you forget — the ER visit alone rarely resolves the underlying issue.
• Finish prescribed drugs: especially antibiotics and any tapering medications (like steroids) — stopping early can cause rebound problems.
• Keep receipts: ER bills, test reports, and the discharge summary are useful if you need follow-up care elsewhere or want to claim travel/private insurance.
• If symptoms worsen: don't wait for the follow-up appointment — return to the ER or call 119. The discharge paper's warning signs section tells you exactly what to watch for.

One more tip: if you were told to "return if X happens," take X seriously. ER doctors write those instructions because they've seen what happens when people don't.

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