There are a couple of pathways to parenthood for LGBTQ people, including IUI, IVF and surrogacy. Each one of these options has its own costs as well as legal requirements to secure parental rights.
IUI or IVF
Same-sex female couples wishing to carry their own child, or single female parents can use Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), the method by which sperm is placed directly into the uterus. The cost can range from $250 to $4,000 for the procedure. In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is when eggs are retrieved through a medical procedure, fertilized in a lab and then transferred back into the uterus, can cost up to $20,000 for one cycle. For both IVF and IUI, parents may need to purchase sperm from a bank, which can cost $300 to $1,500 per vial.
Surrogacy
Couples wishing to have their own child who do not biologically have a womb, or single male parents, may work with a gestational carrier and/or an egg donor. Having a child via surrogate is a very involved process, and the price reflects it.
The first step is determining whose egg will be used. Some couples are able to use an egg from a family member but in most cases an egg donor will be needed. An egg donation can add an additional cost of $20,000 to $40,000.
Those wishing to have a child via surrogate will also need to determine if they will use the services of a surrogacy agency. These agencies provide a great deal of support—both logistical and emotional—throughout the surrogacy process. Some agencies will provide a full spectrum of services, from help finding egg or sperm donors to surrogacy screening and matching to legal assistance and counseling. Agency fees typically range from about $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the services provided.
Legal fees for surrogacy may run upwards of $10,000 or more. These fees may be folded into the overall surrogacy agency fees if the agency provides in-house legal services. However, not every agency includes the legal costs in their fee estimates.
Surrogacy is a legally complicated process, and the laws are different for every state. Intended parents will need to ensure they’re using an experienced surrogacy attorney who understands the varied and nuanced laws of a rapidly evolving industry. The legal process includes the creation of a surrogacy contract, the establishment of legal parental rights, and more.
Surrogates have the extremely important job of bringing your child into the world. It only makes sense that surrogate costs will represent a large portion of the overall expenses.
Surrogate compensation ranges from about $35,000 to $60,000 and may include various costs such as:
Understanding Additional Costs Associated with Surrogacy
It is also important to prepare for some unexpected costs that will inevitably arise. Some of the expenses that intended parents don’t necessarily expect include escrow fees for payments made throughout the surrogacy or medical complications such as bedrest for the surrogate, a C-section, or twins/multiples.
What are some of the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ families?
For LGBTQ people starting their family through IVF or surrogacy, they face their own unique set of challenges. Depending on which state they live in, they can face legal hurdles as each state has its own surrogacy laws, and some states have restrictions or may not recognize their parental rights.
Regarding the medical costs of fertility treatments, most health insurance plans do not cover the expenses for LGBTQ individuals. If their insurance does cover fertility treatment, the individual must prove that they have been trying to conceive for 6-12 months or have a diagnosis of infertility. This can result in additional expenses for some and create impossible barriers for others.
How to Pay for Building a Family
For a female same-sex couple, health insurance may cover a portion of the costs if there is a diagnosis of infertility but for a same-sex male couple, health insurance will not cover surrogacy expenses. This means that LGBTQ individuals must often cover all the costs to build their families. Many people don’t have the kind of savings that will immediately cover these high costs; however, this doesn’t mean starting a family is out of reach. A Sunfish Financial advocate can set up a complimentary consultation to help guide intended parents through the financial planning process.
Sunfish’s mission is to make the journey to parenthood financially attainable for everyone. Our goal is to democratize access to the family-building resources that historically have only been available to those with large financial resources.
