Insurance is one of the most overlooked—yet critically important—aspects of international surrogacy. The right coverage protects your surrogate, your baby, and your financial investment. The wrong coverage (or no coverage) can lead to devastating out-of-pocket costs. Here's everything you need to know.
Types of Insurance You'll Need
International surrogacy typically requires several types of insurance coverage:
- Surrogate health insurance
- Surrogacy-specific insurance (gap coverage)
- Newborn insurance
- Travel insurance for intended parents
- Complications insurance
Surrogate Health Insurance
Your surrogate needs comprehensive health insurance that covers pregnancy, labor, delivery, and any complications. This is the most important coverage.
What to Look For
- Maternity coverage: Prenatal visits, delivery, postpartum care
- No surrogacy exclusion: Many standard policies exclude surrogacy pregnancies
- Complications coverage: Cesarean section, bed rest, NICU if needed
- Adequate coverage limits: At least $500,000+ for US surrogacy
- Network of quality hospitals: Ensure good facilities are covered
By Destination
How surrogate insurance works varies by country:
- USA: Your surrogate may have existing insurance, but check for surrogacy exclusions. You'll likely need a supplemental surrogacy policy.
- Colombia: Agencies typically provide or arrange health insurance as part of the program.
- Ukraine: Medical care is usually included in the clinic/agency package.
- Georgia: Medical care bundled into program costs; verify what's covered.
- Mexico: Programs typically include medical coverage; verify limits and complications coverage.
Surrogacy-Specific Insurance (Gap Coverage)
Even if your surrogate has health insurance, you may need additional coverage. Surrogacy-specific policies, sometimes called "gap coverage," fill the holes that regular insurance doesn't cover.
What Gap Coverage Includes
- Coverage for surrogacy-related complications
- Extended bed rest and hospitalization
- Multiple pregnancy coverage (twins, triplets)
- Cesarean section if not covered by primary insurance
- NICU coverage for the newborn
- Loss of reproductive organs (rare but devastating)
Cost of Gap Coverage
Surrogacy-specific insurance typically costs $15,000-$30,000 for US surrogacy. International programs may include this in their fees or offer it as an add-on.
Providers to Research
Several companies specialize in surrogacy insurance:
- New Life Agency
- ART Risk Financial
- MedjetAssist (for complications coverage)
- Your agency may have preferred providers
Newborn Insurance
Your baby will need health insurance from the moment of birth. In the US, you typically have 30 days to add a newborn to your policy. For international surrogacy, planning ahead is crucial.
Options for Newborn Coverage
- Add to your existing policy: Contact your insurance company before birth to understand the process
- NICU coverage: Ensure your policy covers NICU stays, which can cost $3,000-$10,000+ per day
- International coverage: If birth is abroad, you may need temporary international health insurance until you return home
- Travel insurance for newborn: Coverage for the journey home
Travel Insurance for Intended Parents
You'll be traveling internationally, potentially multiple times. Travel insurance protects you and your investment.
What Travel Insurance Should Cover
- Trip cancellation/interruption (if you need to fly last-minute for birth)
- Emergency medical care abroad
- Medical evacuation if needed
- Lost luggage and travel delays
- Coverage for extended stays (births don't follow schedules)
Important Considerations
- Purchase a policy that allows trip date changes
- Get "cancel for any reason" coverage if available
- Ensure coverage for the specific country you're traveling to
- Check if your credit card offers any travel protection
Complications Insurance
What happens if something goes wrong? Complications insurance provides additional financial protection.
What Complications Can Cost
- Extended NICU stay: $50,000 - $500,000+
- Emergency C-section: $15,000 - $50,000
- Surrogate hospitalization for bed rest: $1,000+/day
- Preterm birth: Dramatically increased costs
- Medical evacuation: $50,000 - $100,000+
Program Contingency Funds
Many agencies recommend or require intended parents to maintain a contingency fund (often $10,000-$25,000) in escrow for unexpected complications. This supplements insurance coverage.
Questions to Ask Your Agency
Before signing with any international surrogacy program, ask these insurance questions:
- What health insurance is provided for the surrogate?
- What are the coverage limits?
- Is there a surrogacy exclusion?
- What happens if there are pregnancy complications?
- Is NICU care included? For how long?
- Do we need to purchase additional insurance?
- What is the contingency fund requirement?
- What happens if the surrogate loses insurance coverage?
- Is there life insurance for the surrogate?
- What documentation will we receive for insurance purposes?
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious if:
- An agency can't clearly explain insurance coverage
- Coverage limits seem too low (under $300,000)
- There's no plan for complications
- You're told not to worry about insurance
- The agency doesn't have relationships with insurance providers
The Cost of Being Uninsured or Underinsured
Skipping or skimping on insurance is a dangerous gamble. Real scenarios that have happened to intended parents:
- NICU stay of 60 days: $500,000+ bill
- Surrogate complication requiring surgery: $100,000+
- Premature twins requiring extended hospital stay: $750,000+
Proper insurance turns these potential catastrophes into manageable situations.
Next Steps
Insurance is complex, but it's essential. At GlobalStork, we only list agencies that provide clear, comprehensive insurance information. Create your free profile to explore programs with proper coverage and protect your family-building journey.