The Real Cost of Ignoring Dental and Skin Care in Corporate Health Plans

Most corporate health plans in India? They are solid. At least on paper. Hospitalization? Check.
Major illnesses? Check. Basically, if something big happens, you are covered. But when dental and derma care comes into the picture, there is more exclusion than coverage. 

And so, what ends up happening? Employees are left footing the bill for everything from routine dental check-ups to that persistent skin rash that just won’t go. Everything becomes Out-of-pocket medical expenses? And guess what? These aren’t one-off expenses. They add up. Quietly. Steadily. Year after year.

Now zoom out with us. Why should any of this matter to HR, Benefits, or People Ops? Because employee wellness isn’t just a feel-good poster in the pantry anymore. It is business-critical. Because here we are  talking about…

1. Attracting top talent who are asking sharper questions about wellness benefits
2. Retention in a market where culture and care are competitive advantages
3. Reducing hidden costs from absenteeism, disengagement, or untreated health issues that spiral
   

So yeah, skipping dental and skin care might look cost-saving in the short term. But for the long term? You are  paying for it just not in the way you think. 

Here is what we are diving into in the blog below…

1. Why ignoring dental and skin coverage in your corporate health plan is a blind spot and how it is costing you more than you think.
2. How these “small” exclusions snowball into real operational and cultural challenges
3. What forward-thinking HR leaders are doing to flip the script from reactive to proactive healthcare

So with that let us  break down the true cost, the blind spots, and why now (not next quarter) is the time to get strategic. Because this isn’t about vanity. It is  about vision.

Grab a coffee, open up your latest employee benefits dashboard, and let us  see where the gaps are.
Spoiler: dental and derma coverage are probably missing. 

 1. What Is Missing In Most Of The Corporate Health Plan?

We all know the sales pitch: “Our corporate health plan is comprehensive.”

But let us  be honest most of these healthcare plans are like those overhyped hotel buffets. Big trays, lots of steam... but when you go looking for the actual good stuff (hello, dental and derma care), it is  either missing, mislabeled (major dental and derma treatments are excluded), or there is a tiny spoonful left (bare minimum dental and derma coverage is done)

So, What is Actually Covered?

Here is the quick reality check…

1. Hospitalization?  Yep, standard.
2. Major surgeries and critical illness?  Included.
3. Routine dental check-ups, fillings, root canals?  MIA (Missing in action)
4. Skin consults, preventive screenings, eczema treatments?  Usually excluded or laughably capped.

Let us call it what it is: a compliance checklist. Not a comprehensive employee wellness program.

 III. The Impact on Employee Wellness and Productivity

Wellness perks look great on paper, but unless they actually work, they are  just window dressing. So with this, where do we go?

Let us  start with preventive healthcare. 

We are not talking about spa vouchers or vague “self-care days.” We mean everyday, real-life stuff  like dental cleanings, derma consults, and the basics that help your people stay healthy before things spiral.

a. What Happens Without Preventive Dental and Derma care?

Here is what  any HR inbox  will tell you…

1. Untreated dental issues? Leads to 3-day absences for emergency root canals.
2. Chronic skin conditions like cystic acne or psoriasis? That is presenteeism showing up but not being 100% present.
3.  Employees caught in the “it is not covered” trap? That is stress, fatigue, and a hit on performance.

Preventive Health = Tangible ROI
When companies actually invest in preventive care like dental and dermatology coverage, they see returns on both human and financial investments.

1. Employees stick around when they feel genuinely cared for. That is the impact of health benefits on retention.
2. Fewer unexpected call-outs = smoother project delivery.
3. Happier and  more present teams = sharper thinking and better collaboration.
   

And yes, all of this feeds directly into your employee wellness ROI.

b. Still Not Sure? Why not take a moment to consider this?

1. What is the cost of untreated dental issues when one key team member misses a sprint review?
2. How many hours get lost in back-and-forth reimbursement claims for non-covered basics?
3. And how much trust erodes when someone’s benefits don’t show up when they need them most?

C. The Fix Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated

What if coverage didn’t mean rewriting your entire policy book?
What if you could give people real support while preserving your wellness  reserves?

That is exactly what IDDA steps into. Plug-and-play. High-impact. Zero asterisks. 

Let us stop losing time, energy, and people over preventable problems. Let us build a wellness plan that actually works  before your team burns out or checks out.

IV. Out of Pocket Expenses are Crushing Trust one Bill At a Time

Let us be real about where the money is  leaking.

When dental and dermatology care are left off your company’s radar, employees don’t just feel “mildly inconvenienced.” They feel blindsided. Financially. Emotionally. And repeatedly.

No one budgets for a surprise ₹9,000 root canal or a last-minute dermatologist visit before a wedding or presentation. Yet here we are asking employees to absorb those costs quietly while talking up “employee wellbeing.”

a. What Are Employees Actually Paying?

Let us  put some numbers to it:

Dental (per person):

1. Routine cleaning: ₹1,000–₹2,000
2. Fillings: ₹1,500–₹3,000
3. Root canal: ₹6,000–₹10,000
4. Braces (for kids): ₹30,000–₹60,000

Skin Care (per person)

1. Basic consultation: ₹800–₹1,500
2. Ongoing treatment (eczema, acne, psoriasis): ₹2,000–₹10,000/year
3. Minor skin procedures: ₹2,500–₹7,000

Now scale that across your workforce. For a mid-sized company of 1,000? You are  looking at ₹60 lakh to ₹1 crore in out-of-pocket medical expenses quietly draining from your employees’ wallets, and completely off your balance sheet.

b. What Is Direct & Indirect Fallout?

Direct:

1. Self-pay costs hit employees immediately every filling, consult, and procedure paid from savings.
2. These uncovered medical costs feel like hidden penalties for staying healthy.

