When the complex world of American health insurance meets the equally complex surrogacy arrangement! In this multipart series we will explore:
- 4 Types of surrogacy insurance – From great to dismal
- How to check health insurance for surrogate friendliness
- How to find good surrogacy insurance on the ACA marketplace
Health insurance is a major consideration in surrogacy arrangements and for good reason. Having “good” insurance helps with the goal of a healthy surrogate and a healthy baby. Medical expenses related to pregnancy can be pricey, and as many who turn to surrogacy to build their families know, the cost of pregnancy complications can be tremendous.
Surrogate friendly insurance is simply a health insurance policy that covers pregnancy care (prenatal exams, labs/blood draws, ultrasounds, medications) as well as birth (labor & delivery) for a woman acting as a surrogate or gestational carrier.
Keep in mind that this plan likely won’t cover 100% of medical expenses, just as your own insurance does not cover 100% of your medical expenses. Be sure to budget for things such as unplanned hospital stays, a referral to a high risk pregnancy specialist who may be out of network, genetic testing that may not be covered, co-pays, co-insurance etc. And don’t forget that deductibles reset every year meaning you may have to reach the deductible twice during a single surrogacy journey.
Not all health insurance will cover a surrogate pregnancy (or be “surrogate-friendly” as we like to put it). It’s hard to believe, but not all health insurances even cover pregnancy and maternity care. This is not a surprise you want to discover when bills start coming in.
For intended parents in the US, health insurance is one of the bigger budget items in a surrogacy journey. The need to purchase a new plan could add $15-20,000+ to the expense sheet.
For surrogates, being able to use their own insurance may make it easier for them to match with intended parents. They may also be able to start sooner as they wouldn’t have to wait for open enrollment and special enrollment periods to get the type of insurance needed for their surrogacy journey.
So how do you know if you have surrogate friendly insurance? Let’s dive into that topic by first understanding how insurance companies look at surrogacy.
