Legal Fees

Legal fees can include: Health insurance policy review, drafting and review of contract for surrogate and parents (separate lawyers), wills and/or power of attorney (or similar documents) (for surrogate and parents), establishing parentage (pre- or post-birth order, etc.).

Surrogate's Base Fee

Some significant factors include the surrogate's location and whether she is a first time or repeat surrogate.

Surrogate's Monthly Allowance

A monthly allowance is often given to the surrogate to cover incidentals (such as prenatals, parking and short-term childcare for doctor's appointments, etc.) rather than having the surrogate send in receipts for reimbursements for these things. This can start at different times, such as once the match is official or once contracts are signed.

Surrogate's Health Insurance Premiums

Not necessary if the surrogate already has a sufficient, surrogacy-friendly policy in place.

Maternity Clothing Allowance

Usually more if the surrogate is carrying multiples.

Multiples Fee

Often this amount per additional baby, but can also be just a flat amount.

Loss of Fertility Fee

Sometimes this is written as a loss of reproductive organs fee. Sometimes there are separate amounts for loss of ovary(ies), loss of uterus, or both.

Cycle/Transfer Fee

Sometimes a fee is paid at the start of a medicated cycle and then another fee is paid once transfer has been complete, sometimes just one fee is paid per cycle. This fee is also paid during a mock cycle, if required by your clinic, where the transfer takes medications but does not have a transfer.

Medical Expenses

There is SO much variation here, but it's something that you have to look at and add to your budget. First you must consider if you already have embryos or not. If you do not, will you and your partner create your "own" embryos (using your own sperm and eggs), or will you use a donor(s). If you will create your own embryos, an IVF cycle is usually between $12,000-$20,000 (with medications). If you need an egg donor, this can be an additional $5,000-20,000 (this cost depends partially on whether you find a donor independently or through an agency). Donor sperm is much cheaper, about $500-1,000. If either donor is not anonymous, there may be extra legal fees for them to deny parentage toward the end of the pregnancy/when baby is born. Embryo adoption is also an option. From what I've seen, donor embryos cost around $4,000-6,000 and you may get between 2 and 6 embryos. Each transfer will cost around $4,000-6,000 (including meds). To make things even more complicated (but sometimes better), most IVF clinics offer some sort of packages. They may offer various unlimited transfer packages, with or without donors, etc. There are often a number of options. You should review these and decide if your clinic has a package that makes financial sense for your situation.

Once your surrogate gets pregnant, medical costs will vary depending on her insurance plan. Sometimes her insurance is not used at all until she is released to her OB, which can be around 10 weeks gestation. Until that point, you may be paying for lab work and ultrasounds out of pocket. When her insurance is being used, you will, of course, have to pay for whatever copays and/or co-insurance are applicable under her plan.

​

​

​