When it comes to beginning your surrogacy journey, you’ll undoubtedly have endless questions as you start digging into the options available. One of the most commonly asked questions we get here at Surrogacy Simplified is "How much does surrogacy cost?"

There are many factors that go into a surrogacy journey that can play into your overall expenses, so it can be hard to share the average cost of surrogacy as a direct number, however there are some standard costs that most Intended Parents will come up against.

The surrogacy costs of Intended Parents will obviously vary from couple to couple depending on their specific needs and situation, but let’s take a look at the common cost of surrogacy for couples.

What is the Cost of Surrogacy?

Below you’ll find the most common expenses that Intended Parents need to consider when starting their surrogacy journey:

- Creation of Embryos - $0-$30,000+ (some health insurance may cover)

- Surrogacy Consultant - $10,000-$15,000 or Agency - $25,000-$50,000+

- Psychologist - $1,500-$3,000 (both GC and IPs)

- Fertility Clinic’s Medical Screening of Surrogate - $3,000-$10,000

- Legal Fees - $8,000-$16,000

- Escrow - $1,000-$2,500

- Surrogate’s Fertility Medications - $2,000-$5,000

- Fertility Clinic Embryo Transfer - $7,000-$20,000 (some clinics offer a “shared risk” where you pay more, but it is for unlimited transfers)

- Health Insurance for Surrogate $0-$30,000 (sometimes surrogate has surrogate-friendly insurance)

- Surrogate Compensation - $40,000-$60,000+ (In the case of an altruistic surrogacy, this expense would not be something you need to pay)

As you can see, depending on the needs of your surrogate and the terms of your surrogate agreement, the average cost of surrogacy for couples can vary drastically. As a guideline, surrogacy cost in the USA is easily well over $100k.

Other Surrogacy Costs to Keep in Mind

While the list above goes over the major expenses involved with most surrogacies, there can be additional expenses that can show up unexpectedly along the way. It’s important to be aware of these possible hidden costs so you can prepare and not be caught off guard. Here are some fees you should take into consideration when planning financially for surrogacy:

- All travel expenses for Intended Parents and surrogate

-Lost wages for surrogate

- Life insurance policy for surrogate

- Gifts for surrogate (optional)

Some legal contracts will have compensation for:

- c-section
- twin pregnancy
- medication/cycle start fee
- monthly allowance
- housekeeping/babysitting
- mock cycle fee
- invasive procedure fee
- maternity clothes allowance
- breastmilk/pumping termination
- selective reduction fee

You can see that these expenses can add up quickly, and just build on the already hefty base price. This unfortunately makes surrogacy out of reach and an unaffordable option for many Intended Parents, although insurance can be a good way to help keep expenses down. Next, let’s talk about another common question we hear very often: will insurance cover a surrogate?

Will Insurance Cover a Surrogate?

Ultimately, the answer to this question is determined by the specific insurance plan that is held by both the Intended Parents, as well as the gestational carrier. 

When entering into a surrogacy agreement, the Intended Parents are responsible for covering all surrogacy costs before the birth, during the pregnancy, as well as postpartum for the surrogate. This could include expenses anywhere from medical appointments and copays, consultations, medications, to maternity clothing and the like.

While most insurance carriers don’t ordinarily cover the cost of surrogacy and only cover typical pregnancies, the insurance chosen by your surrogate can really help to keep costs down for you as an Intended Parent if you take the time to find a more surrogacy-friendly provider. 

Ideally your surrogate will be using a provider that offers a plan that covers additional fees for surrogacy specifically, although these types of plans are harder to come by. You’ll find that many insurance providers have specific language that explicitly excludes surrogacy from their coverage. Make sure to read the fine print and do your homework here instead of assuming that your surrogate is automatically covered.

Some Intended Parents have employer benefits that are favorable towards surrogacy. Most commonly, they will have a benefit that will provide some reimbursement towards surrogacy expenses.

As an Intended Parent, you have already committed to making such a large investment into starting a family, so finding the right insurance to help control the many medical costs that are involved in the surrogacy process is an important step.

Is Surrogacy Cheaper than IVF?

IVF, or In vitro fertilization, can typically cost around $20k for just one cycle. However, it’s not uncommon for many couples to have to go through two cycles on average to see success through this process. 

However, when comparing this method of conception with the average cost of surrogacy, you’ll find that surrogacy will be by far the most expensive option available, easily pushing upwards of $100k or more depending on if you’ll be taking the altruistic surrogacy route, or if you’ll be using an agency to help guide you through the full process.

These are also two completely different processes that you’ll want to carefully think through before making a decision. The cost of surrogacy versus the cost of IVF is not the only factor you should be considering of course. 

When considering surrogacy, you’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable bringing another person into a very sensitive part of your life. When considering IVF, you’ll want to be very careful to understand the possible immense physical, mental, and emotional strain you’ll need to prepare for. Surrogacy is not for everyone, and the same goes for IVF, so take your time before making the decision that is right for you.

Getting Started on Your Surrogacy Journey

Although surrogacy costs will vary from couple to couple, the above expenses should give you a general idea of what your finances should look like before getting started. 

Looking for some guidance as you prepare for your own surrogacy journey? Connect with us here to reserve a 30 minute complimentary call to discuss your options.