If you’re considering surrogacy, understanding the costs involved is important to planning a smooth and successful journey carefully planned for.
The average cost for a surrogate is between $50,000 and $70,000 but can vary depending on your unique circumstances.
If you’re looking into growing your family through surrogacy, this guide will help you understand surrogacy cost breakdowns, influencing factors, financing options and the overall nuances of surrogate compensation, which will help prepare you for the overall costs of surrogacy.
Wondering how surrogacy can fit into your budget? Contact us now for a personalized breakdown of surrogate costs.
How Much Does a Surrogate Cost?
Most surrogates are paid between $50,000 and $70,000.
You may notice the range of pricing. Each surrogacy is unique, and some circumstances call for higher or lower surrogate pay. Two of the most influential factors in determining surrogate pay is:
- The surrogate’s location: A surrogate in New York City will have a higher cost of living than one in Chattanooga, warranting compensation that reflects higher local costs.
- Prior surrogate experience: Experienced surrogates have already completed a surrogacy journey, making them more reliable and prepared.
Our agency keeps in contact with a network of certified, pre-screened surrogates ready to help intended parents like you.
Take some time to look through our surrogate’s profiles; you might just find the perfect partner for your journey to parenthood.
Find the right match todayView Surrogate Profiles
A Breakdown of Surrogate Costs
Surrogate compensation is separated into two categories: base pay and reimbursements.
Base pay is dispensed directly to your surrogate, while reimbursements are used to cover the material costs of pregnancy.
Base pay is paid directly to your surrogate similar to an income, as a way to show her your appreciation for the valuable role she plays in helping you build your family.
Reimbursements, however, are meant to offset increased costs to the surrogate during the legal and medical processes and her pregnancy. This means taking care of a variety of fees.
Medical Costs Legal Fees Maternity Clothes Travel and Lodging Lost Wages Outside MonitoringThings covered by Surrogate Reimbursement:
Some surrogates use this to achieve personal goals, like paying off student loans or putting a down payment on a house.
It’s also common for surrogates to use their compensation for their children, like setting up a fund for their eventual education or taking them on a dream vacation.
How much does a Surrogate Cost with Insurance?
Any woman carrying a child needs robust medical insurance, and surrogates are no different.
Most insurance policies will not cover your surrogate’s compensation or legal fees. However, some may cover her pregnancy-related medical costs.
If you don’t have a policy that still covers your surrogate, you’ll need to purchase an extra coverage plan to see her through her pregnancy.
We can help you compare insurance plans, and find additional coverage to ensure a frictionless medical process. We will take care of your surrogate’s insurance for you – one less thing to distract you from the joy of growing your family.
You can learn more about insurance, coverage gaps and our surrogacy plans by connecting with our staff.
How much does an Egg Donor and Surrogate Cost?
The average cost of donor eggs is between $18,000 and $20,000 per cohort. Donated eggs come in cohorts, groups containing 6 to 8 eggs.
Other services necessary for IVF like embryo creation, storage and transfer, can bring the average cost of donor egg IVF to $25,000 - $30,000.
Some providers, like egg banks, only provide the donor eggs as a single service, fertility clinics may bundle them with other IVF services.
For example, Pinnacle Fertility bundles donated eggs, IVF, embryo creation and frozen embryo transfer. All these services are bundled together in a package costing $23,500.
Here’s a breakdown of a few providers, their services, and their costs:
Provider Price Services Pinnacle Egg Bank $18,650 Donated Cohort with 1 guaranteed blastocyst Fairfax Egg Bank $19,300 Donated Cohort Egg Bank America $17k-$20k Donated Cohort Donor Nexus $19,500 Donated Cohort (specifically 6 eggs)
While your insurance may not cover a surrogate pregnancy, it could cover some of the important costs associated with IVF, which is an essential part of every surrogacy journey.
Egg donation and IVF are not services America Surrogacy directly provides, but if you have questions or don’t know where to start, our staff can help put you in touch with the experts you need.
Understanding the Total Cost of Surrogacy
Though compensation will make up a large part of your budget, it’s only one part of funding your surrogacy. The total cost of Surrogacy ranges from around $169,900 - $179,000+
The variation in that range usually depends on the medical procedures needed and your surrogate’s compensation.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the complete costs of surrogacy:
As discussed, typically between $ 50,000 and $ 79,000. Agency fees typically range from $ 15,000 and $ 30,000. This helps us screen prospective surrogates,keep wait times low, and generally provide you with the best possible service. IVF is an essential part of surrogacy. It generally costs between $ 15,000 and $ 20,000 per cycle, and you may need more than one cycle for your surrogacy. These are usually around $ 5,000 to $ 10,000. Legal fees are crucial to ensure your parental rights are intact, your surrogacy contract is solid, and that both you and your surrogate’s rights are protected. You’ll only need to pay for your own legal representative; we will provide one for your surrogate. Surrogacy and insurance intersect in some very interesting ways, as discussed above. Typically supplemental insurance runs between $ 3,000 and $ 5,000. It’s always smart to plan for the unexpected. It may be smart to have a few thousand on hand during this process, in case of any unexpected costs.Surrogacy Cost Breakdown
Can You Finance a Surrogate?
Many intended parents use a combination of resources to afford surrogacy, including grants, personal savings, employer benefits and surrogacy-specific loans.
Loans for Surrogacy
If you’re looking into financing your surrogacy with a loan, be sure to carefully consider how the payments may affect your family going forward. Only borrow from trusted, established institutions.
Additionally, consider a Home Equity Line of Credit, or a Surrogacy specific loan. These loans often have more favorable terms for the borrower’s long-term financial well-being. Here is a list of surrogacy-specific lending companies to consider:
Lender Starting APR Repayment Term Prosper Healthcare Lending 9.99% 2 - 5 Years CapexMD Fixed Rate determined by Credit Score Flexible FutureFamily 7.99% 2 - 5 Years Advanced Reproductive Care (ARC ) 3.99% 1 - 7 Years Credello 5.34% 1 - 12 Years
Grants for Surrogacy
While loans will likely make up the bulk of your budget, make sure to look into surrogacy grants as well.
Many grants are open to anyone, and can significantly subsidize your budget, meaning you can take out smaller loans and repay them more quickly.
You can apply for as many fertility grants as you want; this is one of the best ways to receive obligation-free surrogacy funding.
Here is a list of surrogacy-specific grants to consider applying for:
Grant Fund: Funds Available (up to): Application Fee: Baby Quest Foundation Inc. $10,000 $75 Cade Foundation Grants $10,000 $50 Gift of Parenthood $25,000 $25 Men Having Babies Varies* Free Hope for Fertility Foundation $10,000 $50
*MHB assistance programs distribute around $1 million per year, based on need and applicant volume.
Financial Protection through American Surrogacy
When it comes to the financial side of surrogacy, we’re here to help. We can help you assess your insurance, look for sources of funding and manage those funds through an impartial third-party escrow.
Most importantly, our pricing structure and risk-mitigation programs help protect your budget.
Our fixed, transparent fees mean fewer surprises and no hidden costs.
How American Surrogacy Can Help
We’re here to encourage and support you every step of the way.
Whether you’re just starting to research surrogacy, or are almost ready to meet your child, our staff can help you with whatever challenges you’re facing.
Get in touch with us today to learn about financing, discuss your situation with trained surrogacy experts, and begin your journey.