Surrogacy Compensation: Facts….and Fiction

So, most likely, in your initial research to become a surrogate, you went online and googled “How much can I earn as a surrogate?” And, just like magic, up pops all these ads promising huge payouts in excess of $120,000, $130,000. Of course, you think you’ve struck gold. The problem is, unless you’ve been deemed The Greatest Surrogate in the World with three births under your belt and a guarantee from your Ob that you’re good to go for your fourth, you’ll never qualify for these kinds of fees in the real world. 

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for some surrogacy agencies to fudge with the truth regarding surrogacy compensation. The screaming headlines in their online ads promise a sky high payout which they then use as a recruitment trick to entice you to work with their agency. Coming back down to earth, what then can you, as a first time surrogate, realistically expect to earn in the state of California?  Let’s do a bit of a deep-dive into surrogate compensation and surrogate benefits and try to answer that question.

Just like any job, a surrogate is paid a “base compensation” which is the equivalent of the typical salary one would make over the course of about a year or so. Generally the base compensation covers the period of time from when the surrogate starts her fertility medications through the birth of the baby. A lawyer will be hired to represent you in the negotiation with your IPs. This process of negotiation will determine not only your base compensation but certain value-added benefits that can raise the value of your “overall total compensation” dramatically. Both base compensation and added benefits are clearly defined in a contract that must be signed and agreed upon by both the IPs and the surrogate – so nothing is left to chance.

Base compensation is a by-product of the supply and demand curve of the state where a surrogate resides. Because California has the most progressive laws on the books, protecting such things as the parental rights of the IPs as well as enforcing critical safeguards for the surrogate, IPs come from all over the world to California when they require the assistance of a surrogate. That is why surrogates who live in California are paid the highest fees in the U.S.

As a surrogate you will want the support of the agency you have signed up with. While it is true, the agency is employed and being paid their fee by the IPs, the agency would not be in business without your participation. Make sure that this reality translates to having the full and transparent support of your agency when it comes time to negotiate the best package of benefits and compensation, before you sign an agreement to work with them. Some agencies will try to shove a “one size fits all” package of benefits for you to accept. At Jbaby, we allow you to customize your benefits according to what YOU determine will have the greatest impact on improving the quality of life for both you and your family. 

This is a great time to become a surrogate! Demand far outweighs the supply of available surrogates, especially in the state of California. The good news is that you no longer have to decide between choosing an agency that pays you well and choosing an agency that treats you well. At Jbaby you have our promise that you will be paid the highest base compensation for a first-time surrogate.

In the state of California, a first-time surrogate can expect to earn a base salary of between $45,000 – $60,000. Why such a big range in numbers? Because not all surrogates are created equal. Factors like which city you live in, your level of education, and whether or not you have “surrogate-friendly” health insurance will all factor into the Big Picture equation.

So what about these benefits that you will be paid as a surrogate? The first thing to know is that all of these benefits are paid for by the IPs that you have selected to work with. They are designed to provide a more comfortable experience for you and your family over the course of your surrogacy experience. Let’s take a look:

Health Insurance

You will require “surrogacy-friendly” health insurance that will cover the cost of your prenatal care once you become pregnant as well as the costs for delivery of the baby. It is possible that the plan you now have will cover these costs. But most likely, a plan will need to be purchased for you. The Intended Parents will pay for the monthly premiums so you don’t have to worry about covering the cost out of your own earnings. Jbaby purchases the most comprehensive policy available in the marketplace to cover the duration of your pregnancy.

Life Insurance

In the very rare case that there are serious complications from your pregnancy or during child-birth, the IPs will purchase a policy in the event that there is a loss of life or a loss of vital reproductive organs. While definitely not fun to think about, it is good to know that your family will be well-taken care of should this worst-case scenario come to pass. At Jbaby, we want to give you maximum peace-of-mind. We will make sure you are protected with the highest coverage available by purchasing life insurance in the amount of $500,000 for all of our surrogates. 

Disability Insurance Package

Sometimes the demands of pregnancy are too much for your body to take and your doctor will order you to go on bedrest. Should this occur, you want to make sure that there is disability insurance in place to pay for lost wages in the event that you can not show up for work. This is actually a package of policies that include not only disability insurance but also the cost of child care and housekeeping. Again, it’s all about limiting the stresses in your life, giving you maximum peace-of-mind, and keeping you comfortable so the focus remains on taking care of the baby you have so generously offered to carry.

Cycling Medication Fee/Embryo Transfer Fee

There are several important benchmarks that will take place over the course of your journey as a surrogate. One of those is when you begin your fertility medications. Another important moment is at the time that the embryo is transferred. You want to make sure that you are rewarded with special fees to acknowledge these important milestones. Jbaby celebrates these important events with a fee of $500 for the embryo transfer and $2,000 for the transfer fee. It is a way for us to say “thank you” for your invaluable contribution in assisting our Intended Parents.

Maternity Clothing Allocation

As a woman, looking good matters. Make sure you negotiate some funds to pay for the purchase of maternity clothes. Many agencies will look the other way on this one. Not Jbaby. At Jbaby you will receive $1,000 to up your wardrobe game.

Monthly Household Allowance

You shouldn’t have to pay for such things as the purchasing of special foods, gas to get to and from your clinical appointments, cost of child care, vitamins and supplements and other assorted and unanticipated expenses. A conscientious agency will make sure you are taken care of by including a monthly fee to pay for these kinds of sundry purchases. You don’t need to ask for it when working with us. We automatically include a monthly allowance of $350 to guarantee the quality-of-life you deserve.

We don't want to overwhelm you with TMI at one time. But know that there are more fees that Jbaby (or, for that matter, any other agency you choose to work with) will make sure you receive in the event that there are unanticipated medical developments.

As you can see, demanding and receiving the highest compensation as well as the benefits you deserve is a very important step in the process of becoming a surrogate. You want to choose an agency that has your best interests at heart. An agency that will negotiate on your behalf. An agency that’s got your back. Do your homework, do your due diligence, and most importantly, sign with an agency that will take care of you like you were a member of the family.