Surrogacy and Egg Donor Insurance: Complete Guide to Coverage and Protection
Ever wondered what really happens if something goes wrong during a surrogacy or egg donation journey and who’s responsible for the bill?
When it comes to third-party reproduction (surrogacy, egg donation, or embryo donation) insurance can be one of the most confusing and overlooked parts of the journey. But as Virginia Hart from ART Risk Solutions explains, it’s also one of the most critical.
In this episode, host Eloise Drane sits down with Virginia to demystify the complex world of fertility insurance, what’s covered, what’s not, and how to make sure everyone involved in a surrogacy or donor arrangement is fully protected. From complications and medical coverage to life insurance and newborn care, Virginia breaks down what you must know before signing any contract or starting treatment.
Whether you’re an intended parent, surrogate, donor, or professional in the fertility field, this episode offers the clarity and confidence you need to safeguard your journey.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Virginia Hart, founder of ART Risk Solutions.
02:14 – Why fertility and surrogacy insurance are so confusing.
03:47 – How ART Risk protects parents, surrogates, and donors.
06:23 – Core coverages every surrogate needs.
08:36 – Why complication insurance is essential.
10:18 – The real cost of going uninsured.
12:04 – ACA and Lloyd’s of London options explained.
15:12 – Commonly forgotten policies that matter most.
17:43 – What intended parents should budget for.
20:29 – How ART Risk manages claims and bills.
23:11 – Planning newborn coverage and NICU care.
26:48 – Insurance for international intended parents.
30:37 – The toughest states for surrogacy coverage.
36:09 – IVF coverage and new fertility benefits.
40:46 – Final advice: ask, “Am I protected and how?”
Connect with Virginia:
Instagram: @art.risk.solutions
Website: https://www.facebook.com/artriskfinancial/
Resources mentioned:
ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine): https://www.asrm.org
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: https://resolve.org/
Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys: https://adoptionart.org
SEEDS (Society for Ethics in Egg Donatio...
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Insurance for surrogacy and egg donation(00:00:41) - What is Affirmative Reproduction Insurance?(00:02:13) - Getting Out of the Insurance Industry(00:03:24) - What Types of Insurance Were People Confused About?(00:04:06) - What Kind of Insurance Do You Provide For Donor/Surrog(00:06:19) - Importance of surrogacy insurance(00:12:41) - What happens if a surrogate doesn't have a health insurance plan?(00:19:26) - Obstructions during IVF(00:21:59) - What Should the Baby's Medical Coverage Be?(00:25:36) - Art Risk Provides Support for Surrogates' Medical Bills(00:27:18) - Obtained surrogacy insurance in the United States(00:32:57) - Surrogacy and Workplace Benefits(00:36:47) - Choosing a surrogate for the first time(00:38:59) - If You Could Give One Advice to Surrogates and Donors(00:40:15) - How to Find Out More About Art Risk(00:40:51) - Fertility Cafe: Today's Conversation
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Fertility Café Season 7: Inside Modern Fertility Care — IVF, Surrogacy, Egg Donation & Family Building
The conversation around fertility is changing and Season 7 of Fertility Café dives deep into how.
Hosted by Eloise Drane, founder of Family Inceptions and Fertility 360, this season explores the science, stories, and shifting definitions that shape modern fertility care. From what really happens inside the embryology lab to the emotional realities of IVF, surrogacy, and egg donation, you’ll hear from experts, parents, surrogates, and advocates who are redefining what it means to build a family today.
Episodes unpack topics like embryo grading, genetic testing, reproductive ethics, acupuncture and holistic fertility, and mental health in fertility treatment, making complex care understandable, compassionate, and empowering.Whether you’re navigating your own fertility journey or simply curious about how reproductive science and human connection intersect, Season 7 offers real insight into the future of family building.
You’ll learn:
What happens behind the scenes in IVF and embryo development
How holistic care and emotional support impact fertility outcomes
The evolving roles of surrogates, donors, and intended parents
Why fertility is about more than conception. It’s about choice, health, and identity.
Fertility Café Season 7 brings humanity back to reproductive medicine, one honest conversation at a time.
Resources & Links
Website: thefertilitycafe.com Instagram: @fertilitycafe
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Ep. 120 Should I Freeze My Eggs? What to Know Before You Decide
In this solo episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane breaks down one of the most buzzed-about topics in modern fertility: egg freezing. Once considered a niche medical intervention, egg freezing has become a mainstream option for those seeking to preserve their fertility, but what does it really involve?
Eloise takes you through the entire landscape, from the medical process and emotional considerations to the financial realities and cultural shifts. She unpacks how egg freezing evolved from a last-resort treatment to a proactive choice, what it actually looks like to go through a cycle, and why access remains unequal despite growing interest.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered:
“Is egg freezing right for me?”
“What’s the real cost, and not just financially?”
“How does this intersect with identity, access, and equity?”
Whether you're exploring your options or simply trying to understand the conversation more deeply, this episode offers real talk, grounded insights, and the kind of honesty that Fertility Café is known for.
