February 28, 2007

How to Interview a Surrogacy Agency

David Foucher READ TIME: 3 MIN.

Surrogacy costs a lot of money and you need to be smart when choosing an agency to work with, or you could get burned. The Growing Generations agency has a helpful list to guide you through this process. It is called "Ten Questions You Should Ask Any Surrogacy Agency" and can be found here.

  • The first thing Growing Generations says you want to find out is how many years the company has been around. It is quite easy for a company to set up shop-especially since we live in the age of 1-2-3 web sites. But not all agencies have staying power. And surrogacy is a big deal, not just financially, but also emotionally. "Are you willing to trust the most important process of your life to a new operation with little or no track record of success?" Growing Generations asks.

  • The next thing you want to determine is how many people they have worked with over the years. A lot of satisfied clients means you will most likely be satisfied too.

  • You want to also find out if the agency determines if the surrogates are medically well and psychologically well before offering them to clients. "Most agencies do not screen their surrogates medically or psychologically prior to introducing them to a potential client. Some haven't even met the surrogate in-person and are relying on nothing more than an online application. This puts you at a large risk as many surrogates won't pass medical or psychological screening," the agency says.

  • Has the company been sued? This is a major question that needs to be asked. If the company has been sued, stay away.

  • Surrogacy agencies will give you estimates as to what your cost will be. You should find out if the estimates are the same as what a client will pay.

  • You also want to find out what kind of insurance the agency utilizes for its surrogates. Don't assume all insurance policies are good. "Many agencies will recommend that you use the surrogate's work-related insurance policy or a private health policy purchased specifically for the surrogacy maternity," says Growing Generations. "This is potentially very dangerous as many insurance companies have exclusions for surrogacy or the company she works for may be a self-insured plan that will deny the claims if the surrogacy is discovered." Some agencies even commit insurance fraud, notes Growing Generations. And it's not just enough to ask the agency about their insurance. You also need a written document from the insurance company saying they will insure your surrogate. "Don't accept a blanket letter from any insurance provider as their policies are subject to change without notice to you," says Growing Generations.

  • Another thing to inquire about is how many people are on their staff. Stay away from places with only one or two workers, says Growing Generations. You will likely get decreased customer service, if this is the case.

  • You must also find out what services the company has to offer. It is not enough to simply be connected with a surrogate, or to be connected with a clinic or lawyer, says Growing Generations. "The surrogacy process is complex and requires knowledge and expertise throughout the process, not just at the beginning," notes the site.

  • A very important thing to ask about is if the agency has had parentage judgments or if adoptions have been not approved or put off. "Some agencies work in states where surrogacy is not legal or the climate for surrogacy is uncertain," says Growing Generations. "This has caused cases where intended parents have had difficulty obtaining parental rights for their children or where the surrogacy has been contested."

    by David Foucher , EDGE Publisher

    David Foucher is the CEO of the EDGE Media Network and Pride Labs LLC, is a member of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association, and is accredited with the Online Society of Film Critics. David lives with his daughter in Dedham MA.

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