A candidate for Nantou county chief in Taiwan is pitching a bigger, easier-to-use dental subsidy for older residents — good news for seniors who currently qualify for help on paper but not in practice.

• Wen Shih-cheng, a dentist running for Nantou county chief, wants to raise the senior denture subsidy to NT$80,000 per person over five years.
• The current county subsidy caps out at NT$40,000 and only pays for a full set of dentures.
• Most seniors need just one or two replacement teeth, so the existing money is out of reach for them.
• Under the new plan, a single tooth or later repairs would qualify, drawing down the NT$80,000 until it runs out.
• President Lai Ching-te promoted the proposal at a campaign rally in Nantou last week.

Outlook: The subsidy is now a central campaign promise, so it will only take effect if Wen wins the county race.