As you begin the journey through surrogacy, I can tell you that taking the time and effort to build your end family goal from the ground floor up will help to minimize the financial impact and maximize your results. Careful thought and significant planning are critical to every surrogacy arrangement, especially with the number of options you have to consider.
Each treatment cycle is another chance for success, but there are no guarantees. It’s important to keep your hopes up, as positivity is always good for your mind and your body. However, you should cautiously prepare yourself in case there are less-than-desirable results as well. Finding a good balance will prepare you to move forward, or stop the process, with conviction.
Money Assessment
Expect and plan for multiple cycles, and prepare to begin your treatments with realistic expectations. Of course, your personal circumstances will primarily define how you will pay for the surrogacy process. That said, there may be more options than you realize. Explore the following variables, and also look beyond them for more alternatives.
What exactly will your insurance benefits cover?
How much of a balance would you be responsible for?
Will what you have in savings cover your portion?
Do you have portfolio assets or other investments to sell?
What are the borrowing options available to you?
Insurance Matters
You will find that many health insurance policies will have specific exclusions for surrogates. Because of this factor, you should research alternative policies which might save you from considerable expenditures in the future. Depending on the state, there may be maternity policies available. And, disability and ‘complications only’ policies are frequently taken out as an offset to personal financial risk.
Have a licensed insurance agent perform a ‘gap analysis’ to help determine how you can best optimize the benefits you may receive. The agent must take into account what works best for your given situation, as well as the surrogate’s, the state in which the child will be delivered, as well as how these factors might impact the individual risk aversion on which you are rated.
Selecting the Specialists
There are two doctors involved in the IVF process; the reproductive endocrinologist and the embryologist. Typically they work in tandem within a fertility center onsite or close to a hospital setting.
Be sure to do your research and find specialists who have higher than average national success rates. Additionally that they are familiar with and experienced in the individual treatment you are considering as an option for your specific diagnosis.
Choosing Your Surrogate
If you have explored possible resources, you’ve no doubt discovered that some clinics provide egg donor recruiting in-house. Unfortunately, these programs are usually small and made up of only donors proximate to the business (causing a lengthy wait list). Agencies frequently have higher numbers of candidates, though sifting through them for an ideal surrogate can be overwhelming.
Newborn Advantage has established strategic associations with nationwide agencies; giving us access to an extensive portfolio of available and qualified egg donors and surrogate candidates. Be aware of the risks from identifying a candidate on your own via the Internet – they aren’t screened and this method doesn’t give you the advantage of having a 3rd party advocating on your behalf.
Your Backup Team
You will want to cover yourself for all the aspects of this journey that you could possibly encounter. Addressing your emotional, physical and financial needs is crucial for success, and having a strong connection with the following support partners will serve you well.
Financial planner – To establish clear parameters for the upcoming expenditures, taking into consideration multiple cycles and ancillary costs.
Estate planner – Before the surrogate undergoes the transfer of an embryo, you will want someone to draft directives and desires; essentially anticipating unforeseen circumstances that may arise. All parties involved should be protected.
Legal representative – Is your state surrogacy friendly; i.e. will it allow you to achieve parentage after birth? In some states intended parents must have a ‘pre-birth’ order to have their names on the birth certificate after birth. Certain states require you to formally adopt the child after the surrogate delivers, while others allow the intended parents to have their name on the certificate at birth if one parent is biologically related.
How else does state law affect your surrogacy? Well, the way in which embryos are created, and with whose biological material, can affect the big picture. Therefore, from state to state your individual situation will definitely impact the options in which you may choose a surrogate. It’s also important that your surrogate has like-minded intentions for the upcoming term of pregnancy.