How Much Do Surrogates Make? – Gestational Carrier Compensation Structure and Variable Factors
If you’re wondering how much surrogates make, a first-time Gestational Surrogate with Physician’s Surrogacy can earn between $48,000 and $75,000, plus additional benefits. The exact amount depends on factors like your employment status and the state you live in
Although money can not be the motivation behind becoming a Surrogate Mother, we do encourage prospective Surrogate Mothers to ask and know how much they would get paid as compensation.
Acting as someone’s Surrogate Mother is a selfless sacrifice, which can provide a lifetime of happiness for the Intended Parents. For their time, sacrifice, and the demanding process of surrogacy, we believe Surrogate Mothers should be rewarded and celebrated generously.
Through our experience, we understand that the compensation is not only a prospective Surrogate’s concern, but it’s something that even the Intended Parents ask as well. Hence, in the following piece, we have thoroughly broken down and analyzed all the components of a surrogate reimbursement and what factors influence it.
Table of Contents
- Surrogate compensation factors
- The Compensation structure of different agencies
- Physician’s Surrogacy compensation
- What can you do with the money?
- How does surrogacy work
- How do you become a surrogate?
What Factors Influence Surrogate Compensation?
No two surrogacy journeys are the same and involve many factors that can impact the overall amount of compensation. Generally, the amount Surrogate Mothers get paid is calculated by a base amount plus a variable benefits package. In general, the itemized prices are paid off as follows:
1. Base Compensation
As mentioned, Gestational Surrogates get paid for carrying a baby for the Intended Parents. The amount they get paid is often termed “base compensation”.
Base compensation is paid in monthly installments starting from the confirmation of pregnancy (through the BHCA test). How much a Surrogate would be paid in base compensation depends on various factors such as:
- Policies of the Surrogacy Agency
- The Intended Parents’ budget and negotiation
- Previous surrogate experience
For many women, base compensation helps to accomplish a financial goal or make their family’s economic situation better.
Surrogates Receive the Following Allowances in Their Base Compensation
a.) Before Pregnancy
With many agencies, Surrogates start getting paid as they enter the agreement. These pre-pregnancy pays include and accommodate the following expenses:
- Signing Payment
- Medical Screening Payment
- Medical Clearance to Transfer
- Paid travel expenses to IVF clinics, plus lost wages or childcare added to your base fee
- Monthly various other expenses when you begin cycle medications added to your base fee
- Prenatal vitamins and other health supplies
- Extra amounts per transfer added to your base compensation
b.) During and After Pregnancy:
Once pregnancy is confirmed, the Surrogate will start receiving actual reimbursements. Typically, these payments cover:
- Prenatal vitamins and other health supplies
- Base compensation, paid over 9 months
- Monthly various other payments
- Extra payout for maternity clothing
- Added package for carrying multiple
- Housekeeping allowances during the last month of pregnancy
- Variable packages as per vaginal delivery or C-section
- Social work support
- Legal counsel
- Insurance coverage if there are complications
- Life insurance coverage
c.) Additional Payments
Extra expense may be incurred or unforeseen circumstances may arise. The additional payments take care of:
- Mock cycle (the fertility specialist may recommend a mock cycle to see how the Surrogate’s body reacts to the medications)
- Canceled cycle
- Pregnancy termination
- Selective reduction
- Invasive procedure
- Reproductive organ loss
- Weekly compensation towards bed rest (as ordered by your doctor/Ob-Gyn)
Note: We understand that packages like these may feel confusing and are not representative of every case. That’s why we developed our structure to overcome these challenges and make it easier for you to navigate. While our program includes many benefits, these are not paid as itemized payments as listed above but instead are divided into equal, lump-sum monthly payments. The variable allowances or uncertainties are included in this package.
2. Your Previous Surrogacy Experience
Your experience with surrogacy also influences how much you can make. Women who have more experience with surrogacy and have proven they can carry a healthy surrogate pregnancy, frequently get paid more than Surrogates going through their first Surrogate pregnancy.
3. State to State Compensation Differences
The state where surrogacy is taking place also impacts how much a Surrogate can make. In states where Surrogates are in high demand (such as California), or the average cost of living is higher, Surrogates get paid more. However, the amount Surrogate mothers get paid in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston varies by about $10,000.
4. Carrying Multiples
Surrogates who are ready to carry multiples get paid extra. The amount is stated in the agreement contract similar to items like lost wages and travel expenses.
On the other hand, there remains a small chance of a single embryo splitting up and resulting in twins or triplets. The compensation raises per extra baby you are carrying in such scenarios will be mentioned in the contract. However, make sure to discuss the related risks with your healthcare provider and surrogacy agency.
How Much Do Surrogates Get Paid with Different Agencies?
With other agencies, you may find the average range to be between $30,000–$45,000. However, it’s crucial to thoroughly scrutinize the compensation structure of the surrogacy agencies.
As you are researching surrogacy compensation packages, you may find that many agencies have misleading advertisements when it comes to how much Surrogate mothers get paid. Some advertise high rates that are only available for experienced Surrogates.
