The Cost of Surrogacy [for Single Parents]

Families come in all different forms. Making the decision to become a single parent through surrogacy is a brave decision, and can be the beginning of a wonderful, life affirming journey.  

However, the cost of surrogacy for single parents is not something to take lightly. Though single surrogacy is possible, you’ll need to pay careful attention to your finances in order to raise the required funds.

Luckily, you don’t have to go through this alone. Surrogacy agencies maintain communities of experienced professionals ready to help you through your process.

Keep reading for an explanation of surrogacy’s cost, a discussion of the costs you might encounter as a single intended parent, and a list of financial resources you may be able to leverage for your surrogacy budget.

What is the Cost of Surrogacy for Single Parents?

Surrogacy costs between $150,000 and $179,000+. While this cost is the same as the cost for couples, individuals may face additional financial challenges from working off of a single income.

Surrogacy is possible for you. Despite the financial burden, surrogacy can be accessible to anyone with the right budget planning and careful use of resources.

There are a few factors that can significantly affect the overall cost of surrogacy:

• Cost of living in your state will affect many factors, including legal fees and agency fees.
• Cost of living in your surrogate’s home state will help determine a fair compensation baseline.
• Your surrogate’s experience will factor in. Experienced surrogates could earn more than twice the total pay of first-time surrogates.
• Your choice of surrogacy professional will be the most impactful factor in determining your overall price.

Gestational Surrogacy Fees

The costs of surrogacy for single parents are complex and widely varied, yet they can be understood. This overview of surrogacy fees and how they use their allotted funding may help you gain a better understanding of the surrogacy process and its funding.

Which surrogacy professional you choose to work with will impact the cost of your process significantly. This variation of fees can come from differences in services, or different priorities in how to use funding. Different agencies will focus on different parts of the surrogacy process, and will direct your funding accordingly.

For example, some full service agencies may focus funding on recruitment efforts and screening, while others may focus on securing legal talent and others more comfortable with risk may choose to cut corners to keep costs low. Here’s an example of what your fee breakdown may look like:

How much is it to have a Surrogate as a Single Parent?

Surrogate compensation typically ranges from $50,000 to $100,000. Your exact cost will vary based on:

• The cost of living. The purpose of surrogate compensation is to ensure your surrogate has the material essentials she needs for a successful pregnancy. Things like food, gas, and maternity clothes will cost more or less based on where she lives, and her compensation will be adjusted to reflect that.
• The surrogate’s experience. More experienced surrogates with proven, uncomplicated births are highly sought after. They also may be operating with limited births left, as most agencies will only match a surrogate for 5 or 6 gestations. Because of these factors, experienced surrogates often require more compensation.
• The agency you choose. Some agencies prioritize their surrogates, meaning your price may be higher. However, even with these higher prices, going with one of these agencies may be worth it. These agencies attract reliable, qualified surrogates frequently, letting them keep wait times low and success rates high.

What Value Do You Get for the Costs of Surrogacy?

Working with surrogacy agencies can be expensive, but full-service agencies provide so many benefits, it’s easy to understand why so many intended parents choose to work with them. Agencies return funding to parents in three important ways:

• Short Wait Times: Finding a surrogate can take quite a while for all kinds of intended parents, however, when working with a full service agency you could experience wait times as low as a few weeks.
• Preventative Screening: Solving potential problems before they come up is one of the main motivators to work with an agency. By screening and certifying surrogates before matching them, full-service agencies help you avoid dedicating resources to a surrogacy with a low chance of completion.
• Financial Security: Especially for a single intended parent, financial losses can be devastating, and may stop some from being able to grow their family. With a full service agency, built in financial protections can ensure a portion of your funding is protected in the event of a surrogacy interruption.

If you’re comparing different surrogacy professionals, ask them about benefits like financial protection, wait times, and surrogate screening. You could also contact us for help connecting with the best full-service agency for you.

What is the Cost of Surrogacy with Insurance?

Your insurance may or may not help with your surrogacy, depending on your provider and policy. Some policies will cover your surrogate’s medical costs, while others exclude surrogate expenses entirely.

If you’re in the market for new insurance, there are many surrogate-friendly options to choose from. Progeny and Tricare extend some benefits to surrogates on nearly all their plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Kaiser, Cigna and Aetna may or may not extend to surrogates, depending on the details of your policy.

Visit American Surrogacy’s site to learn more about surrogacy insurance, or contact your insurance agent.

IVF Costs for Surrogacy

While not directly included in the costs of surrogacy, it may be helpful to begin thinking about IVF and its fee structures. IVF can cost between $10,000 and $30,000 per round, depending on where you live and what services you need. Your insurance and employee benefits might help you with this cost.

It’s best to find a surrogacy clinic near you to help create your embryos before finding a surrogate. This can help reduce wait times overall. You can check this page for more information on local IVF clinics, and other surrogacy resources near you.

Cost Considerations for Single Parents

Single intended parents have a few additional costs to consider during the surrogacy process.

• Egg or Sperm Donation: Individuals pursuing surrogacy will need either a sperm donation, egg donation, or both. While sperm donation usually doesn’t carry significant costs, the same cannot be said for egg donation. The charges to secure a donated egg range from $30,000 to $60,000+. The disparity in cost is related to the egg retrieval process, which involves a minor surgery.
• Single Income: Financing a surrogacy with only one income can feel like an uphill battle, but the reality is surrogacy can be an attainable, affordable goal for you. Single intended parents may benefit from a different mindset than couples. For example, you may want to lean in to community funding.
• Single Parenting Expenses: Though not directly related to your surrogacy, be sure you’re prepared for the lifestyle and expenses off raising a child by yourself. Children are expensive, and dealing with the initial investment in required newborn items like a crib and a car seat combined with the cost of your surrogacy could drain your resources.

How to Afford Surrogacy as a Single Parent?

When it comes to funding surrogacy, most intended parents use a combination of different resources.

Take Mark and Cody for instance. They pooled several different resources to be able to afford the family of their dreams. You can learn more about how they funded their chance at parenthood here:

Financing Options for Affording Surrogacy

Raising the funds for surrogacy is an exercise in resource management. We’ve compiled a list of resources you may be able to use to kick start your fund, but this is only the beginning. Think outside of the box, and draw in any resources you may have that could help fund your surrogacy journey.

When Can I Get Started?

Your surrogacy journey can start as soon as you’re ready for it. You don’t have to wait any longer to begin building the family you’ve always wanted.

Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers before you begin – in fact, the sooner you can contact a surrogacy professional in this process, the better. Our team can help you fill out the details of your financial plan, and connect you with the best agency for you.

Let’s start working towards your dream. Contact us today to get started.