The practical guide: Card payment in occupational 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 10% deductible and the franchise are typically collected directly, private services in full. Terminal, Tap to Pay on Android, or Payment Link via WhatsApp to the parents are the three practical solutions for Swiss individual practices.

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

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

Occupational therapy and speech therapy are subject to KVG under medical prescription and are billed via the mandatory basic insurance. This means: the health insurance covers the main part of the costs – but not everything. Patients bear the annual franchise (at least EUR 300 for adults, while the franchise for children has been abolished starting from 2026) and the 10% deductible after the franchise has been deducted.

For children, the situation is special: since 2006, children up to 18 years are exempt from the franchise. Thus, for children under 18 years, only the 10% deductible applies – which results in around EUR 8 per session for an occupational therapy session with a tariff rate of EUR 80. For adults (e.g., in adult occupational therapy after a stroke), the franchise applies.

The crucial point for the payment solution: in pediatric practices, the 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 parent-as-payer context: What this means for the payment solution

When parents bring the child to occupational therapy or speech therapy, three scenarios are typical: the parent waits in the waiting room and pays when picking up, the parent brings the child and leaves, meaning they do not pay on site, or the child comes alone (older school children) and the parents are not in the practice at all.

In the second and third scenarios, a terminal is useless. The 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, who then pays comfortably from the 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 regularly wait: Terminal or Tap to Pay on Android. For practices without a reception or with a mobile therapist: exclusively Payment Link and Tap to Pay Android for home visits.

3. Terminal, Tap to Pay, or Payment Link: What fits 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 in the rental model (regularly EUR 25/month, requires Standard or Premium plan). 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 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 via WhatsApp to the parents

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

4. Group therapy: Standardized billing for multiple children

Occupational therapy and speech therapy practices frequently offer group therapies – such as language development groups or sensorimotor groups for 3–5 children simultaneously. Billing per child is the same as in individual therapy, but the parents of different children must be contacted and billed separately.

Practical solution: Create a Payrexx Page with the 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 can follow up on outstanding amounts. This is more efficient than creating 5 individual Payment Links.

5. Accounting: Separate KVG billing and direct payments

Insurance billing (Tarmed) runs via the practice software (e.g., TrustMed, AbbaDent, Clinicall) and is separated from the direct payment. Payrexx only records the direct payments made by the parents. For accounting, a standard entry text is recommended: e.g., 'Occupational therapy deductible [Month]' or 'Speech therapy private share [Initials]'. All transactions can be exported as CSV.

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

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 deductible), Tap to Pay via Free plan makes more sense than Payment Link, as the fixed fee of EUR 0.18 has a strong percentage-wise impact on small amounts.

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

•        Clarify which amounts you collect directly: deductible 10%, franchise 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

•        Set a booking text convention: deductible vs. private service

•        Clarify VAT liability for private services with your trustee

Payrexx offers occupational therapy 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 monthly fee is a complete setup for small practices with mainly Tap to Pay and Payment Link usage.