Pay as you go
Pay As You Go vs Subscription Weight Loss Programs: A Checklist
How pay-per-consult and subscription programs differ, plus a 14-point checklist before you sign up.
- No membership or lock-in
- Pay only for the consults you book
- Medicines priced separately by the pharmacy
Clinically reviewed by Associate Professor Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN · AHPRA NMW0001453715 · Last reviewed 19 October 2026
Pay-as-you-go means you pay for each consult when you book it, with no membership and no minimum term. A subscription charges a recurring fee, often monthly, that may bundle consults, coaching, an app and sometimes medicines. Neither model is automatically cheaper or better. What matters is the total cost over the first few months, what is actually included, who reviews you, and how easy it is to stop. The checklist below works for any program, including ours.
My Weight Loss Clinic is a telehealth clinic led by doctors and nurse practitioners, and it runs on a pay-as-you-go basis. You pay per consult, the initial consult is bulk billed for eligible patients, and any medicines your doctor or nurse practitioner prescribes are priced separately by the pharmacy.
How pay-as-you-go weight loss care works
With pay-as-you-go, each appointment is a separate service with its own fee. You book a consult when you and your doctor or nurse practitioner agree you need one, and you pay for that consult only.
At My Weight Loss Clinic, the fees are:
| Consult | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consult with a doctor or nurse practitioner | 20 min | $59.99, or bulk billed for eligible patients |
| Review consult | 10 min | $69.99 |
| Extended follow-up consult | 20 min | $85.99 |
| Dietitian follow-up consult | 20 min | $85.99 |
| Dietitian initial consult | 30 min | $100.99 |
| Medicines, if prescribed | Priced separately by the dispensing pharmacy |
The initial consult fee is set lower than our follow-up fees to make it easier to get started. There is no joining fee, membership fee or minimum term. If you decide to stop, you simply don’t book another appointment. If you need to cancel a booked consult, please give at least 1 business day’s notice; late cancellations and missed appointments are charged the fee for the booked time slot. See Fees, Medicare and bulk billing and our terms and conditions.
How subscription weight loss programs usually work
Subscription programs charge a set amount on a schedule, commonly monthly or for a multi-month plan. What the fee covers varies a lot between providers. A subscription may include some or all of:
- consults with a registered doctor or nurse practitioner
- messaging or app-based check-ins
- coaching, meal plans or a community
- medicines and delivery, or medicines charged on top
Some programs have a minimum term or a discount for paying several months upfront. Many renew automatically until you cancel. Some people like the predictability of one regular payment that covers everything. Others prefer to pay only for the appointments they use.
Pay-as-you-go vs subscription at a glance
| Pay-as-you-go | Subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Each consult you book | A recurring fee, whether or not you use every service in that period |
| Upfront commitment | None beyond the consult you book | Varies: some are month to month, others have a minimum term |
| Stopping | Don’t book another consult | Cancel the plan; check notice periods and whether it auto-renews |
| Medicines | Usually priced separately by the pharmacy | May be included, partly included or extra; check |
| Medicare | Eligible consults may be bulk billed or attract a rebate | A membership fee isn’t a Medicare service; ask whether any consults are bulk billed |
| Often suits | People who want flexibility and to pay only for what they use | People who want one predictable bundled payment |
The 14-point checklist before you sign up
Ask these questions of any weight loss program, online or in person. A reputable service should answer them clearly before you pay.
Cost
- What will I pay in total over the first three months? Add consults, medicines, delivery, pathology and any membership fee. Compare totals, not headline prices.
- What do I pay if the doctor or nurse practitioner decides a particular treatment isn’t right for me? A clinical assessment should come before any treatment decision. Find out whether you’re still charged a membership in that case.
- Are medicines included, and what happens to the price if my treatment changes?
- Is any part bulk billed or covered by Medicare? See Medicare and bulk billing for telehealth weight management.
Commitment
- Is there a minimum term or lock-in contract?
- Does the plan renew automatically, and how much notice do I need to give to cancel or pause?
- Are there cancellation or missed-appointment fees?
Clinical care
- Who will I actually see, and are they registered? You can check any doctor or nurse practitioner on the AHPRA public register.
- How often will a doctor or nurse practitioner review me, and is that a real consult or an app message?
- Can I see a dietitian as part of my care?
- What happens if I have side effects or a problem between appointments, and when is support available?
Your rights and records
- Can I use a pharmacy of my choice? An eScript can usually be taken to any pharmacy.
- Will my care be shared with my usual healthcare provider if I want it to be?
- Does the program talk about outcomes realistically? Australian law doesn’t allow regulated health services to use testimonials about clinical outcomes or to create unreasonable expectations of benefit (AHPRA advertising guidelines). No one can guarantee how much weight you will lose.
Which model suits you?
Pay-as-you-go may suit you if you:
- want to pay only for the appointments you use
- prefer no contract and the freedom to stop or change providers
- already have a usual healthcare provider and want focused weight management support alongside them
- want to choose your own pharmacy
A subscription may suit you if you:
- prefer one predictable payment that bundles everything
- want frequent app-based check-ins or coaching included
- have checked the minimum term, renewal and cancellation terms and are comfortable with them
Whichever you choose, the quality of the clinical care matters more than the payment model. Look for registered doctors or nurse practitioners, a proper assessment before any treatment decision, regular review, and clear advice on when you need in-person or specialist care.
How pay-as-you-go works at My Weight Loss Clinic
- Book online and choose a time for your first telehealth consult.
- Your doctor or nurse practitioner assesses you and agrees a plan with you. Prescribing is at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner, based on your individual circumstances.
- You book reviews as needed. Your doctor or nurse practitioner will recommend how often to check in, and you can add dietitian support.
- You pay per consult. No membership, no minimum term.
Is pay-as-you-go cheaper than a subscription for weight loss?
It depends on how many appointments you need and whether medicines are included in the subscription. Work out the total cost over three months for each option, including consults, medicines, delivery and any membership fee, then compare.
Does My Weight Loss Clinic have a membership or lock-in contract?
No. You pay for each consult you book. There is no joining fee, membership fee or minimum term.
Are medicines included in My Weight Loss Clinic's consult fees?
No. If your doctor or nurse practitioner prescribes a medicine, the dispensing pharmacy charges for it separately.
Can I claim a subscription fee on Medicare?
A membership or subscription fee isn’t a Medicare service. Medicare benefits apply only to eligible consults that meet the Medicare Benefits Schedule rules. Ask the provider whether any of its consults are bulk billed or attract a rebate.
What should I check before cancelling a weight loss subscription?
Check the notice period, whether the plan auto-renews, whether any prepaid months are refundable, and how to get a copy of your records and any active prescriptions.
Can I switch from a subscription program to pay-as-you-go care?
Yes. Bring a list of your current medicines and any recent blood tests to your first consult so your new doctor or nurse practitioner has the full picture. They will make their own assessment.
Sources (5)
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Advertising-hub/Advertising-guidelines-and-other-guidance/Advertising-guidelines.aspx
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Testimonial tool. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Advertising-hub/Resources-for-advertisers/Testimonial-tool.aspx
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Registers of practitioners. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx
- Services Australia. Bulk billing. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/bulk-billing
- healthdirect. Bulk billing for medical services. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthcare-and-services/costs-and-financial-support/bulk-billing-for-medical-services