CHOOSING A SURROGACY AGENCY: Part 2

Help for surrogate moms

Matching you with intended parents

Your match with an surrogacy intended parents is critical.  You are embarking on a new partnership. You want to feel good about this relationship from the very first meeting. So how the match is made, how the first meeting is organized, and what will happen day to day is what matters most. What makes an agency successful is the care they take in achieving good matches. They involve all parties and help them decide what matches are best for them. It is important to know how the surrogate agency works when matching you with intended parents. You should have a say in what intended parents seem right for you and avoid any situations that don’t seem exactly right for you.

Know about the compensation

For some, a key factor in deciding to go with a particular Chicago surrogacy agency is the compensation for your time and effort, as well as reimbursement for your expenses. It cannot be stressed enough to make sure you fully understand what is being offered by the particular agency. Be aware as you review different agencies that it can be confusing to compare “compensation” levels. Some agencies include expenses in their “compensation” amount, which can make it sound higher than it actually is. Compensation and reimbursement for expenses are not, in fact, the same and should be viewed separately. Larger agencies may be able to offer more compensation but may not give you the personalized attention that is much more important in being happy about the surrogacy.

What about medical insurance

How will I know if I have the right coverage? Make sure the surrogacy agency or program reviews your insurance needs — it is not your responsibility to do so. Furthermore, it should never be your responsibility to find the best insurance plan, if you need one. The matching program should guide you and the intended parents through the insurance minefield — and it is a minefield — changing every year. Only experts who know and understand health insurance and how it intersects with surrogacy will be able to determine whether a particular policy has an applicable surrogacy exclusion or not, and only such an expert can identify the best plan and when to apply for it. Your agency or matching program should lead you through the whole process in the best and most logical way. It should never be the surrogate’s or intended parents’ responsibility.

Legal protection

When you work with a surrogacy program or agency, confirm that you will have independent legal representation in your state of residence, and that you are free to choose whom that attorney will be. The cost should be paid for by the intended parents. For an Illinois surrogacy agency, you will have the protection of liberal Illinois laws.