Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: I am currently several months pregnant as a gestational surrogate. When I was first considering being a surrogate, I was told by my insurance that the pregnancy and birth would be covered, but not the fertility treatments. Since I was also working with an agency at that time, they also checked into my insurance and had no problem with my company. Now, after I am pregnant, my insurance has told me that no part of this surrogacy arrangement is to be covered. What can I do? I would hate for my couple to pay all of the expenses. Just getting this far was expensive enough! Would our attorney possibly be able to handle this situation? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. - <a href="mailto:arkorpela@hotmail.com">April K.</a>

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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.

3. I am currently several months pregnant as a gestational surrogate. When I was first considering being a surrogate, I was told by my insurance that the pregnancy and birth would be covered, but not the fertility treatments. Since I was also working with an agency at that time, they also checked into my insurance and had no problem with my company. Now, after I am pregnant, my insurance has told me that no part of this surrogacy arrangement is to be covered. What can I do? I would hate for my couple to pay all of the expenses. Just getting this far was expensive enough! Would our attorney possibly be able to handle this situation? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. - April K. - Top

April,

Do you have any supporting facts (names of people talked to, dates and times, what was said by both you and the person telling you and the agency you would be covered)? When fighting insurance companies, this type of information is usually necessary. Also ask for a copy of the master group policy where it states that the pregnancy and delivery will not be covered in a surrogacy situation. If there is no such exclusion, they can not deny you coverage. If there IS an exclusion, but it was written AFTER you became pregnant, then it does not apply to your situation.

Yes, a lawyer could be helpful, but they can also be expensive. First, request an appeal of their denial. You can do this yourself. The procedure to request an appeal should be stated on the back of your explanation of benefits. If that doesn't work, then request arbitration through your state insurance board. Get the agency involved if they can help at all. Keep fighting it and hopefully the insurance company will give up and pay up.

Best of luck,

Linda P, Mom of GS/DE twin miracles - Updated: January 31, 2000
Topics may include finding coverage, finding out if current insurance will cover surrogacy, etc.

3. I am currently several months pregnant as a gestational surrogate. When I was first considering being a surrogate, I was told by my insurance that the pregnancy and birth would be covered, but not the fertility treatments. Since I was also working with an agency at that time, they also checked into my insurance and had no problem with my company. Now, after I am pregnant, my insurance has told me that no part of this surrogacy arrangement is to be covered. What can I do? I would hate for my couple to pay all of the expenses. Just getting this far was expensive enough! Would our attorney possibly be able to handle this situation? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. - April K. - Top: April,

Do you have any supporting facts (names of people talked to, dates and times, what was said by both you and the person telling you and the agency you would be covered)? When fighting insurance companies, this type of information is usually necessary. Also ask for a copy of the master group policy where it states that the pregnancy and delivery will not be covered in a surrogacy situation. If there is no such exclusion, they can not deny you coverage. If there IS an exclusion, but it was written AFTER you became pregnant, then it does not apply to your situation.

Yes, a lawyer could be helpful, but they can also be expensive. First, request an appeal of their denial. You can do this yourself. The procedure to request an appeal should be stated on the back of your explanation of benefits. If that doesn't work, then request arbitration through your state insurance board. Get the agency involved if they can help at all. Keep fighting it and hopefully the insurance company will give up and pay up.

Best of luck,

Linda P, Mom of GS/DE twin miracles - 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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