Surrogacy is becoming more and more popular. However, many people still do not understand all of the terms revolving around surrogacy, nor what it often actually entails. Here is everything you need to know about gestational vs traditional surrogacy in California.
A surrogate is a woman who agrees to become pregnant and carry a child for another individual or couple, who will become the child’s legal parents. Surrogates have become more and more common, and are often used when couples cannot have a child together due to a variety of reasons, from infertility to same-sex marriages. Deciding to have a child via surrogacy is a very complicated decision, as there are many laws and social ideals surrounding the idea of surrogacy. When it comes to couples deciding how they want to go about using a surrogate mother, there are two types of surrogacy they can utilize: traditional and gestational.
What is Traditional vs Gestational Surrogacy?
Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate uses her own egg (therefore being the biological mother of the child) fertilized via intrauterine insemination using sperm from either a donor or an intended father. This is the most uncommon form of surrogacy in California because it carries additional legal and emotional risks. The emotional risks that can come with traditional surrogacy often surround surrogate mothers becoming attached to the child they carried and are biologically related to.
Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, is when the surrogate is not biologically related to the child she is carrying. An egg and sperm from donors or intended parents are used to create an embryo through in vitro fertilization, which is transferred to the gestational surrogate to carry. Gestational surrogacy is legal and well-regulated in California, making it a popular and safe family-building option.
Related: 10 Steps to the California Surrogacy Process
Surrogacy Costs in California
Surrogacy will cost a different amount depending on which fertility clinic that couples decide to go to, along with a variety of other factors, including how much the couple plans to pay the surrogate. The average cost of surrogacy can range from $90,000 to $130,000 depending on individual arrangements. The type of surrogacy couples choose will also affect costs.
While surrogacy is generally expensive, traditional surrogacy is often less expensive than gestational surrogacy. In gestational surrogacy, there is an additional egg donation fee that does not exist in traditional surrogacy. Additionally, intrauterine insemination (IUI, the type of artificial insemination used in traditional surrogacy) is much less expensive than in vitro fertilization (IVF, the type of artificial insemination used in gestational surrogacy).
The cost of surrogacy includes a variety of factors and fees, including:
- Surrogate medical expenses, including IUI and IVF,
- Attorney and agency fees,
- Counseling costs,
- Surrogate monthly allowance,
- Surrogate compensation, and
- Other surrogate-related fees
Many of the above expenses are variable. For example, a surrogate’s monthly allowance and additional compensations may vary depending on the surrogate’s location, and attorney fees can differ substantially based on state laws and legal processes for specific circumstances.
Related: How Much Are Surrogacy Costs in California?
Is Surrogacy Covered By Insurance?
California is one of the few states who insist that insurance companies offer infertility coverage to their clients. However, it is not just the soon-to-be parents that need insurance. It is also important for surrogate mothers to have insurance throughout their pregnancy. While those who become a surrogate through an agency are healthy and fit, pregnancy can always create unforeseen problems. If there are any complications, then a health insurance policy is there to lend a hand in paying for the costs of dealing with those complications.
Related: Surrogacy Laws By State
Contact Us
If you or a loved one would like to know more about gestational vs traditional surrogacy in California, get your free consultation with one of our experienced California Family Law Attorneys today! We’ll get you in touch with the most qualified and affordable lawyer for your needs and preferences.