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Health Insurance FAQs - What You Need to Know

2023-05-22
Be a surrogate
ConceiveAbilities - Heath Insurance FAQ

Insurance coverage is an integral part of a surrogacy journey. It can also be the most overwhelming. With 25 years of experience and on-staff insurance experts, it is our job to make sure you fully understand the insurance process, so you can concentrate on building your family.

It is a surrogate right, and a ConceiveAbilities requirement, for intended parents to provide adequate insurance that covers her surrogate pregnancy at no cost to her. Proper insurance ensures that the surrogate and the pregnancy are protected in case any complications should arise.

Do surrogate mothers need to have health insurance coverage?

Yes. As part of our All-In Program, our insurance specialists will work to obtain insurance coverage for your surrogate partner inclusive of medical, bed rest, disability and life.

After a surrogate is medically cleared by the fertility clinic, ConceiveAbilities provides an expert review of her own health insurance to determine if it can be utilized for a surrogate pregnancy.
If her insurance can be used, a secondary policy will be purchased. This policy will be activated if, for any reason, her own health insurance does not fully cover her maternity care as a surrogate.
If her insurance cannot be used for surrogate maternity care, a maternity plan will be purchased for her. The cost is included in the All-In Program and this plan will cover services for her maternity care as a surrogate; it cannot be used as her own health insurance policy. Each ConceiveAbilities surrogate must maintain her own health insurance for her health needs that are not related to the surrogate pregnancy.

How Does Surrogacy Insurance Work During The Surrogate Pregnancy?
While a surrogate is under the care of the intended parents’ fertility clinic for medical clearance, preparation for embryo transfer, monitoring and the embryo transfer itself, the costs for these services are paid for by the intended parents directly to the clinic.

Once she is confirmed pregnant by one or more ultrasound tests, she will be released to her OB for maternity care and this is when her health insurance, and/or the additional insurance purchased for her, will cover her medical expenses. Our insurance specialist will instruct the surrogate on which insurance she will use for the pregnancy and explain how to submit all of the bills for proper coverage.

You, as the intended parent, will be responsible for ensuring the bills are paid through your insurance policy. Our insurance specialists are on staff to help you navigate any issues.

Our Insurance Specialist

Ashleigh Waring
As an Insurance and Claims Associate, Ashleigh works closely with surrogates and third party insurance professionals to oversee 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 Bachelors 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.

Other Frequently Asked Questions about Surrogate 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 Starbucksare 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.