Surrogacy Cost for Intended Parents
How Much Does Surrogacy Cost?
In Pennsylvania, the total cost of a gestational surrogacy journey typically ranges from $150,000 to $170,000 depending on medical, legal, and individual factors. Surrogacy costs like professional service fees, clinic costs, surrogate compensation, and contingent compensation are important things for intended parents to understand before starting the process.
At our Pennsylvania-based surrogacy agency, we believe intended parents deserve a clear, honest picture of what to expect financially so there are no surprises along the way.
For a closer look at what surrogates receive and why, see our full surrogate compensation breakdown.
Sample Surrogacy Cost Breakdown
Agency & Professional Services
Medical Clearance Completion
$1,500
Agency Costs
Retainer: $2,500, Match $15,000, Legal Clearance $12,500, Pregnancy Confirmation $10,000
$40,000
Legal Fees
$10,000
Escrow
$2,000
Insurance for Surrogate
Excluding Health Insurance
$2,000
Clinic Costs
Surrogate Medical Screening & 1 IVF Cycle Does not include cost to create embryos; Clinic Costs Vary
$10,000
Surrogate Compensation
Base Compensation
Received in 8 installments during the pregnancy
$60,000
Monthly Allowance
$300/month from legal clearance to 2 months postpartum
$4,200
Medication Start Fee
Received at the start of medications for the IVF cycle
$500
Embryo Transfer Fee
$1,500
Maternity Clothes
$1,000
Life Insurance
Policy worth a minimum of $750,000
At Cost
Counseling & Therapy
Up to 20 appointments (up to 6 months postpartum)
At Cost
Contingent Compensation
Surrogate Travel
$5,000
Surrogate Health Insurance
Co-pays, premiums, deductibles
$2,000 - $30,000
Postpartum Recovery Lost Wages
6-8 weeks
At Cost
Bed Rest
At Cost
C-Section
Additional fee if surgical delivery is required
$7,500
Multiples
$10,000
Every surrogacy journey is unique, and the sample above is not intended to act as an exhaustive list of compensation. Additional compensation scenarios may apply depending on your specific circumstances. We’ll walk you through everything so there are no surprises.
How Does Escrow Work?
Escrow is a secure financial account managed by a neutral third party. It ensures all funds related to your surrogacy journey, including surrogate compensation, medical bills, and reimbursements, are held safely and distributed according to your agreement.
Funding is added in two stages. At matching, you will fund the account with $30,000. Upon legal clearance, you will fund the account with an additional $110,000. A minimum balance of $10,000 must be maintained throughout the journey, and the account remains open for 12 months postpartum.
Calculate Your Surrogacy Costs
Our surrogacy finance calculator can help you estimate the overall expense of the process. From surrogate compensation, to FET cycle costs to legal expenses, our calculator takes into account all factors.
Please note that the figures provided by the calculator are merely estimations and may vary depending on several factors. We encourage you to take advantage of this tool to gain insight into the potential expenses associated with your surrogacy journey.
Intended Parents’ Surrogacy Cost FAQs
For more answers, visit our full intended parent FAQ page.
When do these costs come into play?
Costs are spread across the surrogacy process rather than due all at once. Agency fees are structured in stages, surrogate compensation is paid in installments throughout the pregnancy, and clinic and legal costs align with specific milestones.
We’ll walk you through the timeline during your initial consultation.
What if the first embryo transfer doesn’t work?
Additional transfers may involve added clinic and medication costs as well as an additional embryo transfer fee for the surrogate. Our agency follows SART (Society of Assisted Reproductive Technologies) guidelines and only transfers a single PGT-tested embryo per cycle, so it’s worth factoring the possibility of multiple cycles into your planning.
Are surrogacy costs tax deductible?
Tax treatment of surrogacy expenses can vary depending on your situation. We recommend consulting a tax professional familiar with surrogacy to understand what may or may not be deductible.
Ready to Start Your Surrogacy Journey?
If you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming a parent through surrogacy, we’d love to hear from you. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals and get a personalized overview of what to expect.