If you’re exploring whether serving as a surrogate might be right for you, your first question is likely: how much do you get paid for surrogacy? The compensation range varies, but typically if you carry a baby full-term, you receive a total of no less than $50,000 in benefits and payments.
Being a surrogate comes with many perks, depending on the agency you work with. For example, some agencies offer a stipend for house cleaning so you can rest more and focus on growing a healthy baby for the intended parents. Here’s a look at the compensation areas you can receive as part of serving as a surrogate.
How Much Do You Get Paid For Surrogacy?
Surrogacy comes with a variety of paid perks, benefits, services and traditional compensation. Here’s a look at the various categories of compensation and what you can expect.
Base Surrogacy Compensation
The most important area of compensation you should understand is the base compensation. This compensation type applies to all moms regardless of what they encounter during their pregnancy journey.
- Contract signing: You’ll get a portion of your compensation when you sign to be a surrogate.
- Embryo transfer fee: Once an intended parent agrees to work with you and has an embryo transferred, you’ll get additional compensation.
- Monthly allowance: Compensation you receive each month throughout your surrogacy journey.
- Lost wages: If you are employed and must miss work due to medical appointments or appointments with the intended parents or surrogacy agency, you’ll receive compensation for those lost wages. This can also help cover your recovery leave after having the baby so you can take a few weeks off from work.
- A stipend for maternity clothes: You won’t have to pay for your own maternity clothes during your pregnancy and can receive compensation for attire.
- Health and life insurance: Surrogacy organizations accept surrogates regardless of their health insurance status and will pay for the coverage you need to serve as a surrogate. You can also receive life insurance coverage throughout your pregnancy to protect your finances in case of the unknown.
- Delivery fee: Once you deliver the baby, you’ll receive your final compensation.
Potential Surrogate Compensation
Each surrogate journey is unique and can require differing expenses. Depending on how your journey goes, you might receive compensation for the following.
- Extra compensation for twins or multiples: You can receive additional compensation when you carry more than one baby to term.
- Travel costs: Some surrogates require long-distance flights, hotel stays, rental cars or mileage on their personal vehicles to be a surrogate. In those cases, you can receive compensation for those travel expenses.
- Lost wages for your travel companion: Surrogacy can be a physically and emotionally challenging experience. As such, having someone join you for your visits, delivery and more is comforting and important. You can receive compensation for your travel companion’s lost wages.
- Canceled cycle or mock cycle: When the IVF process requires a canceled cycle or mock cycle, you can be compensated for that.
- Financial coverage when bedrest disrupts your daily life: Physician-ordered bedrest can disrupt your routines and life immensely. Get childcare coverage and other expense reimbursement when your physician requires bed rest.
Additional Benefits for Surrogates
Some additional benefits surrogates can receive include the following.
- Housekeeping allowance: Because of the physical demands of pregnancy, some carriers receive an allowance to help with maintaining their home.
- Surrogate retreats: Participate in the annual surrogate retreat to connect with others who have helped parents realize their dream of welcoming a child.
- Invasive procedure fee: When pregnancy presents surprises or out-of-the-ordinary procedures, you can receive additional compensation for undergoing such a procedure.
- Wellness allowance: You can receive compensation for caring for your well-being while serving as a surrogate.
- Pumping compensation: Some parents want to be able to provide breastmilk to their babies. If the intended parents want this, you can receive additional compensation for pumping and providing breastmilk to the baby.
Compensation Varies Based on the Surrogacy Agency
The final compensation you receive for serving as a surrogate will vary based on the surrogacy agency you work with. Some agencies quote large compensation amounts without explaining how those apply, what form those values can take (i.e., benefits vs. cash compensation), and when you’ll receive your compensation.
Accel Conceptions is a team with more than 20 years of experience in pairing surrogates with intended parents. Our team includes the various professionals necessary to guide you through the surrogacy experience from start to finish. We’ll protect your rights, ensure all legal paperwork is complete and be transparent about compensation and benefits based on your specific circumstances.
Take the first step in working with one of the leading surrogacy agencies in the nation by completing our inquiry form.