Surrogacy By State

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in Washington D.C.?


If cost is a concern for you as you look to grow your family, you’re not alone.

It’s a common concern and understanding everything that goes into the cost of surrogacy in Washington D.C. gives you the chance to plan for those costs.

Having the financial aspect of this life-changing journey figured out allows you to focus on the many moving parts that come with growing your family through assisted reproductive technology (ART).

If surrogacy could be right for your circumstances, we’re here for you. Contact us online to learn more about surrogacy and its ability to make your dreams of parenthood come true.

This article outlines surrogacy costs in Washington D.C., as well as surrogacy financing if needed.

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in Washington D.C.?

Surrogacy in Washington D.C., can cast anywhere from $150,000-$179,000+.

Your cost of surrogacy in Washington D.C. will depend on several factors. These factors include:

Fixed Fees

From a medical and legal standpoint, all pregnancy-related expenses are your responsibility. Your surrogate’s insurance coverage, everyone’s medical screening, legal representation and any administrative legal duties your agency may help you complete are just a few examples of medical and legal fees. 

Surrogates are compensated for helping you become a parent. This compensation includes base pay, escrow services, reimbursement for any lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses and more.

These fees cover everything an agency does to help make your surrogacy journey possible. Marketing and advertising, contact mediation and screening are just a few examples of agency fees.  

Variable Costs

Example Breakdown of Surrogacy Cost in Washington D.C.

The choices you make will paint the picture of how your surrogacy cost breakdown looks but looking at those fixed fees and variable costs discussed above, you might want to know how these costs are allocated.

Here’s an example of where your surrogacy cost can go:

ServiceCost
Agency Fees21%
Surrogate Compensation35%
Screening and Matching21%
Legal Costs11%
Medical Costs12%

What Is a Realistic Income for Surrogacy?

There is no realistic income for surrogacy. A common myth about surrogacy is that it’s only for the rich. People from all walks of life pursue surrogacy for various reasons.

 Although it can be costly, affording surrogacy is possible.

Mark and Cody looked into surrogacy knowing that having a child with a genetic connection to one of them was important to both of them. Their overall surrogacy costs came to $236,150, over $30,000 below their household income. 

They were able to afford surrogacy through:

  • Personal savings
  • Work benefits
  • Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
  • Grants
  • Loans

What Value Do You Get for the Costs of Surrogacy?

Agency fees, matching fees, screening fees — you may be asking, what does that all mean?

When it comes to the value of your investment in surrogacy, there are three primary ways an agency can impact your journey:

Finding a surrogate for your journey is one of the most important services an agency can provide. The highest value they can give you for this service is matching quickly. Some agencies can match in months, while others take years.

Becoming a surrogate isn’t an easy job. Agencies that thoroughly screen candidates before matching reduce the risks of setbacks later on. As an example: If you match with a surrogate who fails your clinic screening, you could be set back months on your timeline and thousands in sunk costs.

Pitfalls are possible along the way. Some agencies create financial protection for parents in their fee structures, while others ask intended parents to absorb additional costs when unexpected challenges arise.

When considering the cost of surrogacy in Washington D.C., make sure to ask any agency you are working with about their wait times, screening standards and financial protection.

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost with Insurance in Washington D.C.?

The cost of surrogacy in Washington D.C. with insurance will be impacted by coverage beginning in 2025.

All health insurers with individual, small or large group health benefit plans have to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility including:

  • Three rounds of IVF
  • Standard fertility preservation services
  • At least 3 complete egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers from those egg retrievals or from any oocyte egg performed before January 1, 2025.
  • The medical costs related to an embryo transfer to be made from an enrollee to a third-party; except, that the enrollee’s coverage shall not extend to any medical costs of the surrogate or gestational carrier after the embryo transfer procedure.

As these new laws start to take effect, talk to your employer and insurance provider for clarity.

How Much Does IVF and Surrogacy Cost?

The cost of IVF depends on your location and clinic. Washington Fertility Center had a price tag of$20,900 for a single IVF cycle while CCRM’s average cost for a cycle with frozen eggs is $15,595.  

Adding in the average price tag of surrogacy at $150,000-$179,000 and you can see why surrogacy financing is part of some intended parent’s path to parenthood.

How Much Does a Surrogate Cost in Washington D.C.?

Compensation for a surrogate in Washington D.C. can be anywhere from $60,000-$80,000+.Surrogate cost is comprised of base pay and expenses you’ll reimburse your surrogate for.

Your surrogate’s pay will depend on their:

  • Experience
  • Location
  • Income

The final figure will be agreed upon in your legal agreement with your surrogate.

Examples of additional compensation you will pay your surrogate include:

  • Medical reimbursements

  • Maternity clothing

  • Lost wages

  • And more

    How to Pay for Surrogacy

    If you don’t know how to pay for surrogacy, we’ve got you covered.

    There are many ways you could address different parts of your surrogacy cost breakdown with things like:

    Fundraising

    With the rise of technology, fundraising has become another way to embrace surrogacy financing.

    Sites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe allow you to raise funds online for specific causes.

    Grants

    Loans

    Surrogacy Agencies in Washington D.C.

    Your choice of professional when it comes to surrogacy plays a direct role in you becoming a parent. The services they provide are there to make the process as smooth and straightforward as possible for you.

    If you don’t know where to start, here are a few surrogacy agencies in Washington D.C.:

    Fertility Clinics in Washington D.C.

    A fertility clinic will be required for the medical side of your surrogacy journey.

    Working with a reputable clinic is crucial to getting the medical care needed for this process to help you experience parenthood.

    Here are a few clinics you can contact in Washington D.C.:

    Contact Us Today

    If surrogacy could be right for your circumstances, we’re here for you.

    We can walk you through everything surrogacy-related, from the step-by-step process you’ll follow to other important decisions such as choosing a surrogate.

    Contact us online to learn more about how to become a parent through surrogacy.

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