Workplace Wellness Evolves: How Employer-Sponsored Skincare is Changing the Game

In the world of employee benefits, a new perk is turning heads—and potentially saving lives. For many of us, skincare isn’t just about vanity; it’s about health, wellness, and sometimes prohibitive costs. Enter Joya Health, a groundbreaking employer-sponsored benefit that’s making skin health services accessible for just $25 a month or less. Launched in October 2024, this innovative program bridges the gap between medical necessity and aesthetic desires, offering everything from critical skin cancer screenings to trendy treatments like Botox and facials—all wrapped up in an affordable, employer-supported package.

“Every benefit an employer offers has a subject that they focus on. But your largest organ, skin, is highly fragmented,” explains Mike Jafar, CEO and founder of Joya Health. “It’s medical, it’s aesthetic, it’s cash, it’s reimbursed, it’s med spa—it is so darn hard for a consumer to navigate through something like your skin management. So what we did is we packaged this up and provided it to employers to sell as a benefit.” The program works through a simple structure: employers can either offer Joya as an opt-in benefit where employees pay $25 monthly, or they can cover the cost entirely, making it free for their workforce. Once enrolled, members select a provider from Joya’s carefully vetted network of dermatologists, med spas, and plastic surgeons—a crucial safety feature in an industry where bad Botox or adverse reactions to treatments can have serious consequences.

The comprehensive approach of Joya Health addresses a significant gap in preventive care. Every member receives a complimentary facial, medical-grade sunscreen, and most importantly, a free skin cancer screening—a service that approximately 80% of Americans skip due to cost barriers (around $150 out-of-pocket) and the difficulty of scheduling appointments with dermatologists. “There’s also just not enough dermatologists. It’ll take you three months to see one, and people just don’t do it,” Jafar points out. “But if we could get your annual skin cancer check done at the same time you get your facial, your medical-grade sunscreen—and you get $500 of allowances to do Botox or fillers or hair therapy—there’ll be more people getting skin cancer checks.” This preventive approach could literally be lifesaving, while simultaneously offering the aesthetic benefits that many people desire but might not prioritize financially.

The value proposition extends well beyond basic services. Members receive $500 annually ($125 quarterly) to spend on premium treatments including Botox, laser hair removal, PRP, fillers, and microneedling. Additionally, the program offers 24/7 access to telemedicine dermatology services and discounts of up to 30% on medical-grade skincare products like retinol. For many members, this structured benefit creates consistency in skin health that they hadn’t previously maintained. Kara, a 34-year-old from Orange County who spoke under a pseudonym, shared her experience: “I truly believe that some of my colleagues would not have stepped foot into a dermatologist’s office had they not had Joya as a benefit. I started with the complimentary full body skin check, which was an amazing service I had honestly never thought about before.” She now uses her quarterly allowance for VBeam laser treatments to manage her rosacea, a chronic condition she might not have addressed without the program’s accessibility.

Perhaps surprisingly, the appeal of Joya Health transcends traditional gender divides in skincare. While beauty and skincare industries have historically targeted women, Jafar reports that 41% of Joya members are men—shattering stereotypes about who values skin health services. These male members typically use the benefit for facials, acne care, and even hair loss treatments like platelet-rich plasma procedures. Joaquin, a 44-year-old from Newport Beach whose private equity company adopted the benefit, initially assumed his wife would be the primary user. “I was very happy, as I knew my wife would finally get a benefit she will use,” he told The Post. “But I ended up using it more than her.” His experience isn’t unusual; he noted that nearly half his office signed up, with male employees forming the majority—”which is saying a lot,” he added. Having previously paid out-of-pocket for occasional facials, PRP treatments, and Botox, Joaquin now accesses these services more frequently because the quarterly allowance removes financial barriers.

As companies increasingly compete for talent with innovative benefits packages that support holistic well-being, Joya Health represents an evolution in how employers approach wellness. Initially concentrated in California, New York, and Florida, the business is expanding nationwide, suggesting growing recognition of skin health as an essential component of comprehensive healthcare rather than a luxury indulgence. By combining preventive medical care with aesthetic services, the program creates multiple entry points for people to engage with skin health—whether their primary motivation is detecting cancer, treating chronic conditions like acne or rosacea, or simply feeling more confident in their appearance. As one member succinctly put it: “Joya is one of those things I never knew I needed, but now that I have it, I can’t imagine going without it.” In an era where wellness benefits increasingly differentiate employer brands, this innovative approach to skin health may well become a model for how companies can simultaneously address preventive care, quality of life, and employee satisfaction through thoughtfully designed benefits.