What to do if you are sold treatments, packages, or excessive tests after a health check-up? A look at consumer rights and complaint channels
If you encounter disputes during a high-level health check-up, follow different channels depending on the nature: For consumer disputes such as fees or refunds for prepaid packages, call the national consumer service hotline 1950 (automatically transferred to the local city/county consumer service center) to file a complaint; for false or exaggerated medical advertisements or sales pitches, report them to the local city/county health bureau; for medical disputes involving medical injury, mediation must first be sought from the local health bureau under the Medical Incident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act. The following organizes consumer rights, complaint procedures, and informed judgment that 'more tests are not necessarily better,' as a neutral consumer reference, not medical or legal individual advice.
After a health check-up, I was sold self-paid treatments or health supplements. Can I refuse?
Yes. Patients have the right to be informed, to choose, and to decide: Under the Medical Care Act Articles 63 and 64, before surgery or invasive examinations/treatments, medical institutions must explain the reasons, risks, and obtain consent; the Patient Right to Autonomy Act also protects patients' autonomy in medical decisions. If you are sold self-paid treatments or health supplements after the health check-up report interpretation, you have the right to fully understand before deciding, and you also have the right to refuse.
- Request written or clear explanation of the necessity, evidence, risks, and alternatives of the treatment; do not be rushed on the spot
- Health supplements and self-paid treatments are personal choices; you may take the report to consult other medical opinions before deciding
- Watch out for exaggerated claims like 'guaranteed cure, no risk' — legitimate medical care does not make such promises.
What if the institution refuses to refund a prepaid health checkup package?
Self-paid health checkups and prepaid packages are consumer behaviors protected by the Consumer Protection Act. Articles 11 to 17 of the Act regulate standardized contracts and prohibit unfair terms. Although there are currently no specific 'mandatory and prohibited terms' for health checkup packages, general standardized contract regulations still apply (e.g., fitness and gift certificates already have performance guarantee provisions for reference). The order for handling refund disputes:
- First file a written complaint with the institution, and retain the contract, receipts, payment and communication records
- If negotiation fails, call the 1950 Consumer Service Hotline (charged according to local/mobile rates, not toll-free), which will be transferred to the local consumer service center
- If still unresolved, apply for consumer dispute mediation with the county/city consumer protection officer
Who to report exaggerated efficacy or false medical advertisements to?
According to the Medical Care Act, only medical institutions may publish medical advertisements (Article 84), and the content is restricted (Article 85); improper promotion is prohibited (Article 86, including exaggerated efficacy and claims of certain cure). Violations may result in fines. The reporting channel is the competent authority:
- Report false or exaggerated medical advertisements to the county/city health bureau where the institution is located
- Retain screenshots of advertisements, promotional materials, and conversation records as evidence
- Exaggerated medical claims on the internet and social media are also regulated and can be reported together
What to do if you suspect medical injury or have a medical dispute from a health checkup?
Medical disputes involving medical injury or quality are governed by the Medical Incident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act (effective January 1, 2024). The Act adopts 'mediation first': before filing a civil lawsuit, you should generally apply for medical dispute mediation with the local competent authority; the same applies to criminal cases. Key points:
- Apply for medical dispute mediation with the county/city health bureau where the institution is located (mandatory before litigation)
- Mediation is conducted by the local health bureau's medical dispute mediation committee, with a processing period of about three months
- Retain medical records, reports, receipts, and records; seek professional legal assistance if necessary
Is more health checkup always better? How to avoid overcheckup?
No. Health checkups should be planned based on age, gender, family history, and risk factors; more items are not necessarily better — excessive unnecessary tests may lead to false positives, additional invasive follow-ups, and anxiety. Principles to follow:
- Government-subsidized five-cancer screenings (cervical cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer LDCT) are evidence-based and designed for high-risk groups; utilize these resources first
- Self-paid advanced tests (e.g., tumor markers, whole-body imaging) have specific indications and limitations; abnormalities often require clinical interpretation and are not diagnostic
- Plan based on individual risk and physician advice; for abnormal results, first consult 'What to do if health checkup results are abnormal' and discuss with a qualified physician; do not blindly add tests
FAQ
After a health check-up, I was sold a bunch of self-paid treatments. Do I have to buy them?
Not necessarily. Patients have the right to be informed and to decide (Medical Care Act Articles 63 and 64, Patient Right to Autonomy Act). You can request a clear explanation of necessity, evidence, and risks before deciding, and you have the right to refuse. It is recommended to consult other medical opinions with the report and not be rushed on the spot; be alert to exaggerated claims such as 'definitely curable' or 'no risk.'
Can I get a refund for a prepaid health check-up/management package? What if the institution refuses?
Self-paid health check-ups are consumer behaviors protected by the Consumer Protection Act; standardized contracts must not contain unfair terms. First, file a written complaint with the institution and keep the contract, receipts, and records. If negotiation fails, call the 1950 consumer service hotline (transferred to the local consumer service center) or apply for mediation with the city/county consumer protection officer. Actual refunds depend on contract terms and usage.
If I see a health check-up advertisement that exaggerates efficacy or claims to definitely catch all cancers, can I report it?
Yes. Under the Medical Care Act, medical advertisements must not use improper methods; exaggerating efficacy or using exaggerated claims to solicit is illegal and subject to fines. Report it to the local city/county health bureau with screenshots or promotional materials as evidence. Exaggerated medical claims on the internet and social media are also regulated.
What is the difference between 1950, the health bureau, and medical dispute mediation?
1950 is the consumer service hotline for consumer disputes such as fees and package refunds; city/county health bureaus handle reports of false medical advertisements and conduct medical dispute mediation; disputes involving medical injury must first apply for mediation with the local health bureau under the Medical Incident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act (effective 2024) before litigation. Choose the appropriate channel based on the nature of the dispute, and use multiple channels if necessary.
Is it better to have more health check-up items?
No. Excessive unnecessary tests may cause false positives, additional invasive follow-ups, and anxiety. It is recommended to first fully utilize government-subsidized, evidence-based five-cancer screenings, then discuss with a doctor based on age, family history, and risk whether to add self-paid items; self-paid high-level items have indications and limitations, and abnormalities often require clinical interpretation rather than diagnosis.
How can I confirm that a health check-up institution is legal?
Health check-ups are medical acts and must be performed by legal medical institutions or medical laboratories. You can check the institution's registration and personnel qualifications on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'Medical Inquiry System.' See the page 'How to Verify if a Health Check-up Center is Legal' on this site for details. Verification in advance is a basic step to reduce dispute risks.
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not Medical advice, and does not constitute any diagnostic commitment.