Registration for free health care for under sixes has opened. Now you can sign up for free GP visits for your children aged under six and the process involved is quite simple.

Not all GPs have signed up but you can view the register as to who's on board with the scheme here. You can register for your free GP card here.

There is a full FAQ section on the HSE website but we've dissected the most important bits about the plan and what you need to register with it.

PPS Numbers

You'll need both your own and your child's PPS number to sign up. The parent or guardian's PPS number is required in order to link the child with other family members who are in receipt of of health services.

Participating GPs

Not all GPs have signed up to the scheme. In fact, only around 50 percent had signed up early last week. If your regular GP hasn't signed up it doesn't mean it isn't available to your child. Instead you can register with a different GP.

What you get

After registering you application is sent to the GP involved so that he or she may add your child to their patient panel. After this you will receive a visit card with an expiration date on it.

Eligibility

All children who have not reached their 6th birthday and who live in Ireland or who intend to live in Ireland for a year, are eligible for service under the GP Visit Card for children under 6 Scheme.

If your child's 6th birthday occurs in July 2015, you should register your child and he/she will be eligible for GP Visit Card for children under 6 until the end of July 2015.

What services are provided under the scheme

With the GP Visit Card your child will get free GP visits, assessments at age 2 and 5 and care for children with asthma. The two assessments are preventive checks focused on health and wellbeing and prevention of disease.

These assessments will involve the recording of age, gender, weight and height, and plotting on a centile chart and taking appropriate follow-up action, including where appropriate, provision of health promotion advice, brief intervention and support, or referral to specialist services. 

Tackling asthma

A written plan, tailored to your child, will be given to you to help you manage your child's asthma. Asthma checks have been shown to improve control of asthma in children.

The card does not cover the cost of medication

If your child has eligibility under the Long Term Illness Scheme, they will receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their long term illness, free of charge.

However, if you don't have access to the scheme the HSE are encouraging people to apply for a Drugs Payment Scheme Card which puts a cap of €144 a month on their approved medication.

Home visits and out of hours visits will be covered

Home visits are covered. It will be a matter for the GP to exercise his/her judgement in each individual case in determining whether a home visit is warranted.