Surrogacy provides a pathway to building a family for those for whom traditional childbirth may be medically or practically unfeasible — but how much does surrogacy cost?
Birth Options: How Much Does Surrogacy Cost?
Individuals and couples exploring surrogacy as a way to grow a family face many big decisions, including whether they have the financial resources to support this very personal and emotional choice.
Pursuing a surrogate birth is a complex process with lifelong legal, financial, and health implications for the child, your family, and the surrogate or carrier. It is wise to be guided through this process by sound legal and financial advice.
Below, we will break down the major costs commonly associated with supporting gestational surrogacy in the U.S.
What Is Surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy refers to an arrangement where an embryo created through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is implanted in and carried to term by a woman on behalf of others.
Laws covering surrogacy vary widely, even within the U.S. Consult with a local surrogacy agency or assisted reproduction attorney to learn how the law — and the associated costs — work in Virginia and other states.
The Cost of Surrogacy
Surrogacy can be a lengthy and complicated process, making specific estimates of costs up-front difficult. Often, surrogacy can involve:
- A lengthy search and matching process with a suitable surrogate or carrier
- The creation of embryos including engaging in egg retrieval and/or the purchase of donor eggs or donor sperm in the formation of such embryos.
- The pre-genetic testing of embryos.
- Screening, counseling and evaluation costs.
- Insurance coverage and legal costs.
- One or more attempts to successfully implant the embryo in a surrogate.
- Various living expense and other reimbursements to the surrogate.
CoFertility, an online fertility resource center, estimates that the cost of an arms-length surrogate arrangement in the U.S. can fall between $100,000 and $200,000. Compassionate arrangements involving close family or friends, or where intended parents can self-match with a surrogate typically cost substantially less.
Under current law, surrogate programs are not allowed to charge a match fee under Virginia law and there are criminal and civil penalties. Therefore, Virginia intended parents or surrogates should consult legal counsel before working with a surrogate program.
Let’s break down some of the costs those considering surrogacy might expect to face.
Legal Fees
All surrogacies, even compassionate arrangements, need to be governed by binding legal agreements to protect the interests of all parties. Legal counsel is particularly important for intended parents who need assistance in matching with a surrogate.
While programs exist to facilitate arrangements between intended parents with surrogates, these organizations are not permitted to charge a fee for these services under Virginia law. Intended parents in Virginia need to consult a licensed adoption and surrogacy attorney to make sure their dealings fall within state law at all times.
A qualified lawyer will also be needed to help manage, among other things:
- Ensuring that all prerequisites prior to contract drafting have been met
- Reviewing or otherwise ensuring that health insurance coverage will cover the surrogate’s pregnancy
- Drafting, negotiating and/or reviewing the surrogacy agreement
- Ensuring that the surrogate and her spouse or partner have separate legal representation
- Providing legal clearance to the fertility clinic
- Handling the parentage process to secure legal parentage and the birth certificate naming the intended parents
Your legal costs will vary according to your situation but legal services can range generally from $5,000-$10,000.
Fertility Treatments
Fertility treatment and IVF services can cost many couples $15,000-$40,000. In many cases, however, couples have already explored IVF treatment before pursuing surrogacy, and so may have embryos awaiting a surrogate.
If the intended parent or parents need a donor egg to begin treatment, this can also range between $15,000 and $25,000 including screening, retrieval and storage costs. Meanwhile, if donor sperm is required expect to pay $700-$1,000 per vial to a sperm donation bank.
Your own medical insurance might cover some costs involved with fertility treatment, and some companies also offer assistance to employees seeking to start families.
Insurance
It is important to ensure that the surrogate has health insurance coverage that will cover the prenatal, maternity and post delivery care and does not exclude coverage because she is acting as a surrogate. If the surrogate does not already have health insurance in place then several insurance companies specialize in assisting with obtaining such insurance. If coverage is not obtained during open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act then there are some supplemental pure surrogacy plans that intended parents can buy but they tend to cost $20,000 and up.
Additional insurance against complications or the loss of reproductive organs also is available.
Surrogate Monthly Allowance
Typically there is a monthly allowance reimbursed to the surrogate for carrying a baby on behalf of your family. Fees vary widely by location, state law and whether the woman has served as a surrogate before.
Contingent Reimbursement Amounts
These often are additional reimbursement amounts associated with the surrogacy arrangement that may include:
- Carrying multiple children
- Being placed on work restriction or bed-rest
- Under-going invasive procedures, a C-Section or a miscarriage or other termination.
- Maternal clothing and pregnancy supplies
- Travel, transport, parking and other miscellaneous costs
- Childcare and house keeping services
- Companion care
- Legal Fees
- Copays and coinsurance and other medical or prescription costs not covered by insurance
- Screening and counseling costs
- Escrow management fees
Reimbursement amounts to the surrogate may extend for several months after delivery.
No Guarantees
All this expenditure comes with no guarantees of success. If a surrogate fails to become pregnant or suffers a miscarriage, you may be able to start over with another surrogate, but it is not possible to recoup the money you have spent.
Making Smart Choices About Surrogacy
While nothing can match the joy of welcoming a longed-for child, surrogacy involves many challenges and laws governing assisted reproduction can be very confusing for all parties. Consulting a surrogacy and family law specialist to draft a clear framework for your gestational surrogacy can minimize the legal risks for everyone involved and protect you from unforeseen hurdles.
Quinn Law Centers’ adoption and surrogacy law practice is devoted to building families through successful assisted reproduction. Click below to learn more about how we can help you with your surrogacy process.