Surrogacy cost in the USA, how to save money?
Surrogacy offers a unique path for intended parents to fulfill their dreams of having a child. However, it is important to recognize the financial implications that come with this process, particularly in the United States, where costs can be substantial. In this article, we will provide a concise breakdown of the expenses involved in surrogacy, shedding light on the key factors that influence the overall price. By gaining a better understanding of the financial considerations, prospective parents can make informed decisions and effectively plan their surrogacy journey.
How Much Does US Surrogacy Cost?
If you’re pricing IVF Surrogacy (surrogacy using own oocytes and the partner’s sperm) at fertility clinics in the United States, expect to be quoted roughly $100,000 to $199,000 for one cycle, and between $200,000 and $250,000 for the guaranteed surrogacy program. For cases when Egg Donation IVF is recommended or required, the price tag will be heavier. If you are going with Egg Donation Surrogacy, keep in mind that the base fee may start at $100,000 with an approximate cost of $225,000, but your journey may come up to $300,000 depending on the case, needs, preferences, circumstances, legislation, and location. Let’s delve into surrogacy cost breakdown to understand why numbers are so high and what may affect the pricing.
Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Low-Cost Surrogacy.
Starting with a basic surrogacy program may help you to save $100,000 compared to embarking on premium surrogacy with guaranteed results. But in some cases, investing under $100,000 or roughly $100,000 to $199,000 for one cycle and having no embryos banked to start a frozen embryo transfer backup in case of failure may result in doubling the total cost of surrogacy.
This, however, doesn’t mean you’ll pay that figure and be done, especially if you selected a pay–per–attempt bundle that covers only necessary screenings and procedures without guarantees, backups, extra trials, or any more comprehensive screenings and diagnostics. To start with, there are parts of the IVF and surrogacy process — some required, some on demand, and some optional — that most clinics treat as add–ons to the base fee. Depending on your needs, a single IVF cycle using own genetic material can cost $30,000 or more. More often, the total bill will fall somewhere between $15,000 and $25,000.
US Surrogacy Agency Fees: Between $30,000 and $50,000 & Up.
Surrogacy agencies and the services they offer differ from agency to agency and from state to state. In some states, the agency fees are under $30,000, while in others, they reach up to $50,000 and up. The size, experience, and staffing of an agency also affect the total cost of its services. Small agencies may offer less expensive services, but their staff can be limited to one or two dedicated case managers who have to coordinate several surrogacies at once and don’t have much time to resolve each issue or have limited time for answering the questions and navigating you through. Large agencies may have their own networks and branches across the United States, multilingual coordinators, case managers, after–hours assistants, financial advisors, and many more. The cost of services in middle and large agencies will be higher, but you will have access to more detailed information and can communicate with more specialists without waiting for a week. One more positive thing about the large agency is that they work with many fertility clinics, egg donation agencies, have a database of potential prescreened surrogate mothers or are experienced in hiring a potential surrogate mother within two months, and in most cases, don’t have a waiting list. Some agencies with a higher fee will perform all the legal work, counseling, surrogate mother hiring and screening, account management, and more. In contrast, other agencies keep their agency fees lower and charge individually for these services in a pay–per–service mode.
Compensation to the Surrogate Mother: Between $30,000 and $90,000.
US surrogate mothers base pay is between $30,000 and $90,000. It depends on her experience (first–time surrogate mothers are less expensive compared to second– or third–time surrogate moms), her health criteria (premium surrogate mothers may have strict criteria like no more than one Cesarean delivery and no more than two previous deliveries while classic surrogate mother’s health criteria can be more extensive: no more than three Cesarean deliveries, and no more than four previous deliveries, etc.), her location (in some US states surrogate mother’s base compensation is lower than in the others), and the number of babies she carries (singleton pregnancy is less expensive than multiple pregnancy; and for carrying one more baby cost ranges from $10,000 and up).
Travel Expenses and Accommodation: Starting At $10,000 and Up.
Expect to add to your base surrogacy budget expenses associated with the surrogate mother’s travel and accommodation if she has to travel to the intended parents’ state or the intended parents’ own expenses if they have to travel to their surrogate mother’s state. In some cases, the travel expenses of the surrogate mother can be covered by the surrogacy program’s base cost.
