The Illinois Center for Surrogacy offers leading physician care and concierge surrogate matching to parents traveling to the United States for surrogacy.
Our Chicago, Illinois location is an ideal surrogacy environment, with a combination of medical care, legal security and other factors that is unmatched in the world.
Lack of medical standards, unreliable legal regulations, hidden fees and insufficient insurance coverage can all create challenges for surrogacy journeys that take place outside of the United States. In some cases, the quality of medical care can be a deciding factor. In others, legal parentage can be an obstacle. Regardless of your situation, we recommend that you research your options extensively. Here is a comparison of popular international surrogacy destinations:
- Surrogacy in the United States vs. Russia
- Surrogacy in the United States vs. Ukraine
- Surrogacy in the United States vs. Canada
If you have any questions about surrogacy in the United States, contact us for a free consultation.
Surrogacy in IL vs. Russia
- Legal Regulations: Russia is very restrictive in the types of individuals who can engage in surrogacy contracts. Single, unmarried and LGBT intended parents are not allowed to use a gestational surrogate.
- Medical Care: The quality and expense of medical care can vary greatly in Eastern European countries, requiring intended parents to prepare for the possibility of higher fees and a lower quality of medical and IVF care.
- Hidden Fees: Due to differing legal regulations, surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics may not be required to be upfront about fees until the end of the process, or even after your surrogate has given birth.
- Insurance Coverage: Insurance coverage for the gestational surrogate during pregnancy is often insufficient, resulting in a higher overall cost to the intended parents.
- LGBT Family Building: Russia does not allow surrogacy contracts for same-sex couples or individuals.
- Relationship status: Russia does not allow surrogacy contracts for unmarried couples or single parents.
Surrogacy in IL vs. Ukraine
- Legal Regulations: Similar to Russia, the Ukraine is very restrictive in terms of who can use a gestational surrogate to build their family. Unmarried couples, same-sex couples, and single parents are not allowed to work with a gestational surrogate.
- Medical Care: The quality and expense of medical care can vary greatly in Eastern European countries, requiring intended parents to prepare for the possibility of higher fees and a lower quality of medical and IVF care.
- Hidden Fees: Due to differing legal regulations, surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics may not be required to be upfront about fees until the end of the process, or even after your surrogate has given birth.
- Insurance Coverage: Insurance coverage for the gestational surrogate during pregnancy is often insufficient, resulting in a higher overall cost to the intended parents.
- LGBT Family Building: The Ukraine does not allow surrogacy contracts for same-sex couples or individuals.
- Relationship status: The Ukraine does not allow surrogacy contracts for unmarried couples or single parents.
Surrogacy in IL vs. Canada
- Legal Regulations: Gestational, or compensated surrogacy is not legal in Canada. “Altruistic surrogacy” is the only form of surrogacy legally permitted. Because surrogates are not compensated for their time and efforts, it can be more difficult to find a healthy, pre-screened surrogate mother within a desired timeframe.
- Medical Care: Fertility care is generally good in Canada, though not generally regarded as on par with that of the United States.
- Hidden Fees: Gestational surrogates cannot be compensated for surrogacy, but intended parents will be expected to cover a “reasonable amount” of her expenses incurred from being a surrogate such as medical, travel, etc. This amount is not predetermined and can therefore, sometimes be less clear to the intended parents.
- Insurance Coverage: Due to Canada’s universal healthcare system, insurance coverage for a surrogate may not be as comprehensive as it is in the United States.
- LGBT Family Building: Same-sex family building through gestational surrogacy is legal in Canada.
- Relationship status: You do not need to be married to work with a gestational surrogate in Canada.