Miranda Priestly would approve of the makeover. Your health insurer won’t. Weight-loss drugs, skin-lifting procedures, Botox, LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgery, smile makeovers— the quest for a newer, better version of oneself is fuelling a growing category of out-of-pocket spending.The desire to enhance one’s appearance has always been in vogue, but it is no longer the exclusive preserve of the glamour industry. Aspirational Indians sold on the concept of YOLO (you only live once) are not hesitating to make the most of what medical science has to offer—lose weight, sculpt their bodies, shed years from their skin, brighten their teeth, sweeten their smile, and so on. “We are entering an era where obesity medicine, metabolic health and aesthetic medicine are converging into one large wellness economy,” says Mumbaibased diabetologist, Dr Rajiv Kovil.As per an IMARC Group research report, medical aesthetics market size in India was valued at $650.7 million (close to Rs.6,200 crore) in 2025 and is expected to reach $1,334.3 million (nearly Rs.12,700 crore) by 2034. Some medical interventions fall in the grey zone, between clinical necessity and cosmetic enhancement. While wellness procedures may reduce health risks and improve both appearance and quality of life, they are rarely covered by traditional health insurance.ALSO READ | The old health insurance model sees hospitalisation as an inconvenience, says Narayana Health's Viren Prasad Shetty; bets on managed care modelThe costs of such treatments can be substantial and are rarely covered by insurance, even if they are executed in a hospital setting, are invasive, and necessitate the administration of anaesthesia.Take, for instance, the case of Roopal Bajaj, 35, a pre-school owner and parenting coach based in Lakhimpur, Assam. She had to undergo SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), a flapless, minimally invasive laser vision-correction procedure, in 2024, in Delhi. “It was prescribed as an alternative to LASIK. I was told that the procedure was recommended up to the age of 40, not beyond. I went ahead as I wanted to do away with my glasses,” she says.The cost? Rs.1.2 lakh. However, despite having health insurance, she could not use the policy to pay this bill. “My policy documents indicated that it would be treated as an elective, cosmetic procedure,” she says.
The hidden cost of looking better: What health insurance covers, and what it leaves you to pay - The Economic Times
Rising demand for weight-loss drugs, cosmetic procedures and wellness treatments is creating a growing out-of-pocket healthcare expense category in India. Most such interventions—including Botox, anti-obesity drugs, LASIK and thread lifts—are excluded from standard health insurance unless deemed medically necessary. Experts advise understanding policy exclusions and avoiding EMIs for elective treatments.
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