Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: I am undergoing a partial hysterectomy in January. My sister is going to be our gestational host. As we have already spent so much money with my two failed attempts, we would like to know how do we approach her medical insurance to see if they will cover the labor/delivery? - <A HREF="chocobuni@earthlink.net">30 and Mom-Ready</A> in Palmdale

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Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A

Q & A: Insurance Issues

Topics may include finding coverage, finding out if current insurance will cover surrogacy, etc.

7. I am undergoing a partial hysterectomy in January. My sister is going to be our gestational host. As we have already spent so much money with my two failed attempts, we would like to know how do we approach her medical insurance to see if they will cover the labor/delivery? - 30 and Mom-Ready in Palmdale - Top

I approached our surrogate's medical insurance and asked if they would cover a pregnancy created through surrogacy. I explained it that the woman who was pregnant was the insured. At first the person on the phone said that "Surrogacy isn't covered". But when I pushed the issue and asked her to quote from the policy the exact clause excluding surrogacy, she read from the infertility section. I then told her that we realized that they would not pay for getting the surrogate pregnant, and again told her "The surrogate is the one who is pregnant. The surrogate is the one who is insured -- not the intended parents. Will you cover her pregnancy and delivery." She asked her supervisor and came back to say that the pregnancy and delivery were covered since any pregnancy, no matter how it was created, would be paid for the insured.

My best advise is to be persistent. If they say it isn't covered, ask them to quote the specific exclusion. If there is no exclusion, they have to cover it. But, also be careful. If you bring it to their attention, they could be excluding it as you speak. Make sure you take down names, dates, times and phone numbers as well as notes on the conversation that takes place so that if there is a dispute later, you can fight it.

Best wishes,
Linda P
Proud mommy to the Colorado Miracle Twins born 11/25/98 - Updated: January 31, 2000
Topics may include finding coverage, finding out if current insurance will cover surrogacy, etc.

7. I am undergoing a partial hysterectomy in January. My sister is going to be our gestational host. As we have already spent so much money with my two failed attempts, we would like to know how do we approach her medical insurance to see if they will cover the labor/delivery? - 30 and Mom-Ready in Palmdale - Top: I approached our surrogate's medical insurance and asked if they would cover a pregnancy created through surrogacy. I explained it that the woman who was pregnant was the insured. At first the person on the phone said that "Surrogacy isn't covered". But when I pushed the issue and asked her to quote from the policy the exact clause excluding surrogacy, she read from the infertility section. I then told her that we realized that they would not pay for getting the surrogate pregnant, and again told her "The surrogate is the one who is pregnant. The surrogate is the one who is insured -- not the intended parents. Will you cover her pregnancy and delivery." She asked her supervisor and came back to say that the pregnancy and delivery were covered since any pregnancy, no matter how it was created, would be paid for the insured.

My best advise is to be persistent. If they say it isn't covered, ask them to quote the specific exclusion. If there is no exclusion, they have to cover it. But, also be careful. If you bring it to their attention, they could be excluding it as you speak. Make sure you take down names, dates, times and phone numbers as well as notes on the conversation that takes place so that if there is a dispute later, you can fight it.

Best wishes,
Linda P
Proud mommy to the Colorado Miracle Twins born 11/25/98 - Updated: January 31, 2000

Unless stated otherwise, all responses in the SMO Q&A are courtesy of one or more of the following hosts:

Sherry - Experienced gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement

Linda - New Mommy to twins born via gestational surrogacy and egg donation

Jennifer S. - Experienced AI surrogate

Lynn - New Mommy to a daughter born via traditional surrogacy

Tracie - 5 time egg donor (triplets, 2 sets of twins and 2 singletons) and 3 time surrogate (2-AI, 1-IVF).

Lisa - Experienced egg donor and previous gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement (Lisa was our former ED host, prior to July 1999.)
Disclaimer: Responses from SMO Q&A Hosts do not necessarily represent the opinions and ideas of SMO. Neither the Q&A hosts nor SMO guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the responses given here. As such, neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts are responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly by the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in these responses.

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