All pregnancies involve risk, but surrogacy arrangements need to be especially mindful of medical risks to the baby and the birth mother, but also serious financial risks to the intended parents. Complications or unexpected events may require weeks of expensive care in neonatal intensive care units. More than 12 % of all babies in the United States are born prematurely, and can require critical care, costing thousands of dollars every day. Complications including gestational diabetes or hypertension can require ongoing treatments throughout the pregnancy.
While a standard pregnancy may be affordable, medical complications can mean financial ruin for the parents and surrogate. This is why adequate and proper insurance coverage for the surrogate mother, the baby, and the intended parents is important in the surrogacy journey. In this article, you will learn about relevant information about surrogacy and how insurance could help pay for a surrogate mother.
What Is Surrogacy?
Individuals or couples who have problems conceiving a child may consider surrogacy, which is a legal process wherein a woman agrees to bear an embryo fertilized in a laboratory until it becomes viable for childbirth.
People who can't bear children due to medical reasons or those in same-sex relationships can still become parents with the help of surrogacy. However, the surrogacy process can be a long journey requiring patience and consideration for the emotions of everyone involved. It’s a life-changing decision that should be made after careful deliberation.
In addition, the task of finding the right surrogate mother can sometimes prove to be a difficult process. No matter how careful you are in choosing the perfect surrogate mother for your future baby, there are still some risks involved that should prompt you to provide insurance for both the surrogate mother and the newborn.
Does Health Insurance Cover A Surrogate Mother?
While some health insurance policies in the United States cover reproductive fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, it’s rare, if not impossible, to find an insurance policy that’ll cover the fertility treatments of a surrogate mother. That said, hopeful parents will need to take out a separate insurance policy for the health care of the surrogate mother.
Cost Of Insurance For A Surrogate Mother
When it comes to the actual pricing of a surrogate mother’s insurance needs, the costs can vary widely. The amount will typically differ from a few thousand dollars to more than USD$10,000, depending on whether the surrogate mother already has insurance in place and simply needs additional cover, or if they need a new policy.
Here are the necessary details that aspiring parents should know when availing insurance for the surrogate mother:
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Generally, the health insurance of the surrogate mother will not cover maternal care.
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Co-payments and deductibles are usually included in the private insurance of a surrogate mother, amounting to around USD$5,000 or more. This amount must be paid before the insurance company pays any expenses.
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A less expensive way to ensure a surrogate mother is to avail of a new insurance policy without paying any deductible.
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act includes maternity care, even for surrogate mothers. The monthly cost depends on several factors, such as age, location, and the level of coverage you choose. Obamacare insurance is available during an Open Enrollment Period (November and December).
Private Health Insurance
When intended parents have failed to apply for Obamacare insurance during the Open Enrollment Period, they’ll need to get a private insurance policy for the surrogate mother, which is more expensive. This usually costs from USD$1,000 to USD$1,500 a month, but depends on the level of coverage.
While many private policies cover maternal care, they tend to have certain limitations as well. Some of these include the following:
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The cost of the embryo transfer process to a surrogate isn’t included.
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Most insurance companies don’t cover in vitro fertilization.
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Some private insurance companies cover the artificial insemination cost for traditional surrogacy (surrogacy uses the eggs of the surrogate and the sperm of the genetic father).
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Some insurance companies provide an option to add a temporary policy to the insurance plan to cover the surrogate mother's fertility treatments, including labor and delivery.
Things To Remember When Looking For Surrogacy Insurance
People who can afford to have a baby through reproductive technologies like surrogacy should keep the following things in mind:
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Make sure to check the terms on co-payments and deductibles.
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Understand the full inclusions and exclusions of the surrogacy insurance, including the amount of coverage and any applicable fees involved.
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Before signing anything, make sure that all parties understand the terms, especially the surrogate mother.
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Hiring a lawyer is a good idea to ensure everything is legal. This will help avoid troubles in the future, such as the surrogate mother wanting to keep the baby because of emotional attachment or other personal, moral, and ethical conflicts.
Conclusion
When it comes to insurance coverage for surrogate mothers, health insurance in the United States doesn't generally cover maternal care and fertility treatments. However, aspiring parents can invest in available open market insurance policies or private health insurance policies.
For a more successful surrogacy process, understanding your insurance options is an essential element. Despite limitations and challenges, there will be ways to avail of adequate insurance coverage for the surrogate mother, as well as the newborn child.
