What Does Surrogate Mother Compensation Cover?
Colorado surrogates are compensated for their time and labor. The intended parents cover everything from the medical costs to travel for appointments, maternity clothes, and more. A surrogate in Colorado, where compensated surrogacy is allowed, can expect to be paid at least $25,000 in exchange for the year of time and energy they spend bringing the intended parents’ baby to life. But what does the surrogate mother compensation cover?
Surrogates don’t get into this line of work because of the money, which is intended to serve as labor expenses but not as a source to live on. They are altruistic people, this community, and pursue surrogacy because they want to give back after completing their own families. However, it is natural to want to make sure you won’t have to pay for your medical expenses or worry about costs while performing this service for the intended parents. Your surrogacy agency and legal representation will make sure that your needs are covered and that everyone agrees to fair compensation while you support the life of a child.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is a surrogacy agency that works to bring surrogates and intended parents together. This matching process is just the beginning of the support we offer throughout the surrogacy process. Surrogates who work with our agency will be fairly compensated, as our surrogacy specialists will advocate for you.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
Factors For Surrogate Mother Compensation
Experience. A first-time surrogate mother can expect to receive the standard base compensation associated with her surrogacy agency. Experienced surrogates may receive up to an additional $5,000 in compensation.
Intended Parents. The intended parents you match with will likely have a set budget that they are willing to work with. Your surrogacy agreement with the intended parents will set this compensation, and your legal representation and surrogacy agency will assist in helping you get a fair rate.
Location. Certain states have higher costs of living, such as California. Surrogates in those states may receive an additional $5,000 to support their cost of living as base compensation. The demand for surrogacy is also higher in some states, which may raise the compensation level.
What Does Surrogacy Compensation Cover?
Maternity clothes. One of the changes that come with pregnancy is an expanding midsection, necessitating a whole new wardrobe to accommodate a larger belly. As part of the standard costs covered for a surrogate, you can expect to receive an allotment for purchasing maternity clothes.
Travel for doctor appointments. Surrogate mothers are expected to travel to multiple medical appointments over the course of the surrogacy journey. You may be reimbursed for your gas or public transportation fare or airfare if needed. This may include lodging if you have to travel more than a set distance. For invasive procedures, you will receive travel compensation for a support companion as well.
Childcare. While you are off at medical appointments, potentially with your partner, someone will need to be watching over your children. You will receive compensation to help pay for someone to babysit your kids when needed for surrogacy-related events.
Meals. Your compensation may include an allowance for meals if the intended parents ask you to maintain a particular diet. This will also help support your monthly budget.
Housekeeping. Your intended parents may agree to help pay for housekeeping to help maintain your standard of living while you are low on energy.
Phone calls. As a surrogate, you will be expected to maintain regular contact with the intended parents to give them updates on yours and the baby’s condition and to coordinate medical appointments. You may receive pay to help with the costs of your phone bill or data charges.
Vitamins and supplements. You will be expected to take prenatal vitamins and supplements as directed by your OB/GYN. The intended parents will cover the cost of these items.
Insurance copays. When you attend medical appointments leading up to and during the pregnancy, you will likely be charged copays. The intended parents will cover the medical expenses associated with the surrogacy, including the health insurance copays.
Legal expenses. At the beginning stages of the surrogacy, you will need to retain legal representation to help create legal documents of the surrogacy agreement. The intended parents are expected to cover your legal expenses.
Base Compensation for Surrogate Mothers
Not all states allow for base compensation for surrogates, but Colorado does. Compensated surrogacy allows the surrogate to receive a base pay and the covered expenses related to the surrogacy.
The amount of money a surrogate receives in base compensation depends on the factors discussed earlier and the guarantees the surrogacy agency and she agreed upon. A surrogate in Colorado may expect to receive at least $25,000 in base compensation.
How Are Surrogates Paid?
Surrogates receive their compensation in equal installments over the course of their pregnancy. A surrogate will first begin receiving payments once the physician detects a heartbeat during the six-week medical appointment, confirming the pregnancy.
Surrogate Mother Compensation in Colorado
Are you looking to become a surrogate? Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado can guide you through the entire surrogacy process and help you receive fair compensation. To learn more about how much Colorado surrogates get paid or how much you can expect to make as a Colorado surrogate, contact one of our surrogacy specialists today.
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the Author: Madilyn Moeller is a writer and editor keen on translating the technical. Madilyn’s years of science writing shine through as she explains everything from health insurance to moving for her readers. Madilyn has a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Professional Writing, Psychology, and Neuroscience. She is a lifelong writer bringing her curiosity to the marketing stage, building websites and blogs for businesses moving online. She knows more about Medicare than any young adult should.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!