What Is Life Insurance for Surrogates in Surrogacy?

Last updated: · · Based on data from 196+ surrogacy agency compensation packages

Life insurance for surrogates is a term life policy required by most surrogacy contracts before the medical process begins. It provides financial protection for a surrogate's family in the event of her death during the journey. The cost is paid by the intended parents.

Why Life Insurance for Surrogates Matters for Surrogates

Pregnancy carries risk. A term life policy ensures your family is financially protected if something were to happen during the journey. Reputable agencies make this non-negotiable — the intended parents pay for it, you don't.

How Life Insurance for Surrogates Works in Surrogacy

Life insurance for surrogates is typically a term policy of $250,000–$500,000, active from the start of medications through 60–90 days postpartum. The intended parents fund the premium as part of their total journey costs.

The surrogate names her own beneficiaries — not the intended parents. This is an important protection to verify in your contract.

Real-World Example

Most reputable agencies require a $500,000 term life policy active before the surrogate begins medications. Some fertility clinics also independently require proof of this coverage before proceeding with an embryo transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do surrogates get life insurance?
Yes. Most surrogacy contracts require a term life insurance policy ($250,000–$500,000) be active before the surrogate begins medications. The intended parents pay for the policy — it costs the surrogate nothing. You name your own beneficiaries.
How much life insurance do surrogates get?
Standard surrogacy life insurance policies range from $250,000 to $500,000. The policy is active from the start of medications through 60–90 days postpartum. Some fertility clinics independently require proof of coverage before proceeding with embryo transfer.
Who pays for the surrogate's life insurance?
The intended parents pay for the surrogate's life insurance as part of their total journey costs. This is non-negotiable at any reputable agency — you should never be asked to pay for your own surrogacy life insurance.
Who are the beneficiaries on a surrogate's life insurance?
You choose your own beneficiaries — typically your partner, children, or other family members. The intended parents are NOT the beneficiaries. This policy exists solely to protect your family if something were to happen during the journey.

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Source: SurroScore's proprietary database of surrogate-reported compensation data and agency compensation packages, collected from direct agency outreach, public filings, and verified surrogate reviews. Data current as of March 2026.