The hidden cost of looking better: What health insurance covers, and what it leaves you to pay

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.