How much do surrogates get paid? That is one of the first questions that both potential Intended Parents and potential Surrogates want to know. AND, why is there so much difference in compensation?
To break it down, several factors go into determining how much surrogates get paid in compensation. Location, insurance, previous experience, multiples, travel and all the miscellaneous expenses that go into the total compensation package.
Base Compensation
Base Compensation is usually defined as the amount of compensation paid to the surrogate once the pregnancy is established. Depending on geography, average compensation for a first time surrogate ranges from $32-37,000 BUT there are several variables that go into that number including where the surrogate lives, her insurance status and if she will potentially carry multiples. For an experienced surrogate, the Base Compensation is usually somewhere between $37-45,000. Location can be one of the best guides for estimating Base Compensation with California and the East Coast having higher Base Compensation packages and the rest of the country in the $32-45,000 range.
Other Compensation for Surrogates:
But the Base Compensation is not the only factor in the Compensation worksheet. Items like a medication start fee, an invasive procedure fee, maternity clothes allowance, monthly allowance for miscellaneous expenses, lost wages for spouse, monthly housekeeping services and child-care allowances can add to final amount of compensation.
Multiples Fee’s:
Multiples Fee’s are generally somewhere between $2500 and $5000 depending on the contract between Surrogate and Intended Parents and items like “lost wages” and “travel expenses” can be included also.
Insurance and Medical Fees
Insurance and Medical Fees are another area that can either lower the base compensation or raise it depending on the policy. Generally an “employer based” policy with no surrogate exclusion and generally average deductibles and co-pays can add significantly to overall compensation since the Intended Parents won’t be having to pay for premiums or special ACA policies or dedicated policies that can cost upwards of $14,000 or more for the pregnancy. Surrogates that have employer based no surrogate exclusion policies can generally be compensated on the “higher end” if the scale both as a first time surrogate or an experienced surrogate.
Miscellaneous
Other costs such as maternity clothing allowance, child-care fees, lost wages and post-partum expenses can add another several thousand dollars to the total compensation package.
When trying to decide what is the usual and customary total cost for surrogate compensation, its best to use this type of rule, Base Compensation + Miscellaneous Expenses + Lost Wages/Child Care Costs + Insurance for a total of between $47-65,000 as a total.
You can see more about our Surrogate Base Compensation here.
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