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Surrogacy Costs & Fees
Transparency Of Journey Costs
For many people, the overall costs of a surrogacy journey is one of the deciding factors in whether or not to even pursue this avenue to have a family. Budgeting for surrogacy is a challenge for many people, and part of our mission is to help keep our costs fair and also competitive.
We try to give you the best estimate of all of the anticipated fees, but each journey and situation is unique, and costs can vary. we are more than happy to talk with you about your specific needs to help you anticipate what expenses you might incur on your road to building your family
How Much Does Surrogacy Really Cost?
Like a baby, each surrogacy journey is unique. Because of this, it is difficult to estimate exactly how much it will cost. Even the most blissful journeys have bumps on the road. Based on our years of experience, we anticipate the total, all-inclusive cost to range from $130,000 to $200,000+.
But let’s break that down a little more:
Domestic Intended Parents
When starting with a fresh IVF cycle using non-donor embryos the average amount spent is $130,000 – $170,000, and when using donor eggs, the range is from $150,000 – $200,000.
International Intended Parents
In addition to the fees incurred by domestic Intended Parents, you will need to put insurance for your newborn in place, also called post-birth insurance. There are a few options, but the most costly option would be an additional $30,000 for singleton post-birth insurance. The cost for twins goes up exponentially.
While there are no guarantees, we always try to do our best to keep costs under control while making sure that the Surrogate receives the compensation and reimbursement she deserves.
Here is a detailed list of the costs and fees you can anticipate on your surrogacy journey
Where Your Money Is Going
This is a big and complex journey that literally takes a village. So, to help simplify the costs and give you a foundation for planning we have created four different categories you can anticipate needing funds for.
Here’s what is included in each one:
1. Professional Fees
While surrogacy may be new to you, some people have years of experience helping others. These are the people you should anticipate paying professional service fees to; your surrogacy agency (hopefully us!), lawyer, psychologist, insurance agent, and escrow company.
Agency Fee
Managing a surrogacy journey and all the moving parts can be very time-consuming, which is why many Intended Parents choose to work with – and pay – a surrogacy agency to handle all of the details. The agency fee covers many aspects of your surrogacy journey, including –
- Management of your entire journey, from start to finish
- Screening & matching you with your Surrogate
- Journey support for Intended Parent/s and Gestational Surrogate
- Trust Account management/disbursement of funds
- Legal interface
- Insurance interface
- Overseeing communication between hospital for the birth, birth certificate, and passport agency (if needed)
- For egg donation (if you need one) there will be a separate agency fee
Legal Fees
Insurance Review
Escrow
2. Surrogate & Egg Donor Fees
These fees are paid directly to your Surrogate and Egg Donor and include their base fee and supplemental fees.
Surrogate Base Fee
This probably sounds like a broken record, but it is hard to pin down the actual costs of the supplemental fees for your Surrogate. But one thing that you will know at the start of your journey is her “base fee” (that’s the amount she is paid for the pain and suffering endured for carrying your baby – that’s the legal term for it). Again, these amounts range between states and Surrogates. This amount can also vary based on if she has insurance if she is an experienced Surrogate and as stated above, where she lives.
Even though money can be a part of the incentive for your Surrogate, our goal is to work with women who are not Surrogates solely for financial gain but are involved because they feel it in their hearts the desire to give the gift of life to families who can’t do so on their own.
Supplemental Fees
Egg Donor Base Fee
Escrow
3. Medical & Insurance Expenses
We all know how babies are created, but gestational surrogacy has changed the rules. So, beyond the traditional Obstetrician appointments and hospital costs, there will also be IVF costs, embryo freezing, and medications to add to the mix.
Medical Expenses
Prior to becoming pregnant, the Intended Parents will incur costs through the IVF clinic for their embryo creation and for all costs to prepare their Surrogate for the embryo transfer. Those fees will include medications, laboratory testing and ultrasounds. Once pregnant, she will be released to her OB around 10 weeks along. At that time, her insurance should cover the bulk of the bills, but there will be copays for testing and doctor visits. Do check with your clinic as to their anticipated costs for IVF, medications, embryo freezing, etc.
Insurance
4. Variable Expenses
When we talk about variable expenses, we mean things like purchasing additional health and life insurance for the Surrogate, travel expenses, multiple transfer attempts, additional legal and medical services, etc. Understanding what expenses/services are included in the fees you pay your fertility clinic, attorney, and agency will help you move forward confidently.
Our Matching Programs:
We make every effort to give you the support you need and to help you control costs. So, we have created two programs for you to choose from to help fit with your specific needs: 1. The Limited Match Program and 2. The Unlimited Match Program. Very much like their names, one gives you the opportunity to switch surrogates an unlimited number of times without reason and no additional agency fees, and the other does not. Here’s a bit more about them:
Limited Match Program
With the Limited Match Program, you and your Reproductive Endocrinologist (aka RE) feel very positive the embryos you have created have a great chance of succeeding on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd attempt with your Gestational Surrogate. But, if for example, your GS needs to be replaced due to medical reasons as identified by your RE (i.e., her uterine lining is not developing properly, etc.), or because her life circumstances have changed before a pregnancy (i.e., her husband is transferred to a non-surrogate-friendly state), then there is no additional agency fee for a new GS. But, if you want to change Surrogates for other reasons (maybe she didn’t get pregnant on the first or second try but nothing was deemed medically wrong with her) then you will pay a new agency fee.
Unlimited Match Program
For qualifying Intended Parents, the Unlimited Match Program is like insurance. You can switch Surrogates without any reason (unlike the Limited Match Program). With this program, there is the potential of switching Surrogates without there being a medical issue and for no additional agency fee. This option can save upwards of $12,000 -$17,000 in agency fees. (Check with us to see if you are eligible for the Unlimited Match Program.)
Special Discount Programs
We make every effort to give you the support you need and to help you control costs. This is why we created the following offers:
Egg Donor/Surrogacy Discount
This is our way of showing you our appreciation for entrusting us with both of your journeys! If you select an Egg Donor with us and also pursue your Surrogacy journey with us, we will give you a $1000 discount off your Egg Donor Program fee.
Cancer Survivor Discount
Getting a cancer diagnosis undoubtedly throws a wrench in anyone’s life, and if it has affected your fertility, please let us know. If needed, we will gladly offer you a discount. Please talk to us about this.
Sibling Journey Discount
For those Intended Parents who’ve had a great journey with us (so many of them have — just check out our testimonials , we also offer discounts whether you work with the same Gestational Surrogate or start your sibling with someone new. Feel free to ask us about this.
Financing
We know that affording a fertility journey can put a strain on many budgets. So, to help make your journey as stress-free as possible; we have reached out to reputable lenders. So, you may get financing options tailored to your specific fertility journey.
New Life Fertility Financing
Loans up to $100,000
Loans up to $40,000 for medical expenses
Both Prosper Healthcare Lending and New Life Fertility Financing include:
- Immediate decisions for loans under $35,000
- Term options extending to 84 months (with affordable monthly payments)
- No transaction fees
- No prepayment penalties
- An easy online application process
In addition, your clinic may offer financing programs for the medical aspects of your journey. So don’t forget to ask them.
