A Guide to Financing and Affording Egg Donation & Surrogacy

At Compassionate Beginnings, LLC, we understand the financial strain that certain services can add to patients. For those who are considering egg donation & surrogacy to create their families, there is one question that typically rises to the top: how are we going to pay for it? Due to the number of individuals, procedures, and service providers involved in a surrogacy, the process is expensive, often in the six-figure range. While most families do not have that kind of money readily available, there are many options that exist to help make this path to parenthood more financially attainable.

Below, we will highlight options for financing your fertility journey from personal loans, to grants and fundraising, and more. Infertility is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be inaccessible.

Personal Financing

Intended parents commonly rely on loans to help cover the costs of surrogacy. In addition to traditional lines of credit, like home equity loans and credit cards, there are also many organizations that offer financing options specifically for fertility treatments and surrogacy.

Here are some common types of loans prospective you may consider:

Home equity loans – Intended parents may be able to borrow funds using their home as collateral. These loans often require a strong credit history.
401(k) plans – Some families choose to borrow money from their retirement accounts. 401(k) loans typically allow a person to borrow up to 50 percent of his or her account balance. The money must be paid back within a certain time frame, and payments are usually made through automatic deductions from the borrower’s paycheck.
Credit cards – Some surrogacy payments may be made using credit cards. However, credit cards can quickly accumulate interest if the balance is not paid in a timely manner.
Family members – While not everyone is comfortable asking friends or family members for financial assistance, borrowing from family may be an option to help offset surrogacy costs.
Fertility financing loans – Certain financial organizations specialize in fertility financing, offering loans and payment plans for prospective parents who are struggling with infertility. Many of these financing options can also be applied to surrogacy programs.

The following organizations offer fertility financing loans to prospective intended parents:

CapexMD: https://www.capexmd.com/
New Life Fertility Finance: https://www.newlifefertilityfinance.com/
Prosper Healthcare Lending: https://www.prosper.com/personal-loans/healthcare-financing

Agency financing programs – Compassionate Beginnings allow intended parents to pay on a fee schedule rather than paying for the entire surrogacy up front

IVF Grants

Grants are another popular option for surrogacy financing. Many organizations award these non-repayable funds to help ease the financial burden of surrogacy and other infertility treatments.

Most grants are awarded on an annual basis to families who meet an organization’s qualifications and complete the application process. Different organizations have different requirements for their grant recipients. For example, some grants require certain religious affiliations or residency within a certain state. In addition, most IVF or surrogacy grants require a diagnosis of infertility.

The following is a list of some organizations that offer IVF grants:

Gift of Surrogacy Foundation: https://www.giftofsurrogacyfoundation.org/
Hope for Fertility: https://www.hopeforfertility.org/
Parental Hope: https://parentalhope.org/
Baby Quest: https://babyquestfoundation.org/
Tinina Q Cade Foundation: https://cadefoundation.org/
Journey to Parenthood: https://journeytoparenthood.org/

Fundraising

There are many ways for intended parents to raise money toward their surrogacy fund. Whether you prefer to host a simple online fundraiser or get creative with special events, fundraising is a widely available option for prospective intended parents. Here are a few fundraising ideas to help you get started:

Host an online fundraiser – Online crowdfunding platforms like YouCaring.com allow intended parents to set up free fundraisers and easily raise money toward their surrogacy plans — all without fees, deadlines or goal requirements.
Ask for donations – Intended parents may simply ask for contributions to their surrogacy fund in lieu of Christmas or birthday presents.
Sell something – Consider selling a handmade product online through marketplaces like Etsy, have a garage sale, sell baked goods, or partner with a direct sales consultant (like a friend who sells Pampered Chef, for example) and ask if they would donate commission from a party you host.
Host an event – Organize a car wash, silent auction or golf tournament and direct all proceeds to your surrogacy fund.

Money-Saving Tips

Whether you are applying for grants, organizing fundraisers or budgeting to repay surrogacy loans, it takes time, energy and discipline to obtain the funds necessary to afford egg donation & surrogacy. Here are a few additional tips for saving money and financing your journey:

Consider your insurance options – Evaluate the medical costs that will be covered by your insurance, and research your options for insuring the surrogate and your baby. There are third party insurance companies, like Carrot, that may be able to work with your employer to offer more comprehensive benefit packages.
Create a dedicated savings account – Build surrogacy savings into your budget. Set aside a special fund or account for your journey and save the same way you would for a college education, a new home or a big vacation.
Ask around – Reach out to other intended parents and support forums for tips and suggestions on affording infertility treatments. Parents who have been through the process may be aware of additional grants, funds and loans, or they may have other suggestions for raising money.

513-490-0333 Contact Compassionate Beginnings, LLC with additional financial questions. We are happy to assist! You may also contact us via our online contact form.