Website design By BotEap.comMy prospective surrogate mothers and their future fathers are drawn to the idea that Medicaid, or other federal programs, can help with the costs of the surrogate mother’s pregnancy and the delivery of the surrogate baby. Maternity health insurance can be quite expensive and this is a way to cut thousands of dollars off the cost of surrogacy that can be used for other expenses, including surrogate compensation.

Website design By BotEap.comSo that begs the question: If a surrogate mother qualifies financially for government assistance, should it be used to help cover the costs of surrogacy? The answer is absolutely NO. Under no circumstances should federal aid be used to finance a surrogacy.

Website design By BotEap.comIt is not the government’s responsibility to help prospective parents with the costs of their infertility treatments. Although a typical group of expectant parents has contributed more than their fair share in taxes over the years and may feel entitled to some benefits from all of that, it is not the remaining taxpayer burden that they must bear.

Website design By BotEap.comAlthough the surrogate mother may qualify for assistance, the child she has does not. The parents of that child do not meet the income requirements necessary to be eligible for assistance. This is the equivalent of a woman claiming that her neighbor’s child is hers to qualify.

Website design By BotEap.comIt is a fraud. And if the government decided to do so, they could prosecute the surrogate mother and the prospective parents for fraud. This could lead to heavy fines and, if you choose to exemplify the situation, it may even lead to jail time.

Website design By BotEap.comMany agencies and clinics will not work with surrogate mothers on public assistance. Often times, they just don’t want to get involved in a situation that could be misinterpreted by the federal government.

Website design By BotEap.comAnother reason that agencies choose not to work with these women is the fact that they may need the money provided by surrogacy to meet their basic needs. Since much of surrogacy is uncertain, the surrogate mother can go months without receiving a penny of compensation. You can also spend more than a year and finish a trip without ever receiving any compensation.

Website design By BotEap.comAdd to that the fact that many see surrogacy as exploiting the poor and agencies simply don’t want to get involved. The last thing surrogacy needs is more controversy.

Website design By BotEap.comOther forms of public assistance, like WIC, should also be viewed the same way. If she were not pregnant with another couple’s child, the surrogate would not qualify to be placed on WIC; therefore, she does not qualify for it.

Website design By BotEap.comIf a prospective surrogate mother is in dire financial straits, surrogacy is simply not the best option for her. If a woman is currently a surrogate mother and is in a difficult financial situation that will prevent her from paying for adequate nutrition, the prospective parents must cover these costs.

Website design By BotEap.comBut under no circumstances should the surrogate mother or prospective parents be tempted to turn to the government for help. Medicaid is not a cheap way to do surrogacy. It’s a way to get into a lot of trouble for years to come.