What Do I Need to Know to Protect My Children?

Lead exposure occurs when a child swallows or breathes in lead or lead dust. After a child inhales or swallows lead, it quickly enters the blood. There is no safe blood lead level in children. Even low levels of lead in blood can impact a child’s ability to learn, focus, and do well in school. The effects of lead exposure can be permanent. The best way to know if a child has been exposed to lead is to have their blood tested.

Blood Lead Testing is Covered by Medi-Cal

Most children with any lead in their blood have no clear symptoms right away. If your child may have been exposed to lead, talk to your child’s health care provider. Ask about getting a blood lead test.

Who Should Be Screened?

All children who are at risk for lead exposure should be tested for lead poisoning. Some children are more likely to be exposed to lead than others. These include children who:

  • Are age 6 or younger.
  • Live or spend time in a house or building built before 1978.
  • Are from low-income households.
  • Are immigrants, refugees, or recently adopted from lower-income countries.
  • Live or spend time with someone who works with lead.
  • Live or spend time with someone who has hobbies that expose them to lead.

Talk to your child’s health care provider about whether your child needs to be tested for lead. The provider may ask questions to see if your child is at risk for lead poisoning.

Get $50 for Your Child’s First Developmental Screening

If your child is under 36 months (3 years old), you can get a $50 gift card after you bring your child to their first developmental checkup. Blood lead screening is a usual part of a child’s developmental checkup. Children enrolled in Medi-Cal are required to get tested for lead at ages 12 and 24 months. Also, any child between 24 months (2 years old) and 72 months (6 years old) who has not had a blood lead screening test must receive one (catch-up testing).

You will automatically get a $50 gift card in the mail from SFHP after the visit! You do not have to fill out any forms to get the gift card. The gift card will be mailed to you 8 weeks after the visit. If you have yet to get your gift card, please call Customer Service at 1(415) 547-7800, 1(800) 288-5555 (toll-free), or 1(415) 547-7830 (TTY). Customer Service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Learn more at SFHP Health Rewards.

Дополнительная помощь от SFHP

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