New National Health Insurance Cards

Sendai City will send out new National Health Insurance cards from beginning of September until the end of September by registered mail. Due to the fact that the “Law to amend part of the National Health Insurance Act to build a sustainable medical insurance system” was enacted on May 27, 2015, prefectures started to jointly manage the insurance system with the municipalities from FY 2018. Prefectures take in charge of financial management. With this change, you will receive the new card named, “Miyagi Prefecture National Health Insurance Card.”

If your card is delivered to you when you are not home, the post office will hold your mail. If you cannot collect it from the post office by the set date, please contact the following offices.

Inquiries: National Health Insurance and Pension Section, Ward Offices

National Health Insurance and Pension Section, Miyagi General Branch Office

Public Health and Welfare Section, Akiu General Branch Office

Payment system for school lunch fees will be changed – request to complete account transfer procedure

At present, each municipal school collects school lunch fees. However, starting from April 2019, the City of Sendai will directly collect school lunch fees. Due to this, we will ask parents and guardians to pay the fees directly to the City of Sendai by account transfer. In order for the City of Sendai to collect the fee from all municipal schools incorporated into the city’s budget, and handle all the management and accounting works, we aim to have stable management of school lunches.

We ask that all parents and guardians complete the account transfer procedures as follows. We ask that parents and guardians of students who are enrolled in schools which have already introduced account transfer for school lunch fees’ payment, also complete the procedures for account transfer even if you wish to use the same account for payments.

• Deadline: September 10^th(Mon.)
• Targeted Schools:Akiu Kindergarten, all municipal elementary and junior high schools, Sendai Seiryo Secondary School (First semester course), Tsurugaya Special Assistance School, Sendai Technical High School (night school), Sendai Taishi High School (Part II)
• How to Complete the Account Transfer Procedure: please fill out the “Account Transfer Request Form” and “Consent for Handling Personal Information” which will be distributed from the schools, and submit them back to the school.

Inquiries: Health Education Section Tel: 214-0008

Sendai City Bus Fares will be changed partially

The City of Sendai will review a part of Sendai City Bus Fares from October 1, 2018 aiming at improvement of Sendai City Bus’s business management.

• Gakuto Sendai Free Pass

Gakuto Sendai Free Pass is an unlimited commuter pass for students. Unlimited ride area is depending on what type of pass you purchased. The changes in fares are as followed,

City Bus Free Pass and City Bus & City Subway Pass*

Fares will be increased 800 yen per month (for children, 400 yen)

• Downtown 100 yen bus ride zone

You can ride Sendai City bus and Miyagi Kotsu bus routes that goes within the designated zones around Sendai Station for only 100 yen.

One-way: (current fare) 100 yen ⇒（after revision) 120 yen

One month commuter pass (current price)3,980 yen ⇒ (after revision)4,780 yen

• Base fare for the designated area within downtown Sendai.

Base Fare: (current)170 yen ⇒（after revision)150 yen

※You can purchase a commuter pass at the price before the revision is made until September 30 even if you will start using the pass after October 1 (Commuter pass can be purchased 14 days in advance of first day of use)

Commuter passes for one month, three months and six months are available.

Inquiries: Sendai City Transportation Bureau Information Center Tel: 222-2256

Information from Sendai City Hospital – Co-payment of medical expenses for a patient without a letter of reference will be changed

Excluding emergency visits, Sendai City Hospital asks patients who visit the hospital without letters of reference from other medical institutions, to pay extra fees in addition to regular co-payment. Due to the revision of the related law, changes will be effective as of the beginning of October.

(Until the End of September)

For those who do not have the letter of reference from other medical institutions, visit the hospital for the first time; All Medical Departments and Dentistry: 3,240 yen

(From the Beginning of November)

For those who do not have a letter of reference from other medical institutions, or are visiting the hospital for the first time; All Medical Departments: 5,400 yen, Dentistry:3,240 yen

For patients who completed treatment at Sendai City Hospital and were asked to visit other medical institutions for after care, but wish to visit Sendai City Hospital again without a letter of reference.

All Medical Departments: 2,700yen, Dentistry:1,620 yen

※The fees include tax.

Inquiries: Medical Affairs Section, Sendai City Hospital Tel: 308-7111

The Deadline to Apply for Municipal Housing is September 16th

We use the Priority Point System in this application process. Residents are decided by descending order of priority points which are reflected by the applicant’s need for housing.

• The Application Guide for Sendai City Municipal Housing will be available from September 6^th (Thursday) at the following locations:

Application Section of Sendai City Construction Corporation, Sendai City Hall Kokubuncho Office 2F

Shimin-no-heya, 1st Floor of Sendai City Hall

Information desks of ward offices

General branch offices

Family Registration Section, Aoba Ward Office Sendai Station Service Center, (5th Floor of AER)

Certificate Issuance Center

Chuo Shimin Center of each ward

Lifelong Learning Promotion Center

Miyagi Housing Construction Center

Municipal Housing Management Office

• How to apply: Choose one municipal housing unit, fill out the application form attached to the application packet and send it in the provided envelope by post by September 16^th. In the event that there are more applications than available housing, applications will be chosen by lottery.

• Earliest move-in date: January 22, 2019 (Tuesday)(tentative)
• For further information including number of available units, rent and eligibility, please see the application guide or contact us.

Inquiries: Application Section of Sendai City Construction Corporation Tel. 022-214-3604

BCG Vaccinations

• Eligibility:BCG vaccinations are given to children under the age of one

(The standard age for BCG vaccinations is five to seven months old).

• Things to bring: Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook, BCG vaccination coupon from the MCH Handbook voucher packet (please fill out and detach)
• Please wait at least 28 days after your child receives a live vaccine (such as polio) or seven days after your child receives an inactive vaccine (such as DPT-IPV) for BCG vaccinations.

• BCG vaccinations:

Aoba Ward Office 2F: September 10^th(Mon.), October 1^st (Mon.) 2:00-3:00p.m.

Miyagi Health Center: September 13^th(Thur.) 9:30-10:00p.m.

Health Examination Room, East Building of Izumi Ward Office 2F: September 19^th (Wed.) 2:00-3:00p.m., October 3^rd (Wed.) 2:00-3:00p.m.

Miyagino Ward Office 6F: September 12^th(Wed.) 2:00-3:00p.m.

Wakabayashi Ward Office 3F: September 19^th(Wed.) 9:30-10:30a.m.

Taihaku Ward Office 3F: September 21^st(Fri.) 2:00-3:00p.m.

• Please go directly to the vaccination site. (No appointment is necessary)
• BCG vaccinations may be received outside your ward of residence.

For details, please contact: Home Health Section of ward offices, Public Health and Welfare Section of general branch offices.