For many parents, the joy of raising a child is priceless — but in surrogacy, a number of professionals and services are required to make that happen. This causes many intended parents to ask, “How much does surrogacy cost?”
There are three types of surrogacy expenses that determine the overall surrogacy cost:
- Southern Surrogacy’s Program Fee
- Surrogate compensation and reimbursement for expenses
- Additional professional services, including medical costs
Below you will find additional details about each of these expenses, as well as the services you will receive in exchange, with our surrogacy cost breakdown:
Understanding Southern Surrogacy’s Pricing Structure
Southern Surrogacy, now part of Bright Futures Families, which takes a match fee upon acceptance of a match with a surrogate and breaks agency fees into monthly installment payments, making the path to parenthood more accessible. Here is a breakdown of what is included in our service:
- Marketing and Recruitment Services: Southern Surrogacy markets to potential gestational carriers throughout the southern states. We work with women from a variety of backgrounds, so you can find the perfect surrogate who matches your criteria.
- Screening Services: Every prospective surrogate who contacts Southern Surrogacy undergoes an extensive screening process, background checks, review of health insurance, psychological evaluation and more. We get to know each of our surrogates personally to determine whether they are ready for the surrogacy process. In addition, following the match, we will coordinate your surrogate’s medical screening with your designated fertility clinic.
- Matching Services: Our surrogacy program focuses on finding the perfect match for each of our clients. We provide the services you need to find the right surrogate for your family and to help you develop a strong, trusting relationship with her.
- Referrals to Additional Professionals: Southern Surrogacy has developed close relationships with top fertility specialists, mental health professionals, obstetricians, and hospitals throughout Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee.
- Coordination of Trust Services: The surrogacy costs paid to your gestational carrier will be managed through an escrow account. Southern Surrogacy will provide a referral for account administration and oversight of the trust.
- Case Management and Oversight: Our Southern Surrogacy case manager will provide oversight and legal case coordination throughout the entire surrogacy process. Our staff is always available to answer your questions and provide the surrogacy information and guidance you need throughout the process.
Breakdown of Southern Surrogacy Payment Installments
- Southern Surrogacy is proud to offer a 20% discount to active duty military members.
- Application Fee: $500 paid following consultation when you decide to join the waitlist.
- Matching Fee: $10,000 due upon match acceptance.
- Monthly Agency Fee: This fee starts upon match acceptance. Note that a typical surrogacy journey lasts 18-21 months.
- Months 1-20: $1,800
- Months 21-36: $900
- Months beyond 37: $450
- Surrogate Rematch Fee: $10,000 may apply under certain circumstances.
To learn more about our program fee and surrogacy expenses, please contact us to schedule a complimentary phone consultation.
Navigating Surrogate Compensation and Reimbursement
One of the most major expenses impacting the overall cost of gestational surrogacy is surrogate compensation. In exchange for her commitment of time and energy, intended parents provide base compensation for their surrogate, as well as reimbursement for all pregnancy-related costs and expenses incurred during the process.
Typically, a surrogate’s base compensation is between $50,000 and $60,000 and can vary based on a number of factors, including her location, experience with surrogacy, and more. This base compensation amount will be determined prior to the embryo transfer and will be included in your surrogacy contract.
In addition, she will need to be reimbursed for all pregnancy and surrogacy expenses incurred during the process, including:
- Legal services provided by an independent attorney for the surrogate arranged by Southern Surrogacy
- Medical costs, including fertility treatments, prenatal care, and insurance copays, deductibles
- Counseling services, if requested
- Travel expenses to attend medical appointments
- Maternity clothes
- And more
Depending on the circumstances of the pregnancy, there may be additional gestational surrogacy costs. For example, if your surrogate is carrying multiples, if she is placed on bed rest or if she requires additional invasive procedures, additional compensation may be required.
The surrogate will begin receiving base compensation in monthly disbursements once pregnancy has been confirmed. Reimbursements for the cost of surrogacy will also be paid in a monthly expense allowance.
At the signing of your surrogacy agreement, the escrow account will need to be funded with the total base compensation, as well as additional funds for the surrogate’s anticipated costs.
Other Professional Service Fees
Aside from the services provided by Southern Surrogacy, other professionals’ fees will impact the overall cost of surrogacy. These additional gestational surrogacy costs may include:
- Medical Services: You will be responsible for all fees due to your fertility clinic, including the IVF surrogacy cost and fertility medications. The cost for surrogacy medical procedures may vary based on the fertility clinic you choose, the number of embryo transfer attempts required, your insurance situation and the circumstances of the pregnancy.
- Insurance Costs: In many cases, Southern Surrogacy is able to confirm that the surrogate’s health insurance covers her pregnancy. You will then be responsible for all copays and deductibles for the surrogate’s health insurance during her pregnancy, and you will also need to provide life insurance coverage for her. Also, some intended parents choose to purchase a “back-up” insurance policy to reduce the risk of a medical claim being denied. If the surrogate’s policy excludes surrogacy, then Southern Surrogacy will assist in obtaining an appropriate policy, and the premiums will be paid by you if you choose to match with her.
- Psychological Screening: Southern Surrogacy will arrange for your surrogate to complete a psychological evaluation with your chosen mental health professional. While Southern Surrogacy arranges for this as part of their initial screening, if your clinic requires a specific provider or additional services, you will be responsible for the cost of these services.
- Legal Services: Southern Surrogacy will work with you to arrange appropriate legal counsel that practices law in the state the surrogate will give birth, as well as an attorney for the gestational carrier. You will be responsible for these expenses.
If you have not already selected professionals to provide the above services, Southern Surrogacy can provide referrals to top service providers throughout Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee.
What is the Total Cost of Surrogacy?
As you can see, there are many professionals and services required to complete a successful surrogacy; this is why it’s important to have an experienced agency, such as Southern Surrogacy, to help coordinate and manage the surrogacy process. In addition, there are a number of variables that can impact the total price of surrogacy, making it difficult to definitively answer the question, “How much is surrogacy?”
Depending on a number of factors, including the surrogate’s experience and circumstances and the course of her pregnancy, the total average cost of surrogacy typically starts at around $175,000, not including medical costs. While the cost of surrogacy can be significant, there are a number of financing and fundraising options available to hopeful intended parents.
Southern Surrogacy will explain our program fees and other anticipated costs in-depth with you at the beginning of the surrogacy process. We will help you create a realistic budget and search for a potential surrogate whose financial needs are a good fit for your surrogacy plan.
To learn more about surrogacy costs and the services provided by Southern Surrogacy, please contact us.
