How Can I Afford Surrogacy?
For most people, covering the costs of surrogacy requires planning and organization. Here are some of our favorite tips to help make the financial aspect of your surrogacy journey go smoothly:
- Share your story. Surrogacy is the ultimate example of people helping people. Being open about your intent to pursue surrogacy can help you gain the support of family and friends. In some cases, family members of intended parents have chipped in to help with expenses. But even if friends and family can’t assist you financially, counting on the emotional support and encouragement of the people who matter to you most can make your journey to parenthood through surrogacy much easier.
- Start putting funds aside. Consider setting aside money over time. Most intended parents come to an agency after a period of careful thought and research. This is a good time to start saving.
- Remember you can influence the overall costs. While the surrogacy journey can be unpredictable, remember that the preferences you express and the choices you make can affect your overall expenses, including the IVF clinic you work with and whether your surrogate is insured or uninsured. You can also look into various surrogacy programs to see which is right for you.
- Evaluate all of your insurance options. There are a variety of insurance options available to cover the medical costs of surrogacy, so make sure you take time to look into which is right for you. Ask for information about deductibles, enrollment fees, premiums, and out-of-pocket maximums.
- Look into different fertility clinic options. Talk to more than one IVF center/fertility clinic. Most offer a variety of packages. Consider options like the Unlimited IVF Plan offered by Circle Surrogacy and Pacific Fertility Center – Los Angeles which allows you unlimited embryo transfers until a pregnancy is achieved.
In some cases, you can find a gestational surrogate for less money by having a family member or friend be your surrogate. This reduces agency fees, can save time, and provides an immediate comfort level between intended parents and their gestational carrier. Though engaging in a parenting journey with a family member or a close friend might reduce surrogacy costs, it can also bring on an added layer of complexity to the process. If you do wish to have a family member or friend as your surrogate, you should still speak with an agency about putting a formal contract into place, and ensuring that your surrogate has the proper screening for the IVF clinics.
Another option that couples have is to seek donated eggs from a family member. An example would be a gay couple where one of the men has a sister. They may be able to convince the sister to donate an egg that can then be fertilized by his husband’s sperm, resulting in a child-related to both parents.
The costs for gestational surrogacy are significant because of the care and attention the surrogate requires through pregnancy and childbirth. To help plan for your parenting journey, some agencies — like Circle Surrogacy — will offer you a fixed cost, so that you don’t have to worry about extra fees for multiples or complications.
If you’re thinking about surrogacy to build your family and would like to speak to someone about costs, please email us.
If you’re ready to take the first step and meet with us, use this form.