Surrogacy 101

There are some states where surrogacy is considered legal. An example of this would be the Golden State of California, where there are already developed regulations on the procedure. Despite the emerging fame of this medical procedure, there are lots of people who are still confused with this process.

 

How is this procedure defined?

Before we define Surrogacy, let us understand why it came about in the first place. It is a known fact that not all can easily procreate and start their own family. This is true for infertile heterosexual couples and gay couples who, obviously, can’t bear their own child since they are of the same sex.

Science has come up with an answer in the form of Surrogacy. This process becomes possible by means of IVF; this is the process of fertilizing an egg outside the human body. If the woman is not capable of carrying the fertilized egg (embryo) to term, the solution is surrogacy. Therefore, this can be defined as the process by which a couple (intended parents) goes into contract with another woman (surrogate) to carry their fertilized egg or embryo.

 

Is there an association between the surrogate and the child?

There is a term specifically called, “gestational surrogacy,” which implies the surrogate carries the child in her womb and does not have any genetic association with the baby. Traditional surrogacy, on the other hand, involves either natural or most commonly, artificial insemination using the intended father’s sperm and the surrogate’s egg. This creates a genetic connection and is somewhat considered legally complex.

 

Are there circumstances that a surrogate claims the child?

Just before a surrogate is ultimately chosen, testing and screenings will be administered to check the surrogate’s overall capacity to carry out this procedure. To safeguard the best interests of all parties concerned, legal documentations are created and acknowledged to ensure that certain expectations are laid out and followed.

 

How much is the cost?

Admittedly, this process is expensive. There are a lot of costs to consider starting with the surrogate’s compensation down to the medical bills. It is ideal to find the best agency or clinic to know which can cater to the intended parents’, as well as the surrogate’s specific needs.

 

Is Surrogacy legal?

In Florida, as well as other states like Oregon, and Illinois, this procedure is considered legal and also have their own defined laws on the process. Some states, however, have their own different insights on the matter such as New York and New Jersey.

Surrogate Cost Insurance Questions & Answers

Surrogate Cost: The 3 Biggest Surrogacy Insurance Questions Answered

Surrogacy is a wonderful journey that leads to the creation of families, but there are a lot of details to be worked out, and the process can be confusing. One of the biggest sources of confusion is the overall surrogate cost. The biggest factor that affects the financial aspect is the surrogacy insurance coverage. Because the surrogate insurance has such a big impact on the financial cost, it is important to understand as much as possible about how the coverage works. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about surrogacy insurance:

Question 1: What is the advantage of being covered for surrogacy over someone who has no surrogacy insurance coverage?

The intended parents face a great deal of expenses regarding the surrogacy process. They have to pay for fertility medications, the surrogate’s stipend, agency fees and legal expenses. If a surrogate already has insurance coverage for surrogacy, the intended parents would not have to purchase a separate policy for her. Because they do not have to buy an insurance policy for that surrogate, using that surrogate is more affordable for the intended parents than using a surrogate without the surrogacy insurance coverage. Because of this, the intended parents may be more inclined to choose a surrogate who already has surrogacy insurance coverage over one with no insurance coverage so that they can save money on the surrogate cost.

Question 2: Another surrogate uses the same insurance company that I do and she got paid on her claims. Since I am using the same insurance company, will my surrogacy claims get paid, too?

No, not necessarily. Insurance policies and rules change and vary from state to state, time to time, and employer to employer. It is not a good idea to assume that because you are using the same company that you have the same policy. Surrogate agencies are experienced in researching insurance benefits for surrogacy. Ask your surrogate agency for assistance with investigating your insurance benefits.

Question 4: I qualify for Medicaid. Will Medicaid cover my surrogacy?

No, not necessarily. Another common mistake surrogates make is that they make the assumption that Medicaid always covers pregnancy. Pregnancy care and surrogacy are not considered as the same thing by the insurance company. Your surrogate agency will be able to contact medicaid for you and verify your coverage for surrogacy. In all likelihood you will not be covered for surrogacy under medicaid.

These are some of the most common insurance questions frequently asked by surrogate mothers. By understanding these questions, you will get a better idea of how your insurance works and how much they will cover, if any, of the surrogate cost. As a general rule to remember, it is not wise to assume that your insurance will just cover your claims. It is better to have your surrogate agency handle surrogacy insurance concerns, because they are experts in this field. Having a surrogate agency assist you and the intended parents will help the surrogacy journey be less complicated and more stress free.

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