It may be hard to know exactly what to expect on your journey as a gestational carrier, but Reproductive Options will give you peace of mind wherever we can. One way we aim to ease the unknown is by sharing what your benefits package will look like, what’s included, and how it’s paid. At Reproductive Options you’ll never have to navigate a benefits package alone, because your best interests are at the forefront of everything we do. Since each journey is unique, it’s important to advocate for yourself to make sure you are properly compensated for your time, energy, and the physical demands that come with surrogacy.
The Basics of Base Compensation
There isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” compensation plan, several factors are taken into consideration when navigating base compensation requests. Most first-time surrogates can expect to request an amount between $45,000-$60,000, whereas repeat surrogates can anticipate closer to the $60,000-$90,000+ range– it can all depend on your history, experience, state, and more. At Reproductive Options, we take a “select your own base pay” approach, while we provide the above ranges as a guideline, we ultimately leave your base pay requests up to you. Once matched with IP(s) that have agreed to your base, you will be paid out in equal payments over 8 months during pregnancy after confirmation of viable pregnancy via ultrasound confirming heartbeat. But base compensation is just one aspect in our complete benefits package, in fact we pride ourselves in considering more for gestational carriers.
Benefits Package And Beyond
We believe your compensation should go beyond your base pay; at Reproductive Options you will get the added advantage of our customizable benefits package. When our surrogates sign our comprehensive benefits package, they have peace of mind knowing we’ve taken multiple aspects of prepartum, pregnancy, and postpartum into consideration to ensure a competitive and fair package for each unique journey. Even if you’re a repeat surrogate within our agency, we will always revisit the benefits package to make sure your needs are properly met.
On top of your base compensation, our benefits package can include, but not limited to, payments for the following:
- An additional monthly allowance for 15 months or more
- Maternity clothing allowance
- Additional compensation for carrying multiples
- Reproductive Options only allows for single embryo transfers, multiples would be the result of spontaneous splitting
- Physician recommended c-section
- Support person lost wages
- Lost wages
- Childcare and housekeeping reimbursement due to ordered bed rest
- Breastmilk allowance
- Comprehensive Wellness Package
The above list simply highlights a portion of our total benefits package. It’s important to note that as a gestational carrier, you have a say in what and how much is covered. Our provided list and fee amounts are just recommendations; we are always ready to listen and adjust as needed.
Even though surrogacy is a priceless experience, made even more special by helping families grow their unconditional love, there’s no need to question if it’s right for you and your needs.
It’s important to know what to expect in terms of compensation and expenses from the beginning. It’s vital to discuss your benefit expectations with the agency before the matching process begins. Your unique benefits package will then be shared with the intended parent(s) which will begin the journey on agreed upon expectations. And remember, you never have to be worried to ask questions about your total compensation package, our team and the entire agency are here to guide you along the way.
