Why Health Insurance Matters in Surrogacy, Especially During Open Enrollment
Surrogacy is a life-changing journey built on trust, compassion, and careful planning; one of the most crucial pieces of that plan is health insurance. From fertility treatments to delivery, surrogacy involves complex medical care that requires clear, comprehensive coverage. As open enrollment approaches, both surrogates and intended parents have a valuable opportunity to review existing insurance policies or secure new ones that properly support the process and financially protect all parties involved in the journey.
Understanding health insurance can be overwhelming, especially when you add the unique needs of surrogacy. The right team and information make all the difference. With expert guidance, surrogates can ensure their care is fully covered, and intended parents can avoid unexpected financial or legal complications down the road.
The Role of Health Insurance in Surrogacy
Health insurance plays a foundational role in every surrogacy journey. The process involves numerous medical stages: fertility medications and IVF cycles, ongoing prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum recovery. Without the right coverage, these costs can quickly become substantial.
A comprehensive, surrogacy-friendly health insurance plan ensures that the surrogate receives the care she needs without creating a financial burden for her or the intended parents. It protects all parties involved—covering medical bills, avoiding surprise costs, and keeping peace of mind throughout the pregnancy.
Just as importantly, maintaining continuous coverage is essential. Any lapse or exclusion can create significant financial and logistical challenges. Reviewing coverage early and thoroughly helps prevent these issues and ensures that everyone can focus on what truly matters: a healthy, positive surrogacy experience.
Why Open Enrollment Matters for Surrogates and Intended Parents
Open enrollment is the annual period when individuals can enroll in or make changes to ACA-compliant health insurance plans through the federal or state marketplace or with the insurance company directly. For most states, open enrollment typically begins in early November and runs through mid-January, though specific dates can vary slightly from this time period.
This window is especially significant for surrogates and intended parents because it’s the only time of year when new policies can be purchased or existing ones adjusted without a qualifying life event. Acting early during open enrollment helps avoid last-minute complications and gives insurance specialists time to confirm that a policy is surrogacy-friendly and that desired physicians and hospitals are or are in network with insurance plans. It should be noted that there are 10 states where pregnancy is a qualifying event. The laws for this qualifying event are different in every state, so it is important to know the law in your surrogate’s state to ensure the pregnancy as a qualifying event works, given her situation, or whether a policy should be purchased during open enrollment.
Surrogacy-specific insurance options, such as plans offered through Lloyds of London, can also be time sensitive, as certain plans that cover surrogacy may have requirements as to when to purchase before and during the pregnancy.
For surrogates who plan to begin a journey in the upcoming year, reviewing and securing the right coverage during open enrollment is one of the most important steps they can take.
Common Insurance Scenarios for Surrogates
Every surrogacy journey is unique, and so are the insurance needs that come with it. Common scenarios include:
A surrogate already has a health plan: The first step is determining whether her existing policy covers a pregnancy as a gestational carrier. Some plans explicitly exclude surrogacy-related care, so reviewing policy language is essential. It is important to have the policy reviewed by an insurance expert such as ART Risk.
A surrogate needs a new policy: If her current plan doesn’t cover surrogacy, open enrollment offers the best chance to secure one that does cover the surrogate-friendly and is less expensive than the surrogate-specific policies offered via Lloyds of London.
Intended parents securing a policy: Intended parents should work with their agency or an insurance expert to obtain the necessary policy for their surrogate. It is important to have a consultation with the insurance expert to understand what the policy will cost and to understand what is being purchased and why.
Working with specialists: It is important to work with an insurance expert, such as ART Risk, to review existing coverage, identify any exclusions, recommend the best next steps, quote, explain, and place surrogate-friendly insurance.
What to Look for in a Surrogacy-Friendly Insurance Plan
Not all health insurance policies are created equally, especially when it comes to surrogacy. Some plans may specifically exclude coverage for a surrogate pregnancy, while others may require a copy of the contract and place a lien on the surrogate’s compensation, and others have no exclusions.
When reviewing options, surrogates and intended parents should consider:
Coverage for maternity and prenatal care without surrogacy exclusions.
Network availability of doctors, hospitals, and maternity providers.
Deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums to understand potential costs.
Plan type (PPO, HMO, or POS) and flexibility in choosing care providers.
Partnering with an experienced surrogacy insurance specialist like ART Risk is essential to ensure the correct coverage is obtained, and the process is as easy as possible for all parties. Their experts know how to identify red flags, interpret complex policy language, and ensure the plan fully supports the surrogacy process.
Why Surrogacy Insurance Matters Before Matching and Contracts
Insurance isn’t just a financial safeguard—it is a part of the matching and legal contract phase of surrogacy. During matching, it is important to know what insurance the surrogate has or doesn’t have so that the right insurance plans may be obtained. The insurance needs to be in place before embryo transfer. Due to this, it is important that the insurance for the surrogate is reviewed and obtained before an embryo transfer. Other insurances that should be in place before the embryo transfer include life insurance and recipient insurance. This will ensure the intended parents and the surrogate are properly covered.
Delays in securing or confirming coverage, especially around open enrollment, can impact timelines and cause frustration for both surrogates and intended parents. If the open enrollment deadline is missed, there is insurance available for the surrogate pregnancy at a higher cost when compared to ACA plans.
By addressing insurance early, with the help of specialists like ART Risk, both parties can move forward confidently, knowing the journey is supported and protected from the start.
How ART Risk Supports Surrogates and Intended Parents
ART Risk Financial & Insurance Solutions has long been a trusted partner in the assisted reproduction community. Their services are designed to simplify and safeguard financially all parties involved in the surrogacy journey by offering:
Comprehensive insurance evaluations and personalized policy recommendations.
Ongoing coverage tracking and advocacy to prevent billing issues or lapses.
Coordination with agencies, clinics, and attorneys to ensure all legal and financial requirements align.
With decades of experience, ART Risk understands the nuances of surrogacy coverage and works to protect both surrogates and intended parents every step of the way.
Final Tips: What Surrogates Should Do Now
As open enrollment approaches, now is the time for surrogates and intended parents to act. Here are a few proactive steps to take:
Have the surrogate’s current plan and confirm whether surrogacy-related pregnancy care is covered.
Contact your surrogacy agency or insurance provider with expertise in surrogacy to discuss your options before open enrollment closes.
Request a professional surrogacy insurance review if you’re unsure about your plan’s language or limitations.
Act early, don’t wait until the last minute. Open enrollment deadlines cannot be extended!!
Taking these steps now ensures that your surrogacy journey begins with confidence, clarity, and the right protection in place.
Ready to review your coverage or explore surrogacy-friendly insurance options? Connect with ART Risk today to schedule a personalized policy review. Being proactive during open enrollment is the best way to ensure a safe, supported, and stress-free journey for everyone involved.
