SEMI Sapporo

21/07/2025

No More Application Needed for the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit if You Use a Myna Health Insurance Card!

For those with National Health Insurance;
At medical institutions and pharmacies that accept the Myna Health Insurance Card, you can present either your Myna Health Insurance Card or your Certificate of Eligibility to limit your out-of-pocket expenses (excluding non-insured medical expenses and meal fees) to the designated maximum co-payment amount, without needing to apply in advance. If you present a Certificate of Eligibility instead of the Myna Health Insurance Card, your consent will be required.

For those with other health insurance;
If you have Myna Health Insurance Card, you may also be able to use this benefit without prior application. However, if you only have a traditional health insurance card or a Certificate of Eligibility, you may still need to apply for the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit in advance. Please check with your health insurance provider to confirm the necessary procedures.

21/07/2025

New Certificates of Eligibility (Health Insurance) have been sent by the City of Sapporo!!

The National Health Insurance Card (or the Certificate of Eligibility (資格確認書, Shikaku-kakunin-sho) or the Notice of Registered Information (資格情報のお知らせ, Shikaku-joho-no-oshirase)) you currently hold will expire at the end of July and will no longer be valid as of August 1. If you have already registered for the Myna Health Insurance Card, a new Notice of Registered Information has been sent to you. If you have not yet registered, a new Certificate of Eligibility has been issued instead.

Please be sure to bring your new health insurance card (or the Certificate of Eligibility) when visiting hospitals starting August 1.

If you have a different health insurance card, please take this opportunity to check its expiration date. Please note that health insurance cards are no longer renewed after they expire. You must switch to the Myna Health Insurance Card or obtain a valid Certificate of Eligibility to receive medical care.
For more information, please check our website.
https://semi-sapporo.com/sickness/myna-health-insurance-card/

10/07/2025

We now accept donations through credit card payments!

We sincerely appreciate all the clients who have supported us with donations to help keep our group running.
Your kind contributions are used to subsidize interpreters' travel expenses and to fund regular study sessions that help us improve our skills as medical interpreters.

We now accept donations via credit card.
Check our website⇓
https://semi-sapporo.com/supportus/

Or go to this page to donate!!
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML6AFGCGXHHR6/checkout/DYWSNYKI4ZRFRLL7ZKT3WYQT?src=webqr

16/01/2025

The January edition of "Koho Sapporo” has been issued.

There are some articles on medical issues as below;
1. Please use the children's clubs and child development associations （p16）
2. National Health Insurance, Nursing Care Insurance, and Medical Care System for the Elderly (p17)
3. Don't forget to apply for high-cost medical care benefits (p17)

So check them out in English through the Catalog Pocket Website
https://www.catapoke.com/viewer/?open=6fa56&lang=en

See also the SEMI website for information on High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit
https://semi-sapporo.com/sickness/high-medical-expense/

10 Mar High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit (Eligibility Certificate for Ceiling-Amount Application) Posted at 20:21h in by semi “Kogaku-ryoyo-hi Gendogaku-tekiyo Nintei-sho” for those under 70 years of age 【高額療養費限度額適用認定証70歳未満】 If you/your dependents apply for th...

12/01/2025

The Second round application deadline is January 31, 2025 for enrolling your child in daycare facilities (hoikuen) starting April 2025.
https://semi-sapporo.com/daycare/the-second-round-application-deadline/

The first round of applications is over and the results will be announced on January 22 and mailed out.
(Information on daycare applications: https://semi-sapporo.com/daycare/applications-for-enrolling-in-daycare/)

However, those who apply by January 31 may still be admitted by April 1, if there is space available for your child in a daycare center. Application forms must arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. on January 31 if sent by surface mail. The results will be announced and mailed out in early March.

11 Jan The Second round application deadline is January 31, 2025 for enrolling your child in daycare facilities (hoikuen) starting April 2025. Posted at 12:00h in by semi The second-round application deadline is January 31, 2025. If you wish to enroll your child in daycare facilities (hoikuen) start...

31/12/2024

Eligibility for Child Medical Assistance Program 【子ども医療費助成制度 Kodomo-iryouhi-josei-seido】 will expand from up to 15 years old to up to 18 years old (age cut-off is the end of the academic year (March 31)) from April, 2025.

If your child is in the first or second grade of high school (children born on or between April 2, 2007 and April 1, 2009), you need to apply to enroll in the program.
An application form will be sent to each household with school age children in early December for those who need to newly apply.
The application deadline is January 10, 2025.

If your application is approved, you will receive the Child Medical Expense Subsidy Card called a “pink card”. If not approved, an application rejection notice will be sent by the end of March 2025.

