Surrogates FAQ's
Once you have completed the necessary paperwork and submitted your medical records to us for review, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a number of months to find a strong match for you. Our focus is to match you with an individual or couple based on your needs and desires, allowing you to have an experience that is both enriching and fulfilling.
Yes. Better Life Surrogacy believes that everyone has the right to be a parent, regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation.
In order to be approved as a surrogate at Better Life Surrogacy, you must meet a few important surrogate mother requirements. You must be between 21-37 years old, in good health and not overweight (BMI under 32), have no criminal history, be a nonsmoker, and be currently raising biological children. You will also be asked to pass medical and psychological screenings. It is also required that all surrogates are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Yes. If you do not have health insurance, a surrogate-specific medical plan may be purchased for you by the intended parents for the duration of your pregnancy.
Provided that your policy specifically and clearly states there is no exclusion for a surrogate pregnancy, your plan may be used with your consent. Your monthly premiums, co-pays and deductible will be paid by the intended parents.
Yes. Better Life Surrogacy believes single mothers are just as capable of being surrogates as a woman who is married. If you are single, it is very important that you have some type of support system in place prior to committing to any surrogate program.
If you are uncertain about the laws in your state regarding surrogacy, please call our office to speak with a representative.
Being overweight does not necessarily disqualify you from being a surrogate. The IVF physician that performs your medical evaluation will make this determination.The required BMI is below 31, If you are considered to be obese, you may not qualify. If this is a concern for you, please call our office and speak with a representative.
At Better Life surrogacy the average surrogate compensation is $40,000. This is for first-time surrogate, as repeat surrogate typically get $60,000+. Surrogate also receive life insurance, health insurance, as well as a $6,000-$8,000 benefits package, and are eligible to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket costs like medical co-pays, maternity clothing, travel expenses, and legal fees.
Initially, you may have expenses related to obtaining and mailing your medical records, and traveling to your testing and screening appointments if you live locally. All other surrogate mother costs and fees are covered by the intended parents.
The intended parents that you are matched with will pay any traveling expenses related to your surrogacy.
Yes, provided that your OB accepts the health insurance plan being utilized for the pregnancy. Together, you and your intended parents will decide upon the physician that cares for you during pregnancy. Many surrogates return to the physician that delivered their own children for the surrogate pregnancy.
All funds related to your surrogacy will be held in a trust account that is managed by an independent attorney or an experienced escrow company, so that all monies due for your surrogate fees and reimbursement of related expenses are timely paid. All financial matters will be handled by the surrogacy agency, removing this component from your relationship with the intended parents.
From sign-up to completion, the entire surrogacy process should take from 12 to 13 months. Paperwork, legal work and medical exams typically take around 3 months. Then, the pregnancy itself lasts around 9 months. Since every case is different, it is difficult to make an exact estimate, but this is a reasonable range.
At Better Life Surrogacy, we only offer gestational surrogacy. This means that, while a surrogate will have a special and long-lasting bond with the baby, it will not be biologically related to them. The egg comes from either the intended mother or an egg donor, not the surrogate, meaning the baby does not share any DNA with the surrogate .
After the baby is born, the intended parent(s) become legal parents of the child, and the surrogate gets to go home and continue to live her life. In some cases, the parents may purchase breast milk from the surrogate. Otherwise, the only thing the surrogate is responsible for is her own health.