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Funny meme but genuine question: is it not typical to pay for therapy before the session?
I'm charged as I book the session here in Malaysia, but I'm curious as to peoples' experiences geographically and in the private & public sector.
In Germany it's common consensus that payment is done once the work is finished and billed accordingly. Of course for prolonged projects you agree on several installments.
Just recently I learned that according to law your monthly utility payments (for flats) are still your money until you get a proper bill.
In the US, I think it's more common to charge after. I worked at an agency whose paperwork stated they would charge before the session, but they never actually did.
Personally, I'm not gonna cancel a session just because the card declines anyway- I can be paid another time; so it's much less awkward to just charge after imo
US checking in, of the 5 or 6 therapists I've had and the similar number my ex spouse has had, I think only one charged before a session. There's a couple I'm not sure on because it was covered entirely by insurance and we were never directly billed so can't say the timing
In Denmark you pay after the session - I've been one place where it's monthly invoicing, and another where it was payment after each session (by credit card I think)
I think it's usually invoice in Germany (to patient / insurance). Some psychoanalysts demand to paid in cash which I find hilarious.
We have the same thing in France. They say it's important so that you view the exchange as a transaction and not just you trauma dumping.
I say they are definitely not declaring all that cash to the State.
I don't get it on an even more basic level; patient can't pay and doc suddenly wants additional sessions... why?
My insurance covers therapy so I don't have to pay for that one, but it doesn't cover podiatry and I do pay that beforehand
In Canada, we have a few scenarios available but generally, even if you have to pay after your session, it is reimbursed by our health insurance.
We don't pay up front, though.
In the NL there is only private health insurance, so it's technically private sector. I pay my 120 EUR premium, and this was included so I never needed to pay at the time of care.