IVF & Insurance for Surrogacy in California: How IVF Surrogacy Works in the U.S.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is inherently part of the surrogacy process. In some cases, an intended parent will utilize IVF to retrieve her eggs to create embryos. In other cases, an egg donor is required to donate her eggs to create embryos. Both cases require IVF professionals (your IVF clinic), medications and financials.
IVF Surrogacy: How Does Surrogacy Work With IVF?
When surrogacy uses IVF, IVF is the medical “engine” that makes embryo transfer possible. In a California surrogacy journey, IVF typically sits between matching and pregnancy, and it anchors the major milestones your clinic tracks.
- Clinic reviews embryo records (age at retrieval, grading, any PGT results) and coordinates with surrogate screening.
- After legal clearance and the clinic’s medical green light, the surrogate starts a medication cycle and the transfer is scheduled.
- A blood test confirms pregnancy about 9–12 days later.
- Complete IVF first—egg retrieval (or donor eggs), fertilization, and embryo development.
- Many intended parents add PGT for informed selection; embryos are then frozen.
- Once embryos are ready, follow the same transfer timeline as Path 1.
In both paths, IVF is the bridge from planning to pregnancy—and the point where timing can shift based on clinic calendars and medical readiness.
Who Pays for What? IVF Clinic Fees vs. Surrogacy Agency Costs
In a surrogacy journey, medical care is paid directly to the IVF clinic, non-medical coordination is covered by the surrogacy agency, and legal and escrow services ensure contracts, parentage, and payments are handled securely and transparently.
IVF clinic fees are paid to the fertility clinic because they cover healthcare services.
- Consults, testing, and monitoring visits
- IVF or embryo creation (if needed), lab work, medications
- Embryo transfer cycle; the clinic sets prices and bills directly
Surrogacy agency costs cover non-medical support from start to birth.
- Matching, case management, scheduling, and ongoing guidance
- Coordination with clinics, attorneys, insurance, and escrow teams
- Transparent payment tracking to keep the journey on-plan
Partner IVF Clinics: How We Help You Choose the Right Clinic
We compare labs, services, and timelines to match you with the right partner IVF clinic. Need the full clinic list? Visit our partner IVF clinics overview. our partner IVF clinics overview.
Start with the lab and success standards that matter for embryo creation and transfer. Then look at whether the clinic offers the services you may need in-house, such as donor eggs, embryo freezing, and PGT-A coordination. If you’re an international intended parent, we also review the clinic’s international patient support.
Next, we check scheduling capacity—how soon you can get started, typical cycle timelines, and how the clinic aligns with surrogate screening and transfer windows. Finally, we confirm fee transparency.
Does Insurance Cover Surrogacy? What Surrogacy Insurance Typically Covers
Learn how insurance fits into U.S. and international surrogacy journeys. Compare what’s covered, what needs escrow, and how to plan newborn coverage. surrogacy costs·the process timeline.
Does insurance cover surrogacy? In most cases, insurance can help with medical pregnancy care—but it usually does not cover agency fees, legal work, or the full program. Use this checklist to understand what surrogacy cost with insurance may include:
- Maternity coverage: prenatal care, labs, ultrasounds, delivery, postpartum visits.
- Complications coverage: ER visits, hospitalization, surgery, extended care when medically necessary.
- Denial defense: eligibility verification, documentation, and claim appeal support if coverage is challenged.
- Life insurance: an added policy for the surrogate as a risk-management layer.
- Newborn insurance: clear plan to add baby to the intended parents’ policy after birth.
If you’re comparing cost of surrogacy for couples with insurance, focus on what medical items are truly covered versus what still needs escrow funding.
For international IPs, the biggest variables are newborn coverage and logistics. Prioritize:
- Surrogate maternity insurance requirements: confirm the plan is surrogacy-friendly and active through delivery.
- Complications protection: ensure high-cost scenarios are included (hospital stays, emergency care).
- Denial defense: billing coordination across providers to reduce surprise bills.
- Life insurance: commonly included as a standard protection layer.
- Newborn insurance: define the enrollment path early (temporary coverage options + documentation).
ASRM Surrogacy Guidelines: What They Recommend for Screening & Best Practices
Guided by ASRM surrogacy guidelines on screening, consent, and best practices. For legal specifics, see California surrogacy protections and our step-by-step process. California surrogacy protectionsstep-by-step process.
The ASRM gestational carrier guidelines emphasize a full medical review: history + physical exam, pregnancy history, and uterine evaluation as needed.
ASRM-style best practices usually include independent legal counsel for each party, contracts completed before medical treatment, and respecting the carrier’s autonomy—supported by coordinated communication among the clinic, OB team, and case manager.
Under ASRM surrogacy guidelines, psychological evaluation and counseling help confirm readiness, clarify expectations, and reduce conflict.
See how we align clinic screening with ASRM guidance and our agency process in the full surrogacy process and how costs map to these steps in surrogacy pricing.
FAQ
Quick answers on IVF surrogacy, insurance, costs, escrow, and California legal steps.
1) What is IVF surrogacy? +
IVF surrogacy (gestational surrogacy) means an embryo is created via IVF and transferred to a surrogate who is not genetically related to the baby.
2) How does IVF work with surrogacy? +
IVF creates or uses an embryo, then the surrogate completes a transfer cycle. Key milestones: screening → legal clearance → transfer → pregnancy test.
3) Do intended parents need IVF for surrogacy? +
For gestational surrogacy, yes—an embryo is needed for transfer. You can use your own embryos or create embryos with IVF (with or without donor eggs).
4) How do you choose an IVF clinic for surrogacy? +
Compare: lab quality, donor-egg options, PGT-A availability, international support, scheduling speed, and fee transparency.
5) Who pays for what: IVF clinic vs agency vs legal/escrow? +
The IVF clinic bills medical care. Agency fees cover coordination and support. Legal + escrow handle contracts, parentage filings, and organized payments.
6) How much does IVF and surrogacy cost? +
Costs vary, but estimate by buckets: IVF clinic fees + surrogacy program fees + legal/escrow + insurance-related items.
7) Does insurance cover surrogacy? +
Usually, insurance may cover parts of pregnancy-related medical care, but it rarely covers agency fees or legal work. Coverage depends on the plan.
8) What does surrogacy insurance typically cover—and how much is surrogacy insurance? +
Typical coverage focuses on maternity care, complications, denial/claims support, life insurance, and newborn coverage planning. Cost depends on the surrogate’s existing plan and whether extra policies are needed.
9) What is escrow in surrogacy? +
Escrow is a neutral account used to pay approved items on schedule (compensation, reimbursements, insurance premiums), with clear records.
10) What legal steps are required under California surrogacy laws? +
Most cases follow: contract signed before transfer, then parentage steps (often via a pre-birth process) to establish legal parents at delivery.