●More information on the procedure(in Japanese):
https://www.city.sapporo.jp/hoken-iryo/iryojosei/kakudai.html
●If you need help with the application, contact SAPPORO HELP DESK
for Foreign Residents：
https://www.sapporolife.info/en/
●More information on the program:
https://semi-sapporo.com/afterbirth/medical-subsidies/

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09/08/2024

A notice regarding the Child Allowance System has been sent.

A postcard informing those who are already receiving the Sapporo City Child Allowance or Special Benefit was sent on July 31, 2024.

　The postcard will include the names of children who are registered for the Sapporo City Child Allowance. Please confirm the names of the children on the postcard, as you will be required to take further steps if any of your eligible children are not listed on the postcard. However, no further steps are required if all eligible children are listed on the postcard.

Changes to the Child Allowance System will take effect in October 2024.
　In accordance with the "Act for Partial Revision of the Child Care and Child Rearing Support Act, Etc." enacted on June 5, 2024, the Child Allowance System will change as follows, effective as of the October 2024 child allowance payment.

(1) Children will be eligible for the allowance until March 31 following their 18th birthday. The previous eligibility age was until March 31 following a child's 15th birthday.
(2) Income limits and maximum income limits will be lifted.
(3) The allowance for the third and subsequent children will be 30,000 yen per month, an increase from 15,000 yen.
(4) Children must be included in the total number of children until after the March 31 following their 22nd birthday. The previous requirement was to include children in the total number of children until after the March 31 following their 18th birthday.
(5) The number of payments will increase from 3 times to 6 times a year.

Those who need application procedures.
The following people need to apply to receive the benefit:
・Those who are receiving the Sapporo City Child Allowance or the Special Benefit, but the name of eligible children were not listed on the July 31, 2024 notification postcard.
・Those who are providing care equivalent to custody and living expenses to children born between April 2, 2002, and April 1, 2006, and whose total number of children eligible for the allowance is three or more.
・Those who were not eligible for the benefit due to exceeding the previous maximum income limit, but who are now eligible.

How to apply
　Applications will be accepted at the Administrative Center for Child Allowance System Revision (児童手当制度改正事務センター, Jidou-teate-seido-kaisei-jimu-center) by mail or electronically from August 1, 2024.
Please note that, in principle, applications cannot be accepted at ward offices, except under special circumstances.

For further details, please contact
SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents
TEL：011-211-3678

28/07/2024

You need Myna Health Insurance card for your visit to hospitals from December 2, 2024!

For more information, visit our website!
https://semi-sapporo.com/sickness/myna-health-insurance-card/

From December 2, 2024, you will need to show your Myna Health Insurance Card (マイナ保険証Myna-hoken-sho), which is your My Number Card (Or Individual Number Card) registered to be used as a health insurance card, when you visit hospitals or pharmacies. Current insurance cards will be unable to be renewed from December 2, so have your My Number Card registered now.

Current insurance cards issued by December 2, 2024, can be used until the expiration date indicated on the card. However, if you lose or damage your insurance card, it cannot be reissued after December 2. Therefore, remember to complete the transition from your current insurance card to the Myna Health Insurance Card.

The Benefits of Myna Health Insurance Card
1) Enables long time use
2) No prior procedures are needed to receive the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit
3) Easier application for medical expense deductions on your tax return!
4) You may be able to receive better medical care!

Those who have not registered for the Myna Health Insurance Card after December 2, 2024, will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (資格確認書Shikaku-kakunin-sho) around July every year. By presenting the Certificate of Eligibility at medical institutions, you will be able to receive insured medical treatment as before, but without the benefits of the Myna Health Insurance Card.

01/07/2024

Starting April 1, 2024, the cost of postpartum checkups will be partially subsidized.
https://semi-sapporo.com/afterbirth/postpartum-checkups/

Postpartum Health Checkups
In the immediate postpartum period, your mind and body balance can be easily disturbed by rapid hormonal changes and the unfamiliar tasks of parenting.

So please check your mental and physical condition at a checkup and consult a doctor or midwife if you have any concerns.

Eligibility
Postpartum women who are registered residents of Sapporo from the day of their checkup.

＊Postpartum checkups received in the event of stillbirth or miscarriage are also covered.

Health Checkup Contents
Medical interview, consultation, blood pressure measurement, weight measurement, urine analysis, mental health checkup, etc.

*Examinations other than those listed above, treatments, and medications, as well as medical checkups for babies, are not covered by public funds.