As the leading surrogacy agency, we advise Surrogate Mothers to enquire a few questions regarding how much they get paid when choosing to work with a surrogacy agency. For example, ask:
- The base compensation for Surrogate Mothers.
- How much money do first-time Surrogate Mothers make with your agency?
- Changes in Surrogate Mother compensation for repeat Surrogates.
- The process of gestational surrogacy.
- Are you getting paid extra for maternity clothes during your Surrogate pregnancy?
We do not advertise a higher range that is unrealistic for women becoming first-time Surrogates.
We understand the challenges and complexities in deciphering all these uncertainties, which is why we are transparent with our compensation packages, aiming to help you understand your benefits.
How Much Do Surrogates Make With Physician’s Surrogacy?
First-time Gestational Surrogates can make $48,000 to $75,000 + bonuses with Physician’s Surrogacy. We are proud of the fact that our compensation packages are one of the highest in the nation.
The range of variation mainly depends on two factors:
- Your residential state
- Your employment status
The below table will help you understand our updated 2023 compensation packages for different states.
1. How are Payments Disbursed?
As mentioned earlier, we realize that the itemized payment could be confusing and may even feel like some payments are cut from compensation due to various criteria set to them. This is why Physician’s Surrogacy takes a fixed amount model to ensure you are generously compensated.
For example, if your negotiated compensation is $60,000, you will get paid an allowance of $10,000 when the embryo transfer is done. The rest of the amount is paid as equally divided monthly payments.
As discussed earlier, Surrogate compensation depends on a few factors such as where she is located, her employment status, and past experiences.
State-wide differences are due to varying costs of living and costs related to travel for nonlocal Surrogates. For local Surrogates, travel and other expenses are fewer for the Intended Parents due to the proximity to our office location in San Diego.
Employment-based differences arise as Surrogates who are employed may be entitled to lost wages through the state. We like to also compensate for this and have decided to include a stipend for lost wages at the outset. Whether it’s needed or not, we believe the money should be made available. We leave it up to you how to best allocate those funds.
What is considered employment?
To be considered employed, you must have a gross annual income of $15,000. Employment is verified by pay stubs and/or a tax return.
Advantages that come with our Surrogate compensation
1. Surrogates get paid the highest in the industry
While other agencies pay Surrogates for different components of the procedure and the amounts are variable, Physician’s Surrogacy ensures that the Surrogate Mother gets paid generous compensation in full payments, making the entire package the highest paying in the field.
2. Compensation security
Physician’s Surrogacy sets and funds an escrow account for the surrogate’s payment before the process starts. We also provide financial advice (such as creating custom insurance policies) for the Intended Parents, so that their financial burden can be lessened.
3. Surrogates do not bear any medical bills or traveling expenses
Surrogates need not worry about any medical expenditures as we will take care of them. With many other agencies, you will come to learn about Past Surrogates and their frustrations with medical bills.
Our cost structure protects both the Surrogates and the Intended Parents and ensures that all medical fees are paid timely. Moreover, you will not incur any traveling expenses related to the pregnancy or the surrogacy process. All expenses such as those given below are usually paid upfront by us.
Should the Surrogate accrue any additional expenses, they can submit their receipts each month by the 15th and get immediately reimbursed the week after submission. These include:
- Travel expenses (that includes hotel and food)
- Over telephone counseling
- Legal fees incurred for your independent attorney to negotiate the contract
4. Resources
Physician’s Surrogacy offers robust maternity care and emotional support. Your coordinator will guide you through the process. Our in-house Ob-Gyn care makes sure that your health before, during, and after the surrogacy journey remains a top priority and is thoroughly looked after. You will be able to speak to our previous Surrogates who can give you their personal experience about the journey.
What do Surrogates do with the money they make?
Although money isn’t the only consideration, the compensation package from surrogacy can be life-changing. It can provide real flexibility in your life. Many of our Surrogates use it as a way to stay home with their children.
Some of our Surrogates have even paid off debt or put a down payment on their dream house.
How does surrogacy work?
Surrogacy is an agreement for a woman to carry a pregnancy for another couple or individual, who will then become the legal parents. There are two types of surrogacy, traditional and gestational.
Traditional surrogacy uses the eggs of the Surrogate Mother while gestational surrogacy uses the eggs of the intended mother or egg donor and the intended father’s sperm or a sperm donor in the process of IVF to create an embryo. This means the child is not genetically related to the Surrogate Mother. At
Physician’s Surrogacy, we only provide the gestational surrogacy option, which is much more common in today’s time and has been used by many celebrities such as Lucy Liu, Kim Kardashian, and Tig Notaro, just to name a few!
How do you become a Surrogate?
Simply fill out the application form first to see if you qualify to become a Gestational Surrogate. This will allow you to speak with one of our surrogacy coordinators during your interview to fully understand the journey, your compensation package, and any other questions you may have
If you have more questions regarding how much you would get paid as a first-time or repeating Surrogate or need help completing your application, use the chat option available.
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