Surrogacy Insurance Coverage: A Guide for Intended Parents
Beginning a surrogacy journey brings excitement and hope, but it also involves navigating some fairly complex financial considerations, including insurance coverage. Once understanding what surrogacy insurance covers and what it doesn’t, can alleviate stress and aid in financial planning during your journey. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about insurance coverage for your journey.
The Variability of Surrogacy Insurance Coverage
Surrogacy insurance coverage varies widely. In the United States, many health insurance policies do not cover healthcare expenses for a surrogate pregnancy. It’s crucial to review your policy carefully and consult with an expert in surrogacy insurance to understand your coverage fully. Firstly, Stronger Together Surrogacy connects you with a policy expert to help dissect the policy.
Legal Landscape and Policy Exclusions
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), only a minority of states have laws specifically addressing insurance coverage for surrogacy (1,2). In states without such laws, this coverage is often determined by individual policies, which particularly may have exclusions for surrogacy-related procedures. This means that intended parents need to read all the fine print and fully understand exactly what will be covered by surrogacy. They may need to budget for medical expenses not covered by insurance, including prenatal care and delivery for the surrogate.
The Importance of a Reputable Surrogacy Agency
Working with a reputable agency is highly recommended to help navigate all the complexities of insurance effectively. These professionals can provide invaluable guidance on understanding insurance policies. Also finding alternative coverage options, and advocating for the best possible outcomes.
The Benefits of Proactive Financial Planning
While surrogacy insurance coverage can be challenging to navigate, taking the time to understand your policy and seek expert advice will make a significant difference in the total cost of a journey. By being proactive and informed, intended parents can significantly better prepare for the financial aspects of the surrogacy journey, allowing them to focus on the joy of building their families.
Sources:
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). (n.d.). Insurance coverage for infertility treatment and infertility diagnosis: a committee opinion. Retrieved from https://www.asrm.org/globalassets/asrm/asrm-content/news-and-publications/practice-guidelines/for-non-members/insurance_coverage_for_infertility_treatment_and_infertility_diagnosis_a_committee_opinion-noprint.pdf
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). (2016). Considerations for Third Party Insurance Coverage in Reproductive Medicine: A Committee Opinion. Fertility and Sterility, 106(4), e3–e9. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.07.1103