Indirect:

1. Employees delay or avoid care altogether.
2. This delay  leads to larger issues ( infections, visible flare-ups, expensive interventions later).
3. This results in, “ Financial stress = lower productivity + higher disengagement”.

c. How Does This Hits Harder Than You Think?

Let us  bullet it…

1. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are the #1 reason employees rate their health benefits as “average” or worse.
2. Self-pay costs hit your middle-income and younger staff hardest.
3. Uncovered medical costs are a hidden but powerful driver of attrition especially for families with young kids or mid-career professionals.
4. It is also a trust issue. When core needs aren’t covered, belief in leadership drops.

d. What Can You Do (Right Now)?

Want a reality check?  Run a quick, anonymous pulse survey using Google Forms or your HRIS:

“How much did you spend out-of-pocket on dental or skin care last year?” 

Don’t be surprised if your leadership team says: “Wait, how did we miss this?”

e. So Where Do We Go From Here?

It is time to rethink what “coverage” means in 2025.

We are  not talking about luxury perks. We are  talking about healthcare reimbursement plans that cover what actually gets used  and actually improves lives.

Done right, this isn’t just good ethics. It is  good economics.  It reduces company healthcare costs for the long-term, while boosting morale, retention, and loyalty. Let us build the kind of benefits your team doesn’t just want  but actually trusts.

VII.  Streamlining Benefits Administration with Digital Solutions (and Actually Making HR’s Life Easier)

Nobody signs up for HR just to chase ₹2,000 dental bills or play hide-and-seek with paper receipts. We have  got better things to do. So what if we gave wellness a proper tech upgrade and not the “we-made-it-a-PDF” kind?

We are talking about digital health benefits platforms for HR that are actually built to lighten the load, reduce chaos, and deliver better outcomes for teams, finance, and  also for your sanity.

So, what are we really solving for in today’s new-age corporates?

1.  Preserve (and Replenish) Company Reserves

This isn’t just cost-cutting. It is cost-redirection with purpose.
By partially reimbursing over 130+ outpatient treatments across dental, skin, and mental health, we are  giving teams access to care without draining the budget. Think of it as an HR wellness strategy with ROI baked in.

2. Reduce OPD & Wellness Outflows

 IDDAssurance absorbs part of each claim. That means smaller outflows, lower reimbursement overhead, and way fewer hours spent processing the same query ten different ways. Your wellness budget stretches, and the team breathes easier.

One Dashboard to Rule Them All

A clean  benefits management software dashboard that helps in…

1. Real-time reports
2. E-invoices
3. Transparent claim tracking (no more “where’s my money?” Slack messages)

This is transparent healthcare benefits in action. No fluff. No chasing.

3.  Free Consults & Mental Health Support

Because it is not just about the teeth or skin it is about us

1.  Free dental & Dermar consults
2.  Therapist-led mental wellness sessions
3. Awareness programs to reduce stigma

It is about personal wellness without the complexity.

4. Pan-India Access to Trusted Specialists

More than 150 empanelled doctors in Mumbai and growing across India. Your employees don’t need to “Google and pray” anymore. They get vetted specialists through the platform. Easy referrals. Consistent quality.

5. From "Nice-to-Have" to Talent Magnet

Access to care is a reason people join and stay. It is  not just a perk anymore. It is a cultural signal. You care. And that shows up in NPS(Net promoter Score), retention, and team energy.

6. No Insurance Premiums. Just ₹40/Month.

No bloated premiums. No actuarial fine print. Just a simple, transparent ₹40/month initiative fee that is  easy to explain to leadership and easier to roll out.

The Bigger Picture
We are  not here to check a box on a benefits list. We are  here to normalize skin, dental, and mental wellness in Indian workplaces. To build teams that are healthier, more supported, and frankly more ready to win.

Let us Talk About the Gaps You Can’t Afford to Ignore

It may have started with dental and skin care being left out. But here’s what that actually leads to:

1. Employees paying out-of-pocket for routine care
2. Delayed treatment turning into time off and lost focus
3. Growing frustration that your wellness promise doesn’t hold up

And all this? While HR is expected to prove ROI on every benefit offered.

The truth is simple…

Health plans that stop at hospitalization aren’t enough anymore. Your team needs support where it matters day-to-day physically, financially, and emotionally. Because real wellness isn’t just a perk. It helps you retain talent, build trust, and boost team energy. And yes it is  more doable than you think.

Here is what you can do today…

1. Book a 30-minute live demo with IDDA. No fluff. Just walk you through our  product.
2. Loop in your finance and admin leads. They will thank you.
3. List your current gaps. We will show you how IDDA can solve those problems.

No complex changes. No insurance headaches. Just ₹40/month per employee and clear, measurable results.

If you have read till now maybe  you should think about this…

People rarely leave because of one missing benefit. But they do leave when they feel unseen. 

Dental, derma, and mental health aren’t extras anymore. They are  signs that your company truly cares.

Let us  fix what is missing before it starts costing you your best people. And no, it is  not just a Mumbai thing anymore.This is scaling fast Nagpur, Pune, Ahmedabad, you name it. 

So, what next?  Got questions? WhatsApp or call us at +91-7710001004. Prefer typing? Ping us at contact@iddassurance.com.  In the mood for coffee and candor? We are  in Powai . Just give us a heads-up, and we will put the kettle on.

Want to stay in the loop as we build this out together?
Follow IDDA on LinkedIn . We share what is working. What is breaking, and what is  next.

Curious about the person behind the push?
Connect with Chandni Gandhi, our founder, she is on a mission to fix what has been quietly broken in corporate healthcare for far too long.

If this resonated with you, feel free to share it in your circle. And we would  love to hear your thoughts  drop a comment below.