For fresh egg donation cycles, the intended parents may have to cover travel expenses and accommodation of the egg donor and her companion (if she travels not alone). Routinely, the fresh egg donation cycle from screening to egg retrieval takes up to four weeks; thus, consider booking the tickets and accommodation (hotel or apartment) for one month of staying.
If starting surrogacy without an agency, add an extra $10,000 and up if your surrogate mother has to travel to your state and stay there for screening, embryo transfer, two weeks before the delivery and one week after she gave the birth). If you need to travel for surrogacy to the other state too and need to undergo an IVF, book accommodation for one month plus one extra week to make sure that if stimulation takes longer or you have to undergo multiple egg retrievals, you have a space to stay in and budget an extra $10,000 to cover travel expenses.
Health Insurance for the Surrogate Mother: from $20,000 to $30,000.
The financial aspect of surrogacy extends beyond the costs associated with the actual procedure itself. One critical consideration is the health insurance coverage for the surrogate, which typically ranges from $15,000 to $30,000. Unfortunately, navigating the intricacies of insurance policies about surrogacy can be complex and challenging. In fact, it is common for many health insurers to provide only limited coverage or even outright exclude surrogacy–related expenses from their plans. This leaves intended parents responsible for bearing the financial burden associated with comprehensive healthcare for the surrogate throughout the pregnancy. Consequently, the cost of securing suitable health insurance becomes a significant factor to consider when embarking on a surrogacy arrangement.
Legal fees: Up to $20,000.
Navigating the legal landscape surrounding surrogacy is an integral part of the process, requiring the expertise of an experienced surrogacy lawyer. These legal professionals play a crucial role in ensuring that your surrogacy journey proceeds smoothly and in accordance with the applicable laws, which can vary significantly from state to state and even internationally. Consequently, it is essential to allocate a budget for legal fees, which can range up to $20,000.
Counseling Services: Up To $8,000.
Amidst the myriad of expenses involved in the surrogacy process, counseling services constitute another crucial aspect that commands consideration. These services, which can amount to approximately $8,000, hold significant importance as they cater to the emotional and psychological well–being of all parties involved in this unique journey.
In most cases, reputable surrogacy clinics and agencies require both the intended parents and the surrogate to undergo counseling. This step is particularly emphasized when the surrogate is embarking on her first surrogacy experience. The rationale behind this requirement is two–fold: to provide comprehensive support and guidance to those involved and to ensure that everyone is well–prepared to handle the emotional complexities that may arise during the surrogacy journey.
Expenses and Other Payments to the Surrogate Mother: $10,000 to $20,000.
Expenses and additional payments to the surrogate mother typically range from $10,000 to $20,000. These may cover items such as maternity clothing, travel to the clinic, childcare, housekeeping assistance towards the end of pregnancy, and additional life insurance. These financial considerations ensure the surrogate mother’s well–being and provide compensation for her commitment throughout the pregnancy.
Embryo creation using own gametes: $20,000 and up. Embryo creation using the donor’s eggs: $16,000 and up to $50,000.
Cost of IVF Surrogacy in the United States.
As mentioned above, depending on your needs, the basic pay–per–attempt surrogacy bundle may cover only one IVF cycle and only one embryo transfer attempt. In case of a failed cycle or failed fertilization, or failed implantation, the base price tag of $100,000 will change approximately to $120,000 for a new IVF with fresh embryo transfer (plus $20,000 for the IVF) or $109,000 for frozen embryo transfer backup (plus $9,000 for FET). The numbers are flexible as depending on the new IVF program’s specifications or any backups you have in your basic program, some of the expenses might be covered by the base fee, like preparation of the surrogate mother for a new trial or medications for IVF. A few surrogacy programs include tandem IVF cycle (synchronization of the intended mother’s cycle and the donor’s cycle or using fresh/frozen intended mother’s oocytes and the donor’s eggs to generate two embryonic cohorts within one cycle) as a backup option or include using frozen donor’s eggs in case fresh embryo transfer resulted in implantation failure or miscarriage. The cost of such programs starts at $125,000 and higher. Still, for intended mothers wishing to try an IVF with their eggs while being diagnosed with low ovarian reserve, hormonal issues, ovarian issues, or poor egg quality, it is a powerfully purposeful opportunity to produce embryos with their genetic makeup and be the biological mothers and to have an egg donor backup in case of a failed cycle. Also, in most cases, it is possible to transfer two embryos to the surrogate mother — one embryo made of the intended mother’s oocytes and the other one made using the donor’s eggs, or, as an alternative, to vitrify the embryos containing the donor’s DNA and try first the embryo(s) made of intended mother’s oocyte(s), and if it doesn’t work — to devitrify the embryos generated using the donor eggs and try them.
