The practical guide: Card payments in occupational therapy and speech therapy practices in Switzerland

In occupational therapy and speech therapy practices, parents often pay instead of the patients themselves – a circumstance that fundamentally influences the payment workflow. The deductible of 10% and the excess are typically collected directly, and private services are fully collected. A terminal, Tap to Pay on Android or a payment link via WhatsApp to the parents are the three practice-oriented solutions for Swiss individual practices.

This guide explains which amounts are collected directly in occupational and speech therapy practices, what the parents-as-payers context means for the payment solution, and which setup makes the most sense for small therapy practices.

1. Who pays what in the occupational and speech therapy practice?

Occupational therapy and speech therapy are subject to KVG-compulsory health insurance if prescribed by a doctor and are billed via the mandatory basic insurance. This means: Health insurance covers most of the cost – but not all. Patients pay the annual excess (at least EUR 300 for adults; the excess for children has been abolished from 2026) and the 10% deductible after the excess has been deducted.

The situation is special for children: since 2006, children under 18 have been exempt from the excess. For children under 18, only the 10% deductible is charged – which, for an occupational therapy session at a cash rate of EUR 80, is around EUR 8 per session. For adults (e.g. in adult occupational therapy after a stroke), the excess applies.

The decisive point for the payment solution: In paediatric practices, parents are almost always the payers. The child is the patient, and the father or mother pays. This means: A terminal in front of the child is impractical; a payment link via WhatsApp to the parents is more elegant and also works when the parents are not even present at the session.

2. The parents-as-payers context: What this means for the payment solution

When parents bring their child to occupational or speech therapy, three scenarios are typical: the parent waits in the waiting room and pays when collecting, the parent brings the child and leaves again (not paying on site), or the child comes alone (older school children) and the parents are not even present in the practice.

In the second and third scenarios, a terminal is useless. A payment link via WhatsApp or email after the session is the only practical solution: the therapist sends a link to the parent after the session, and they pay comfortably from their sofa in the evening. This also works if the amount is only determined after the session – for example, if the session was shorter or additional services were added.

For practices with a reception and parents who wait regularly: terminal or Tap to Pay on Android. For practices without a reception or with a mobile therapist: exclusively a payment link and Tap to Pay Android for home visits.

3. Terminal, Tap to Pay or payment link: What suits the occupational/speech therapy practice?

POS terminal at the reception

Card terminals are useful for practices with a reception area and parents who wait or pick up. The Nexgo N6 or N86 is currently free of charge under the rental model (regularly EUR 25/month, requires Standard or Premium plan). It accepts cards, TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay.

Tap to Pay on Android

Turns an NFC-enabled Android smartphone (Android 8.1+) into a terminal without hardware. Ideal for practices without a reception – the therapist collects payments directly in the treatment room or during a home visit. Available in all plans including Free. iPhone is not supported. Fees: Debit 0.95%+EUR 0.15 / Credit 1.25%+EUR 0.15 / TWINT 1.25%+EUR 0.00 (as of May 2026).

Payment link per WhatsApp to the parents

The Paylink is created in the Payrexx Dashboard and sent to the parent via SMS or WhatsApp after the session. The amount can be individualised after the session. All payment methods available. In all plans including Free. Standard online fees: TWINT 1.25%+EUR 0.18, Visa/MC 1.65%+EUR 0.18 (as of May 2026).

4. Group therapy: Standardised invoicing for several children

Occupational and speech therapy practices often offer group therapy – such as language support groups or sensorimotor groups for 3–5 children at the same time. The billing per child is the same as in individual therapy, but the parents of different children must be notified and billed separately.

Practical solution: Create a Payrexx Page with a fixed group therapy fee per child. All parents receive the same URL in the appointment confirmation or via WhatsApp. Each parent pays individually. In the Dashboard, the therapist can see who has paid and follow up on outstanding amounts. This is more efficient than creating 5 individual payment links.

5. Accounting: Separating KVG billing and direct payments

Health insurance billing (Tarmed) runs via the practice software (e.g. TrustMed, AbbaDent, Clinicall) and is separated from the direct payment. Payrexx only records the parents' direct payments. For accounting purposes, a standard booking text is recommended: e.g. 'Occupational therapy personal contribution [month]' or 'Speech therapy private contribution [abbreviation]'. All transactions can be exported as a CSV file.

Occupational therapy and speech therapy are exempt from VAT if the service is provided therapeutically and on medical prescription (Art. 21 para. 2 no. 3 MWSTG). Private services without KVG coverage may be subject to VAT depending on the situation – clarify this with your accountant.

6. Overview of costs

* Nexgo N6/N86 currently free of charge, regularly EUR 25/month. As of May 2026. For small amounts (EUR 8–15 personal contribution), Tap to Pay via the Free plan makes more sense than a payment link, as the flat fee of EUR 0.18 accounts for a high percentage on small amounts.

7. Checklist: Setting up card payments in occupational and speech therapy practices

•        Clarify which amounts you collect directly: 10% deductible, excess share, private services

•        Decide which scenario is predominant: parents present (terminal/Tap to Pay) or absent (payment link)

•        For home visits and school therapy: install the Payrexx Tap to Pay app on an Android device

•        For absent parents: prepare a payment link template in the Dashboard

•        Activate TWINT – standard in Switzerland, also suitable for small amounts

•        For group therapy: create a Payrexx Page with a fixed group price per child

•        Define booking text convention: personal contribution vs. private service

•        Clarify VAT liability for private services with your accountant

Payrexx offers occupational and speech therapy practices Tap to Pay, payment links and Payrexx Pages from a single account – with TWINT, debit card and credit card. The Free plan without a monthly fee is a complete setup for small practices with mainly Tap to Pay and payment link usage.