Health Insurance FAQs - What You Need to Know

Managing surrogacy-related medical expenses can be complex, time-consuming, and overwhelming, and insurance companies often complicate the process. As your full service surrogacy agency, it is our job to guide and protect you through every step of the surrogacy process. One essential part of your surrogacy journey is medical coverage for your surrogate.

It is a surrogate right, and a ConceiveAbilities' requirement, for intended parents to provide adequate medical coverage that covers her surrogate pregnancy at no cost to her. Proper medical coverage ensures that the surrogate and the pregnancy are protected for the entirety of your surrogacy journey.

With three decades of experience, ConceiveAbilities has the expertise and insight to fully understand the true costs of a surrogacy pregnancy. That's why we offer “All-In” direct medical coverage, taking care of all the medical expenses throughout your surrogacy journey, at no additional cost to you. It is all included in our All-In Program.

Direct Medical Coverage for Your Surrogacy Journey

ConceiveAbilities simplifies the process by providing direct medical coverage of your surrogate’s pregnancy medical expenses from the initial screening at the your Fertility Clinic through to the delivery and recovery. You won’t need to worry about interacting with insurance companies, handling disputes, unexpected bills, or managing coverage details; we take care of everything for you. Our comprehensive protection covers your surrogate’s IVF-complications (if any) and pregnancy-related medical issues, similar to a major medical policy, providing clarity and ease throughout. This allows you to concentrate on the important task of welcoming your baby while we handle all the complexities behind the scenes, ensuring full support for both you and your surrogate.

Medical Coverage With ConceiveAbilities, You. Are. Covered.

• Comprehensive, direct coverage of your surrogate’s pregnancy medical expenses from the start of her medical workup with the fertility clinic through delivery, with no out-of-pocket expenses, ensuring ease and peace of mind for you and your surrogate throughout your surrogacy journey
• A dedicated Medical Billing Specialist handles every aspect of your direct coverage, eliminating potential coverage disputes and complexities of a major insurance policy. We handle it directly for you
• Life insurance coverage benefit for your surrogate of up to $500,000, or the maximum of what she qualifies for, at no cost to you

Please note that you are responsible for all medical costs associated with Fertility Clinic costs for the IVF-ET process, fetal care, and, for the surrogate’s, pregnancy medical costs that are out of network or not associated with providers not approved by ConceiveAbilities, second opinions, holistic providers, and additional, medically optional testing requested by you.

Common Surrogacy Medical Coverage Questions

What is the cost of my surrogate’s medical coverage?

The direct medical coverage for your surrogate is fully included in our All-In Program.

Am I responsible for my surrogate’s medical expenses?

Yes, intended parents are responsible for covering the surrogate’s medical expenses. Our All-In Program includes comprehensive coverage to ensure both the surrogate's health and your peace of mind throughout the process.

Does a surrogate need her own health insurance?

Yes, your surrogate is required to maintain her own health insurance as part of the contract. Our insurance specialists will carefully review her policy to ensure all benefits are optimized. Any surrogacy pregnancy related costs that her insurance does not cover will be handled through our All-In Program’s direct medical coverage, which eliminates common exclusions found in standard policies.

Can my health insurance cover surrogacy-related costs?

No, your insurance will not cover medical expenses for the gestational carrier since she is not a member of your policy. However, once the baby is born, your insurance may apply to the baby's medical care. As part of our All-In Program, we work with your surrogate to ensure her insurance policy is utilized to its fullest for the surrogacy pregnancy.

Is life insurance for my surrogate included in the surrogacy cost?

Yes, our All-In Program includes a life insurance coverage benefit for your surrogate, with coverage up to $500,000 or the maximum amount she qualifies for, all at no additional cost to you.

Do I need to buy insurance for potential complications or bed rest?

No, there is no need to purchase additional policies for complications or bed rest. Our All-In Program provides full coverage for your surrogate’s medical needs for any IVF-complications and supports financial needs related to bed rest, eliminating the need for separate policies that may have exclusions.

When does my surrogate’s medical coverage begin?

Medical coverage for your surrogate starts at the beginning of the surrogacy process and extends through her postpartum recovery, including the fourth trimester. With our All-In Program, you won’t face any out-of-pocket medical costs for your surrogate, aside from a few clearly defined exceptions.

How does partnering with an experienced surrogacy agency ensure my surrogate has proper medical coverage?

ConceiveAbilities' deep expertise allows us to offer a truly comprehensive medical coverage program. With over 30 years of experience, we manage all medical expenses from the start of the surrogacy journey through the surrogate’s postpartum recovery, ensuring both you and your surrogate are fully supported throughout the process.

Are there any exclusions from medical coverage?

Intended parents are responsible for any medical expenses related to the IVF-ET process with your Fertility Clinic, fetal care, out of network providers, second opinions, holistic treatments, and any optional testing requested by the intended parents.

Our Insurance Experts: Guiding You Through Surrogacy Insurance and Surrogate Medical Coverage

Ashleigh Waring
As the Financial Operations Manager, Ashleigh is responsible for creating the financial framework for each surrogacy journey. She also manages the Insurance and Claims Management team and works closely with surrogates and third-party insurance professionals to oversee insurance and medical billing and other vital financial activities.

Ashleigh came to ConceiveAbilities with over 11 years’ experience in the Regulatory and Operations area at Kaiser Permanente. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a specialization in Health Care Management. Ashleigh has blessed four families with five children as a gestational carrier, so she knows personally and professionally how to navigate the intricacies of medical billing for a surrogacy journey.

Christina Bleimeyer, LICSW
As an Insurance/Claims Associate, Christina works to ensure the proper insurance and coverage is in place for each surrogacy journey, assisting in the claims management and reimbursement process as well. Christina has spent her career helping to build families, first as a social worker, conducting evaluations of surrogate applicants and providing clinical support for surrogates throughout their journeys, and later as an insurance specialist. Prior to entering the surrogacy field, she worked for a mental health facility serving LGBTQ+ adults. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Hamilton College and a Masters in Social Work from Simmons University.

Other Frequently Asked Questions about Insurance

Does My State Mandate Coverage for Fertility Treatments?

As of June 2022, 20 states have passed fertility insurance coverage laws, 14 of those laws include IVF coverage, and 12 states have fertility preservation laws for iatrogenic (medically-induced) infertility. Learn more about Insurance by state.

Does My Company Cover Fertility Treatments?

More companies from land developer Taylor Morrison to Starbucks are expanding health coverage to include fertility treatments like egg freezing, fertility treatments, surrogacy and adoption to recruit and retain the best employees. Walmart made news by partnering with KindBody to provide fertility coverage and there is even a telehealth company Maven Clinic Co. that helps employers use their family-planning benefits. Contact your human resources department and find out more about your company policy.

Does My Policy Cover Fertility Treatments?

The first thing you need to do is ask about coverage. There are several different categories insurance policies may fall under, including:

•   Insurance Coverage for Infertility Diagnosis

• Insurance Coverage for Infertility Diagnosis and Limited Treatment
• Full Infertility Insurance Coverage
• Medication Coverage (which may or may not include fertility drugs)

Can I use my existing health care plan to cover the surrogacy arrangement?

Typically, insurance plans don’t cover non-members.

Learn more about becoming an intended parent with ConceiveAbilities.