Starting a Tandem IVF cycle after failed IVF (if it is not covered by the base cost) or switching to an Egg Donation program may result in an extra $30,000 minimum. Still, it is a brilliant option to have a new trial with a backup plus, if there would be good quality embryos with high implantation potency and survival potential — they can be banked for future use, for, i.e., when you decide that it is the time to have one more child to complete your family, surrogacy using a frozen embryo would be less expensive.
Egg Donation Surrogacy Cost in the United States.
For intended parents starting an Egg Donor IVF and converting it to surrogacy, the cost of Guaranteed Birth of IVF may bring their IVF bill up to $50,000 (an extra $20,000). Depending on the Egg Donation program selected — frozen or fresh, the price tag of IVF using the donor’s eggs can go down or up. The second thing that affects the pricing of egg donation is the type of egg donor: standard or premium. Elite egg donors participating in premium egg donations are more expensive compared to the other egg donors. On the other hand, if the intended parent is looking for unique or specific features, like the color of skin, the color or shape of the eyes, hair color or hairstyle (wavy, curled), or any other physical characteristic which only elite donor has, — investing in premium egg donation is worth it as you will have not only the guaranteed number of eggs but also the desirable physical features which will be passed to your baby as the egg donor transmits her DNA with a baby conceived via IVF. The third thing that may increase the total cost of egg donation is the donor’s location. When choosing a traveling egg donor, consider travel expenses, including booking and paying for tickets and accommodation for the donor’s stay, screening fees (even if the donor has been prescreened in her country or one month ago when donated her eggs for another IVF, the screening policy will involve the new screenings and tests).
For cycles with frozen donor eggs, the cost of an egg batch (6–8 eggs) ranges between $16,000 and $25,000, with an average price tag of $19,500. The total cost can be affected by the shipping fees (export, import, legal fees, fees associated with transportation), the number of eggs, the type of egg donation (standard or premium), and the guarantees from the egg bank. For example, some US–based Frozen Egg Banks guarantee that for each cohort of 6 eggs, the intended parent(s) will have one blastocyst embryo for either transfer or freeze by day 7. If this guarantee is not met, some of the Frozen Egg Banks guarantee that they will ship a second batch of frozen donor eggs at no additional cost. But in almost all cases, the guarantee comes with one nuance — recipients are only eligible for a replacement batch with a confirmation of a normal semen analysis from the IVF clinic.
Indeed, an alternative option goes in 70% of cases without guarantees and may help you save up to $ 30,000 on egg donation. Purchasing fewer donor’s vitrified eggs or paying per egg may result in up to $3,900 per one frozen egg, and in some cases, this cost may cover only an egg without shipping expenses. For cases when you are investing $10,000 in four donor’s eggs or ordering three eggs from an elite egg donor to embark on premium egg donor IVF and paying $11,900 for them may be perfect if all of the eggs survive devitrification, will be fertilized with a good–quality sperm, and turn into viable embryos. You may have to pay shipping fees, and it may minimum add an extra $1,900 or more* (*up to $9,000 depending on the country; in the USA, $3,000 to $ 4,900), but the price tag with $13,000 is less expensive than the price tag $49,000. However, if the purchased donor’s eggs will not result in viable embryos, you will have to pay an additional $13,000 or more and end up with $26,000 (plus $10,000 compared to the basic cost of 6–8 donor’s eggs).
For fresh egg donation cycles, the price may go up to $29,000 for the standard egg donation cycle and up to $50,000, including medication, when selecting a premium egg donor and the guaranteed program. The cost of a fresh egg donation cycle consists of Egg Donor Agency Fee, Escrow Fees to include Egg Donor Compensation, Legal Coordination between Prospective Parent and Egg Donor, Egg Donor Attorney Fee (if needed), Egg Donor Insurance Coverage, and Escrow Account Management Fee. Standardly, the cost of an egg donation package does not cover Associated Medical Costs (all egg donor costs associated with the IVF procedures, including medical testing, screening, laboratory, medications, ultrasounds, and fertility clinic visits are additional), and travel expenses (tickets, hotel accommodations, transfers to a fertility clinic and back to hotel or apartment).
