tomer and elinor, twins born to a gay couple in our surrogacy program
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Controlling Costs

John started his program with the intent of keeping costs down, in order to make surrogacy an afford-able alternative to private adoption.

  • Gestational Surrogacy Program Options:
    The cost for gestational surrogacy, including all agency fees, attorneys' fees, screening and surrogate fees (but excluding medical and insurance costs) range from  around $55,000 to $65,000, depending the program chosen by our clients. These program vary in the source of the egg donation, IVF insurance coverage, legal needs and other circumstances. Total program costs including medical and insurance components range from around $80,000 to $120,000 for egg donor surrogacy. Optional components can add 5-10% to the costs, and we also suggest that clients allow for 10-15% possible variable and costs above their standard program estimates, to allow for unforeseen developments, as detailed in the " other costs for consideration" page.


  • Egg Donation
    The cost for egg donation only, including agency and legal fees, are estimated at $13,000.

ESTIMATED PROGRAM EXPENSES FOR GESTATIONAL SURROGACY with Egg Sharing (2009 - USA)

This plan is offered in conjunction with Connecticut Fertility Associates (CFA), our premium fertility center. The Egg Sharing option cuts the costs of egg donation almost by half by sharing the eggs of an experienced, proven egg donor. In conjunction with CFA's Egg Bank, there is no need to coordinate the donation with another couple that agrees to use the same donor, since the remaining eggs can be frozen.

-- See here for more information about the program, and see below for estimated costs.

* Note: click on a category to see more details

Standard Costs
Surrogate Related Professional Fees $19,500.00
Surrogate Related Screening Costs $4,910.00
Surrogate Compensation and Other Surrogate Expenses $23,900.00
Egg Donor Compensation, Agency & Legal Fees, Screening and Other Expenses $10,325.00
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker Support Fees $3,000.00
Surrogate Related Legal Fees, Expenses and Finalization of Parental Rights $8,500.00
TOTAL Excluding 3rd Party Medical and Insurance Services $70,135.00
Medical and Insurance Expenses
Medical Expenses (dependent upon selected medical facility - actual charges apply) $16,875.00
Insurance Expenses (to be paid directly to insurance agency) [2] $15,800.00
TOTAL of All Anticipated Costs [3] $102,8100.00

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Other Cost Considerations


[1] $500 is paid to the clinic for its monitoring. Another $500 is expected to be paid to a local clinic for monitoring if the carrier is not local to the clinic. However, on occasion a carrier will require more creening before coming to the clinic. This will increase this charge by approximately $500 per monitoring appointment. In addition, it is the intention of the IVF physician to send the carrier for her post transfer monitoring to her obstetrician. However, if the carrier does not have insurance, or even if she does, there is a chance that the intended parent(s) will be charged for these monitoring appointments. [2] Insurance is one of the charges that are most variable. There are four options - a self insurance plan that requires a claims administration fee ($1,500), a second to pay policy (which has a premium of $5800, but a refund of $2,000 is given if the surrogate's primary insurance policy covers), a mid level policy (premium $5,000 and claims administration fee of $800) and a high level policy (premium $8,200 with an $800 charge for claims administration). Except for the self insurance policy, all of the other policies provide complications coverage for up to $500,000. However, that complications coverage kicks in at different levels depending on how much premium has been paid. The insurance company will collect a $12,500 deductible from the intended parents if, at the ten week ultrasound, it is determined that they are expecting one child. It will collect a $17,500 deductible from the intended parents at that time if they are expecting twins. However, the insurance company expects to refund some of that deductible about 96% of the time.

So, a couple buying insurance for their carrier should expect to pay around $10,000 for a single child plus whatever premium program they choose. Since most of our couples choose the midrange program (a $5,800 total cost) the overall cost is usually around $15,800 ($5,800 premium and claims administration fee plus the $10,000 deductible.)

[3] This is the total of all charges that are expected and the number that clients should consider as the likely minimum charges for your egg/embryo donation and/or surrogacy. The numbers set forth below detail the approximate financial impacts that certain circumstances of your carrier or donor, chance events and choices by you will have on your surrogacy costs.

Total payments to donors in excess of $5,000 require justification and sums above $10,000 are not appropriate; Circle Surrogacy complies with ASRM guidelines for egg donation compensation.



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