A Nantou County magistrate candidate is pitching a much bigger dental subsidy for seniors, good news for older residents who currently can't qualify for help.

• Wen Shih-cheng, a dentist running for Nantou magistrate, wants to raise the senior denture subsidy to NT$80,000 per person over five years.
• The key change: seniors could claim it for a single replacement tooth, not just a full set of dentures.
• Nantou's current NT$40,000 subsidy only pays for full dentures, so most seniors can see the money but never qualify.
• President Lai Ching-te backed the proposal at a campaign rally, calling it a clear upgrade on what's offered now.
• Repairs and additional single teeth would also be covered until the NT$80,000 is used up, encouraging seniors to fix teeth early instead of waiting for more to fail.

Outlook: The plan becomes a central campaign promise heading into the Nantou magistrate race, with delivery hinging on whether Wen wins.