Another option is “egg banking,” when an egg donor goes through a cycle to retrieve and freeze her eggs, and the intended parent(s) are using frozen donor eggs in the IVF cycle. This type of egg donation can be beneficial if there are no frozen eggs available that the intended parent is interested in, and travel expenses of the egg donor are too high, the donor doesn’t want to travel abroad to make a donation, or the intended parent would like to eliminate traveling egg donor expenses and associated costs. Routinely, this option involves cycling the egg donor, freezing her eggs, and shipping either 1 cohort of eggs (6–8) or all of the eggs retrieved from the donor (on average, 16–24). Shipping 1 cohort of eggs from a fresh egg donor starts at $23,000. Shipping all of the eggs from a fresh donor starts at $42,000.
The exact cost depends on the specific donor’s compensation and location. The process of a fresh donor cycle takes a bit longer since the Egg Donor Agency or fertility clinic has to screen the egg donor and schedule her IVF cycle. Usually, the process takes 3–5 months, from when you choose the egg donor to when the cryopreserved eggs arrive at your designated fertility clinic. It is also essential to note that depending on the specific regulations and laws in your country, the process can take longer (i.e., Legal & Customs process or if your country requires the donor’s contest or if your country requires a second confirmatory negative HIV blood test on the egg donor six months after egg retrieval, and so on).
Navigating the Costs of US Gestational Surrogacy with Frozen Embryos.
The total surrogacy using devitrified embryo price tag can range from $80,000 to $130,000, including embryo transportation, devitrification, transfer of an embryo, and surrogacy–related expenses and fees in the basic bundle. Some basic bundles can cost less than $79,000 and include only the thawing of an embryo, its transfer, surrogacy expenses, and the surrogate’s base pay, and may not cover embryo transportation.
Frozen embryo eligibility for surrogacy may reduce the surrogacy cost of up to $20,000 in case of elimination of IVF using own eggs and sperm or up to $40,000 in case of IVF with egg donation. But before starting the process of embryo transportation, you will need to consult with an agency representative or an experienced surrogacy attorney concerning the legal aspects, including if a donor’s contest is needed for embryos created using the donor’s eggs and any other documents necessary for embryo transportation.
CryoShipper renting or purchasing, legal & customs support, transportation of an embryo from clinic to clinic/state to state or from abroad to the United States, devitrification in the IVF lab, preimplantation genetic testing if needed, and if the embryo has not been prescreened, mock embryo transfer, and transfer of an embryo to the surrogate mother is less expensive compared to an IVF surrogacy or Egg Donation IVF and gestational surrogacy.
Depending on the legislation, the location where the intended parents banked their embryo (embryos), the cost for cryogenic transportation may be lower or higher, and the whole transportation process may be longer or shorter.
Transportation of the embryos from one US state to another approximately costs between $3,000 and $5,000 and takes between 2 and 6 days. Transportation of the embryos from South America is more expensive, with the pricing between $3,700 to $6,900 with a timeframe of 2–6 days. Canadian couples or US residents depositing their embryos in Canada may expect to pay between $3,000 and $6,000 for embryo shipping services with an approximate timeframe between 2 and 6 days. European and other intended parents with IVF embryos cryopreserved in Europe should budget between $1,900 to $3,000 and have a shorter estimated delivery duration — from 2 to 4 days. Intended parents who store their embryos in Asia will be charged between $3,000 to $4,900 embryo transportation fees and 2–6 days of waiting time before their embryo(s) arrive at the designated clinic for further thawing, testing, and transfer. Having an embryo in Africa and wishing to ship it to the United States will result in $3,900 to $4,900 and a similar delivery timeline: 2–6 days. Those whose embryos are stored in Australia have to expect transportation fees between $3,700 to $5,900 and the waiting timeframe between 4 and 10 days.
After the embryo(s) has (have) been delivered to a fertility clinic for being used in surrogacy, your surrogacy budget will be charged between $7,900 and $11,900, including medication like progesterone shots. In some cases, the price may be higher than mentioned, depending on the case, medication, type of tests needed, etc.
