At Mitera, our Maternal-fetal medicine doctors provide screenings for gestational carriers before beginning a surrogacy journey. Our reports and recommendations help protect the health and safety of everyone involved. While we highlight the potential maternal and fetal risks, it is also important to secure proper gestational carrier insurance. Many of the complications we specialize in are medically manageable but financially devastating without the right coverage.
If you’re currently reviewing options, there’s no better time to do so than during open enrollment. Whether you’re an intended parent or a surrogacy agency professional, understanding how open enrollment impacts surrogacy insurance is essential to protecting your surrogate, your baby, and yourself from unexpected financial burdens.
Open enrollment is the annual period, between November 1 to January 15 in most states, during which individuals can enroll in or make changes to health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
This window provides Intended Parents the opportunity to:
- Evaluate a surrogate’s existing policy.
- Purchase a new ACA-compliant policy for a gestational carrier.
- Ensure coverage aligns with surrogacy-specific needs.
If this period is missed, options may be limited, and navigating insurance becomes riskier and more expensive.
Why Is Insurance So Important in Surrogacy?
When working with a gestational carrier (GC), it’s essential to have a comprehensive health insurance policy that will:
- Cover the pregnancy and delivery costs for the surrogate.
- Avoid surrogacy exclusions or pre-birth legal complications.
- Minimize out-of-pocket expenses for intended parents.
Without proper insurance, intended parents can be held responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, particularly for high-risk pregnancies or unexpected NICU stays.
A Gestational Carrier Insurance Policy
According to ART Risk Solutions, one our industry’s leading expert in reproductive and liability insurance, there are several considerations when evaluating or purchasing insurance for a gestational carrier:
1. Surrogacy Language in the Policy
Check the fine print. Many ACA plans do not clearly exclude surrogacy coverage, but some employer-sponsored plans do.
- Ideal scenario: ACA policy with no surrogacy exclusion.
- If unsure, have the plan professionally reviewed services like ART Risk specialize in detailed reviews to confirm surrogacy compatibility.
2. ACA Plans vs. Employer-Sponsored Plans
- ACA policies purchased during open enrollment are typically the best-case scenario for gestational carriers due to federal regulations and lack of exclusionary language.
- Employer-provided insurance can be tricky. Even if a surrogate’s current job-based policy seems “good,” it may contain explicit or hidden surrogacy exclusions that can lead to denied claims.
3. Supplemental Insurance Options
To fill in financial gaps, ART Risk also recommends:
- Newborn insurance (especially useful for international or self-pay intended parents).
- Life, bedrest, and complications policies (offering added protection for all parties).
- Specialty policies like lost wages and travel coverage for gestational carriers.
ART Risk Solutions supports both intended parents and agencies by:
- Conducting comprehensive insurance evaluations for potential gestational carriers.
- Offering custom surrogacy-specific plans through ACA and private markets.
- Coordinating with attorneys, clinics, and agencies to ensure full coverage compliance.
Their process includes:
- Plan audits and evaluations.
- Hands-on support during open enrollment to secure the right policy.
- New policy enrollment assistance with licensed experts who understand the nuances of reproductive law and insurance.
Visit ART Risk Solutions Gestational Carrier Insurance or speak with your agency or physician to begin a full insurance evaluation.