30 Jun Starting April 1, 2024, the cost of postpartum checkups will be partially subsidized. Posted at 21:41h in by semi Postpartum Health Checkups In the immediate postpartum period, your mind and body balance can be easily disturbed by rapid hormonal changes and the unfamiliar tasks of parenting.....

21/05/2024

How to have your prescription filled
After seeing a doctor, you will receive your prescription, if needed. Take the prescription to a pharmacy and get it filled.
In Japan, the prescription you receive from your doctor is valid for only 4 days, so please go to any prescription pharmacy outside of the hospital and have it filled within 4 days.
https://semi-sapporo.com/sickness/prescription/
Read the Explanation of the Handling of Prescriptions Outside of the Hospital.
http://semi-sapporo.com/download/Prescriptions-Outside-of-the-hospital.pdf
In order to get the medicine at a pharmacy, you will be asked to show your health insurance card, medication record (Okusuri Techo おくすり手帳), and Medical Expense Subsidy Certificates, if you have any.
You will receive your medicine, your Okusuri Techo with a sticker showing the current prescription, a medicine information sheet, and a receipt and details about the prescription. Please keep the receipts for your records. In some cases, the cost of the medication can be claimed as a tax deduction for medical expenses.

Medication Record (Okusuri Techo)
A medication record is a small record book or an app which records your prescription history. The pharmacist can get information about your past and current medications.
Medication record apps are convenient because there are several types of smartphone apps available, and you don't have to worry about forgetting to take a record of your medication like you do with a paper record book! Even if the app is not affiliated with the pharmacy you go to regularly, you can always see the list of the medications you are currently taking on your smartphone.
If you want to use an Okusuri Techo record book:
When you have your prescription filled, you'll have a small sticker listing basic information about your medicine affixed to your Okusuri Techo record book.
Each time before filling your prescription, the pharmacist will check this record book to see what kind of medicine you've taken previously and are currently taking.

They may also ask you if you would like to take a generic drug.

Read more about a generic drug and Open pharmacies on holidays and Sundays.
https://semi-sapporo.com/sickness/prescription/

28/04/2024

DPT-IPV-Hib and PCV15 are now routine vaccination.
https://semi-sapporo.com/afterbirth/dpt-ipv-hib-pcv15/
(1) DPT-IPV-Hib (the 5 in 1) vaccination
As of April 1, 2024, a combination of Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, and Hib containing vaccine (DPT-IPV-Hib, 5 in 1) has become a routine vaccination for babies at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12–15 months.

The DPT-IPV (the 4-in-1) vaccine was previously used but is now replaced by the 5-in-1 vaccine for all babies born on or after February 1, 2024. Both vaccines give protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and polio. The 5-in-1 vaccine also gives protection against Hib disease (Haemophilus influenzae type b).

From April 2024, vaccination with the 5 in 1 vaccine will be the standard. However, if your child has already received vaccinations with the 4 in 1 vaccine and the Hib vaccine, he/she should in principle, complete vaccination with the same vaccine.

・The eligible children, number of doses, and inoculation intervals are the same as those for the DPT-IPV vaccine.
・In addition to subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection will now be an option for vaccination.

(2) PCV15 vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13, and PCV15) can prevent pneumococcal disease for infants and young children.

As of April1, 2024, PCV15 vaccine (Vaxneuvance)" has become a routine vaccination.

As for children who have completed their first, second, or third dose of vaccination using PCV13 (Prevenar) by March 2024, the remaining doses will be administered using PCV15 (Vaxneuvance).

・The eligible children, number of doses, dosage, and inoculation intervals are the same as those for the PCV13 vaccine.

・In addition to subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection will now be an option for vaccination.

23/01/2024

The second-round application deadline is February 2. If you would like to enroll your child in daycare facilities (hoikuen) starting April 2024, please apply for this.
https://semi-sapporo.com/daycare/the-second-round-application-deadline/

The first round of April 1, 2024 applications for daycare center or nursery is over. The results will be announced on January 24 and mailed out.

However those who apply by Feb 2 will be able to be admitted by April 1, if there is space available for your child in a daycare center. Application forms must arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. on February 2 if sent by surface mail. 　The results will be announced and mailed out in early March.

Refer to:

Applications for enrolling in childcare facilities
What to do, if you would like to enroll your child in daycare facilities (hoikuen) starting April 2024. (in Japanese)


based on information of Sapporo City

22 Jan The Second round application deadline is Friday, February 2, if you would like to enroll your child in daycare facilities (hoikuen) starting April 2024. Posted at 12:29h in by semi The second-round application deadline is February 2. If you would like to enroll your child in daycare facilitie...