For those looking for Genetic Testing to be done (if it is not included in the base surrogacy bundle) additional $1,900 to $9,000 will be charged. Depending on which genetics lab your clinic outsources its testing (if the clinic does not perform testing itself), the type of testing (there are multiple types of tests, and you will likely pay separately for each), the technique used, and the number of prescreened embryos, the final cost of genetic testing can be higher than $9,000.
Exploring Cost–Saving Options in US Surrogacy: Independent Surrogacy and Compassionate Arrangements.
Using a gestational carrier typically comes with legal fees and medical expenses. There are also agency fees if you choose to use an agency, as well as the fee paid to the woman for carrying the baby. But agency fees and fees for growing a baby can be eliminated when embarking on independent surrogacy and having a surrogate mother. This could save around $30,000 to $79,000, which is paid as compensation to the surrogate mother. You can save an additional $20,000 to $49,000 on agency services crossing out of the list of unnecessary ones or going without an agency but hiring a surrogacy attorney to legalize the surrogacy process.
Having a family member, a relative, or a close friend wishing to help and volunteering to be a surrogate mother may save up to $225,000 of the surrogacy budget. Having a close friend or a relative wishing to be a surrogate mother may be perfect for those who have a limited surrogacy budget which covers only IVF or frozen embryo transfer, pregnancy–related expenses, and delivery costs, including maternity hospital stays. When budgeting an altruistic surrogacy, it is essential to include incidentals (such as surgeries, emergency Cesarean section, preemie care, newborn intensive care unit, and the other things which may go along with a surrogacy pregnancy).
Compassionate surrogacy is the type of surrogacy arrangement in which the surrogate mother does not receive the base pay for her services and gets only reimbursed for IVF and incidentals. The intended parents have to pay for surrogacy lawyer services, fertility clinic services, insurance, pregnancy–related expenses, and delivery fees. In case of incidentals, the intended parents have to pay all medical expenses and fees involved in recovery, such as screenings, investigations, laboratory fees, medication, procedure(s), hospital stay, and hospital care services.
Most compassionate, also called altruistic surrogacies, are made between relatives or close friends wishing to help the intended parent or couple just because they love them and want to do their best. For example, there are many compassionate surrogacies in which the mother or sister of one of the intended parents or, in case the intended parent is single — his/her mother, sister, sister–in–law, or nephew becomes a surrogate mother and makes their dream of having a child to come true. But some compassionate surrogacies are between the surrogate mothers and the intended parents, who are not family members or close friends. In such cases, the intended parents and the surrogate mothers can find each other without agency or can be matched by the agency. In the first case, the matching services are not necessary, and if applying for agency services, the intended parents are not charged the matching fees. In the second case, if a compassionate surrogate mother is matched with potential intended parents, they should pay the matching fee.
One more type of compassionate surrogacy is “traditional surrogacy,” in which the surrogate mother acts as an Egg Donor and shares her DNA with the baby she carries. This type of surrogacy is not permitted in most US states, but there are a few that are open to it. Couples or single intended parents who have a family member who would like to be their surrogate mother can benefit from traditional surrogacy as their baby will have a unique genetic makeup of their family, and they don’t have to use the donor’s eggs. Also, it can be beneficial for those who have a close friend and would like their child to have similar physical features as their friend. In other cases, when the intended parents are matched with a traditional surrogate mother who does not belong to their family or who is not their close friend should consider that traditional surrogacy arrangements may come with legal nuances and complexities as the surrogate mother will be a biological mother of the child she carries, thus, will have parental rights and will have to transfer her parental rights to the intended parents who will also have to initiate a stepparent adoption.
Conclusive Words:
Surrogacy is a complex and emotionally rewarding journey that comes with significant financial considerations. In the United States, the costs associated with surrogacy can vary greatly depending on various factors such as location, agency fees, legal expenses, medical procedures, and compensation for the surrogate mother. It is crucial for intended parents to thoroughly research and understand the financial aspects of surrogacy before embarking on this path. By seeking guidance from professionals, exploring financing options, and carefully planning their budget, prospective parents can navigate the financial challenges and make informed decisions. While the expenses may seem daunting, the joy of building a family through surrogacy often outweighs the financial investment, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of dreams and the creation of a loving family.