Before the most perfect tiny baby can join your family via surrogacy, you have to go through the planning phases. It can be challenging for parents who have already waited through other obstacles to have to set aside more time to plan for their little one, but there are some details to attend to before moving on to the pregnancy phase of surrogacy.
Budgeting for surrogacy is an important step in the planning process. Often one of the first questions intended parents have is: “How much does surrogacy cost.” It depends on several factors, such as your insurance coverage and surrogate compensation.
But a high-quality surrogacy agency can work with you to evaluate costs based on your circumstances so you aren’t stressed later in the process by the financial side of things.
How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in America?
The total cost of surrogacy in the U.S. ranges from $150,000 to $200,000. That includes all fees, including:
- Medical fees
- Agency fees
- Legal services
- Surrogate compensation
- Insurance
- Egg or sperm donation fees, when applicable
While that’s a big number for the average household, those fees are spread out across the entire surrogacy process, which allows for many months to pay the fees.
Familiarizing yourself with the various fees and what they are for can help you get started budgeting for surrogacy.
Agency Fees
A surrogacy agency helps coordinate the many complexities of surrogacy, including matching a surrogate with intended parents. Accel Conceptions offers two plan options, one for $48,000 and one for $55,000. These fees do not include surrogate compensation or third-party fees, such as medical expenses.
The fee does include the following services.
- Matching intended parents with a surrogate
- Case management
- Coordination with fertility clinics
- Support during medical screening
- Guidance throughout pregnancy
- Communication support
- Escrow and trust account coordination
- Emotional support and education
You’re investing in a lower-risk surrogacy experience, clear communication, a smooth overall experience, and legal guarantees that you’ll have parental rights when the baby is born.
Surrogate Compensation
One of the largest components of the average cost of surrogacy is the surrogate compensation component. Compensation varies based on many factors, including:
- Whether the surrogate is experienced
- Geographic location
- Insurance coverage
- Multiples pregnancy
- Medical procedures required
- Bed rest or lost wages
Base surrogacy compensation generally starts at $45,000. But additional expenses can apply, such as travel expenses, C-section fees, housekeeping support, and wellness allowances depending on your agreement. Review Accel Conceptions’ compensation breakdown for more information on potential compensation and additional benefits for surrogates.
All these details will go into your surrogacy agreement, which both surrogates and intended parents sign.
Medical Expenses
The cost for medical care starts with preparing the surrogate’s body for the embryo transfer. This includes fertility medication and embryo creation.
Once your surrogate is pregnant, they’ll also be the cost of prenatal care, such as:
- Medical screenings
- Bloodwork
- Ultrasounds
- Prenatal care
- Delivery costs
- Hospital fees
You should add a little cushion to the amount you budget for medical expenses in case additional embryo transfers are required. And if you’ll need an egg or sperm donor, this will increase your total medical expenses.
Legal Fees
An essential element of the surrogacy journey is the legal proceedings because they provide protection for all parties involved.
Legal costs encompass the following:
- Drafting surrogacy contracts
- Reviewing agreements
- Establishing parental rights
- Pre-birth or post-birth orders
- Court filings
- Escrow agreements
In short, the legal process ensures the intended parents have parental rights from the moment the baby is born and removes any ambiguity from the process. You’ll outline how you want to communicate with your surrogate, what medical appointments you can attend, and more.
Insurance Costs
Not all health insurance plans cover surrogate pregnancy. In fact, many specifically exclude surrogacy maternity care.
Intended parents then must purchase an insurance policy for the surrogate to cover pregnancy-related medical expenses.
Even with insurance coverage, you’ll still need to be prepared to pay deductibles and copays on top of the policy fees.
Also factor in the cost of adding your newborn to your insurance and paying any deductibles or copays that might apply from the baby’s hospital stay.
How to Pay for Surrogacy
Surrogacy is not inexpensive, but it is life-changing for families who have waited so long to welcome a child.
When it comes to figuring out how to pay for surrogacy, many intended parents use a combination of funding options.
- Personal savings
- Fertility financing loans
- Home equity loans
- Employer fertility benefits
- Grants and nonprofit programs
- Flexible spending accounts
- Health savings accounts
A good place to start is looking at your employee benefits to see if there is financial support there for IVF or surrogacy. Additionally, meeting with a financial advisor can help make the process clearer and guide you through the possible funding options.
Working with an experienced surrogacy agency ensures you have the legal protections necessary and ensures a safe and successful journey to parenthood. If you have questions about budgeting for surrogacy or need more information on what to expect, contact Accel Conceptions. Our skilled team is ready to guide you through the process.