Mentioned Resources:
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM.org)
FertilityIQ.com
Tune in for a thoughtful guide through the myths, facts, and nuances of egg freezing, because your timeline, your body, and your decisions deserve clarity and care.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe(00:01:34) - What Egg Freezing Is Really Like(00:02:25) - E egg freezing: How it works, costs, and(00:11:09) - Egg Freezing: Access and Financial Reality(00:15:50) - Egg Freezing: A Personal Decision(00:18:47) - Deciding to freeze your eggs
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Ep. 119 How Egg Donation Helped Me Become a Mom: Erica Ferraro’s Story
What happens when every path to parenthood seems to close? For Erica Ferraro, the answer was egg donation—a deeply emotional and empowering decision shaped by a long, painful battle with undiagnosed endometriosis. In this powerful episode, Erica joins host Eloise Drane to share the real story behind her journey: the years of misdiagnosis, the trauma of IVF failure, and the healing that came from choosing donor conception.
You’ll hear:
-What it’s really like to receive an endometriosis diagnosis after two decades
-Why Erica believes egg donation is a form of organ donation—and not “less than”
-Honest insights on grieving genetic loss, finding the right donor, and parenting after donor IVF
-How her new book, Moving Mountains for Motherhood, became the U.S.'s first professionally published infertility survival guide
Whether you’re navigating your own fertility journey or supporting someone who is, this episode is a raw, real, and hopeful reminder that love—not biology—defines family.
Moving Mountains for Motherhood is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Connect with Erica on Instagram @eri.ferraro
Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode to support more honest conversations about modern family building.
#FertilityCafe #EggDonation #EndometriosisAwareness #DonorIVF #InfertilitySupport #ModernParenthood
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe(00:00:58) - Egg Donor: Moving Mountains for Motherhood(00:02:04) - I Got A Mother's Endometriosis Diagnosis(00:07:27) - The Secret to Managing Endometriosis in Your 20s(00:11:26) - Egg Donation After IVF(00:16:05) - Donor Eggs For Couple's Baby(00:21:47) - The Donor Selection in My Egg IVF(00:23:55) - The Decision Between Anonymity & Open ID(00:28:32) - Janet on Frozen Eggs vs. Fresh IVF(00:35:15) - Why I Don't Share My Egg Donor Story(00:41:06) - The Journey to Parenthood: Third-Party Reproduction(00:42:20) - The Book Moving Mountains For Motherhood(00:46:58) - E egg donation in the United States(00:50:16) - Where Can People Get A Copy of Moving Mountains For Motherhood?
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Ep 118 Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
In this heartfelt episode, Ashley Hengston opens up about her deeply personal path from infertility to motherhood through surrogacy. She shares the emotional highs and lows—from the grief of infertility to the complex decisions involved in choosing surrogacy. Ashley walks us through the process of matching with a surrogate, navigating medical and legal steps, and managing the emotional terrain of pregnancy and birth.
This conversation sheds light on the importance of trust, preparation, and communication in the surrogacy journey. Ashley candidly discusses the emotional impact of the birth, her experience with postpartum depression, and how intended parents can stay connected throughout the process. She also shares the value of community and support groups for those navigating the often isolating road of infertility.
Whether you’re considering surrogacy or supporting someone who is, this episode offers raw insight and real encouragement.
Have questions about your surrogacy journey?
Speak with our expert team today: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents/
Stay Connected
Instagram: @fertilitycafe
Facebook: @fertilitycafe
Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com
More Resources
Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/
All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe(00:01:09) - Ashley Hingston on Becoming a Parent Through Surrog(00:02:10) - Ashley Hingstown on Her Infertility(00:02:59) - The Process of Introspective surrogacy(00:05:53) - The Parents Who Used Surrogacy(00:08:12) - The Joy of Surrogacy(00:10:54) - When Did You Choose To Use an Agency or Go Independent?(00:11:59) - A Couple's Matching Experience(00:14:28) - The Family Blueprint(00:15:41) - The Surrogate's First Meet the Parents(00:18:25) - The Secret to Getting A Mother's Love(00:21:19) - The Secret to Surrogacy(00:22:37) - After Having a Surrogate Baby,(00:25:03) - The Surrogate's Relationship With Her Partner(00:32:54) - The Day My Surrogate Was Born(00:35:51) - The Surrogate's Postpartum Depression(00:43:28) - "I'm Not In Love With My Parenting"(00:44:32) - In the Elevator With Infertility Support Group(00:45:40) - Pregnant Woman on Her Journey(00:46:56) - Ashley on Rage Against Infertility(00:48:11) - Surrogacy 101
Fertility Café explores the evolving world of reproductive health, infertility, and modern family building. Hosted by Eloise Drane, fertility expert, agency founder, past surrogate and egg donor, and mom of five, the show unpacks the medical, emotional, and ethical sides of today’s fertility care.
From IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, embryo donation, infertility treatment, men’s fertility, hormones, and fertility preservation, each episode dives into every part of assisted reproduction. Hear real stories and expert insights from fertility doctors, surrogates, and intended parents in open conversations.
Whether you are navigating infertility, exploring surrogacy or donation, or curious about reproductive wellness, Fertility Café helps you find clarity, confidence, and hope.
Connect with us: www.thefertilitycafe.com
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