PREGNANCY CHECK UP COUPONS & HOMEVISITS

Anna san gave me very useful and important information that she contributed to ALIEN TIMES April 2009　issue. It is good news for expectant mothers and the ladies planning to have a baby.
The text is bellow.↓　Thank you, Anna san!


NEW SYSTEM WILL START APRIL 1st “2009
REGARDING PREGNANCY CHECK UP COUPONS & HOMEVISITS

From April 1st, 2009 to March 31st, 2011 the government will start a “Temporary financial aid to pregnant women” which will include an increase in both “pregnancy subsidized check up coupons” and the “assistance for childbirth expenses”.

Pregnancy subsidized check-up coupons will increase from 5 to 14.
Using the coupon a portion of your cost will be subsidized and it will make your check up less expensive but not necessarily completely free.

The 14 coupons come in 5 different colors.
Pink, salmon pink, ivory, orange and green.

Pink (9) = will cover the regular pregnancy check up which usually includes
checking the blood pressure, weight, urine (for protein & glucose),size of uterus, swelling of ankles (for toxemia).

Salmon pink (1) = the one you usually use at the beginning of your pregnancy when the hospital does many tests + regular pregnancy check but it is also sometimes used later in the pregnancy, Please confirm with the hospital when is the appropriate time for you.

Ivory (2) = include an ultrasound check to determine if the fetus has any medical problems/ defects etc. + regular pregnancy check.

Orange (1) = Ultrasound + blood tests + regular pregnancy check.

Green (1) = Group B streptococcal infection test + regular pregnancy check.


The 9 pink regular pregnancy check up coupons does NOT cover the ultra sound check that doctors often do each time. Some hospitals will include this as well as a “service” free of charge but some may charge extra for it so if you are concerned, please ask.

Please have a look at the chart below to see when and for what each coupon can be used.
Also, you can not use both the “old” and the “new” coupons for a total of more than 14 subsidized check ups.

If you have the “ninpu marufuku” (special insurance for pregnant women) your cost for medical treatment may be covered but this can not be used for many tests that are for preventive purposes and since each hospital/clinic may have other tests or procedures that they want to do, you should consult with the doctor/staff beforehand if you are concerned about the cost.

You will have to sign each coupon on the back and with doing so you give permission for the hospital to send this coupon with information about the status of your pregnancy to the local health authorities and the prefecture health insurance office
(On each coupon, the hospital can write a comment if they think the women need to be contacted and consulted by the local health authorities)
If you do not want to give out such private information you will unfortunately not be able to use any of the coupons.

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From April 1st 2009, for the purpose of providing care and assistance to children, Tsukuba health center will visit ALL homes that have had a baby within 4 months after the birth.
You will be given a post card to fill out with the suitable time for the visit.
If you do not send in the card, the health center will contact you and even if you decline, they will still come, just to make sure your baby (and you) are all right.

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The “assistance for childbirth expenses" (出産一時金)has been changed from 350,000 yen to
380,000 yen per birth from January 1st this year and will increase to 420,000 from October 1st 2009 until March 31st 2011.

For births outside Japan (if you are abroad on a valid re-entry visa and is continuously enrolled in a Kokumin Kenko Hoken or Shakai Hoken while you are absent, you can claim this money after you have returned to Japan) the amount is a bit less;
350,000 yen until Sept. 30th.2009 and 380,000 yen from Oct 1st, 2009 until March 31st 2011.

Basic checkup : To be done at every check up
● blood pressure
● urine test (for protein & glucose)
● weight
● measure uterus

coupon/ When/ ●Other tests
1st/Decided by hosp. /● blood test : general blood test (bloodgroup, Rh-factor),Hb antigen, HCV antigen, syphilis, anemia, glucose, rubella antibodies, HIV ● ultrasound ● cervical cancer test Salmon pink coupon 15,500 yen
2nd /10〜11 weeks /Pink coupon 5,000 yen
3rd/ 12〜15 weeks /Pink coupon 5,000 yen
4th /16〜19 weeks /● ultrasound Ivory coupon 8.500 yen
5th /20〜23 weeks/ Pink coupon 5,000 yen
6th /24〜27 weeks /Pink coupon 5,000 yen
7th/ 28〜29 weeks /Pink coupon 5,000 yen
8th/ 30〜31 weeks /● blood test (anemia, glucose) ● ultrasound Orange coupon 9,000 yen
9th /32〜33 weeks/ Pink coupon 5,000 yen
10th/ 34〜35 weeks /● group B streptococcal infection test 8,000 yen
11th/ 36〜37 weeks /Pink coupon 5,000 yen
12th /37〜38 weeks/ ● ultrasound Ivory coupon 8,500 yen
13th/ 38〜39 weeks /Pink coupon 5,000 yen
14th /39〜40 weeks/ Pink coupon 5,000 yen