Program Description
Overview
The Family Promise Pprogram is designed to offer greater financial predictability during the surrogacy process, which is often expensive and unpredictable. Our Surrogacy Guarantee Program allows intended parents (IP’s) the option to plan with more confidence by providing more predictable financial obligations to your IVF clinic.
The Family Promise Program helps you control and better plan for the medical expenses of surrogacy with fewer surprises. The program provides 3 years of unlimited egg retrieval and embryo transfer attempts at one fixed fee. However, it is important to note that there are strict pre-qualifying criteria and exclusions. For example, the program is available only if you choose a young (early to mid-20s) egg donor from Chicago IVF’s fresh egg donor database and if you plan to test all embryos with Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). Otherwise this program is not likely the best program for you. This program may not be for you if: you plan to purchase frozen eggs from an egg bank, you do not wish to use donor eggs, you have fertility benefits covering IVF treatment through your insurance plan, you have unshakeable family balancing preferences.
Given that there are several high cost items that are excluded and paid separately by you, please carefully review the prequalification criteria and exclusions.
We are here to assist you as you navigate your family-building journey.
Family Promise
Surrogacy Guarantee Program
Pre-Qualifying Criteria
The program is only available when using an egg donor from the Chicago IVF network. Please note that all Chicago IVF fresh egg donors live locally to one of our 5 locations in northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana.
The guarantee program remains valid for three years following the first egg retrieval.
Before considering another egg donor retrieval, all viable embryos or PGT-A normal embryos must be utilized.
The program does not guarantee the sex (boy or girl) or specific genetic origin of embryos.
If PGT-A normal embryos are of a non-preferred sex, an additional agreement may need to be signed. Additional costs are likely. Please clarify this point and ask that cost estimates are included in your financial estimate.
- Both the package fee and the program deposit are non-refundable. Choose this option only if you are comfortable with the possibility of paying more if your first IVF attempt is successful. This is, in fact, how the program is feasible: those patients who are successful on the first attempt basically fund those who require multiple attempts.
Medical IVF Clinics
The Family Promise Surrogacy Guarantee Program is exclusively available at Chicago IVF Clinics, a network with highly stable IVF success rates.
Surrogate Matching
For this program, you will need to choose an independent surrogacy agency. Significant additional expenses ($10-30k) will have to be paid by you. Please speak with your Family Promise program coordinator for additional information.
Legal Requirements for IP’s and Surrogate
While the Family Promise Program doesn't include any non-medical fees, such as those for contract drafting, representation and parentage support, we understand the importance of having expert guidance throughout each stage of your surrogacy journey. To help you control costs and ensure your legal rights are protected, we can provide you with a list of qualified attorneys specializing in egg donation and surrogacy law.
Health Insurance for Surrogate and Baby
Health insurance is mandatory for both the surrogate and the baby. Key points to note:
In some cases, the surrogate may already have a surrogacy friendly health insurance policy that can cover a portion of the costs.
However, in other cases, the IP’s may need to purchase an additional insurance policy privately or through the healthcare marketplace or pay the full cost.
Insurance premiums can vary significantly, ranging from several hundred dollars (a month) to tens of thousands of dollars per year.
We collaborates with a group of insurance specialists who have a wide experience in surrogacy insurance. They can help you understand your options and find the most suitable coverage as per your needs.
- Our team is available for your guidance. You can discuss insurance with your Surrogacy Coordinator.
Program Includes
The Family Promise Surrogacy Guarantee Program does not guarantee a live birth but offers 3 years of unlimited attempts with controlled costs. This program is designed in a way that will minimize surprise expenses, although strict rules and criteria apply. It is very important that you are aware of this before making a commitment to this program.
It Offers
- Use of Chicago IVF egg donors.
- Coverage is valid for three years from the first egg retrieval.
- All viable or PGT-A normal embryos must be used before considering another egg retrieval.
- The gender and genetic origin of embryos are not guaranteed.
- If PGT-A results in embryos of a non-preferred gender, additional agreements may be required.
- Package fees and program deposits are non-refundable.
- All party's case coordination
Intended Parents
- Diagnostic testing*
- FDA screening*
- Psychological evaluation*
- Semen evaluation*
- Semen collection and preparation
- Semen initial cryopreservation
- Physician & provider consults
- Semen Provider Expanded carrier screening
Egg Donor
- Expanded carrier screening
- Psychological evaluation*
- Administrative, coordination & matching
- FDA-required medical screening & physical exams*
- Required physician & provider consults
- Retrieval procedure & cycle monitoring
- Retrieval anesthesia*
- Donor Insurance & Compensation*
GC IVF Cycle
- In-cycle ultrasound examinations & blood tests
- Embryo creation, including fertilization, ICSI, AZH
- PGT-A (standard 4-embryo package)*
- One-year embryo cryopreservation storage
- Embryo Transfer Procedures
Surrogate/GC
- Testing & screening prior to treatment*
- Partner screening*
- Required HSG and/or sonoHSG*
- Pregnancy care (up to 11 weeks)
Program Exclusions
Some services are excluded, and there costs can be on the higher side. It is very important to work with a Financial Counselor to fully understand both included and excluded expenses.
Additional pre-cycle tests
- GC compensation
- Non-standard procedures or costs associated with any complications
- PGT-M single-gene Services
- Surgical retrieval of sperm
- Egg retrieval medications
Any service not performed at CIVF
- Any service not performed at CIVF
- Egg donor compensation and anesthesia after 2nd retrieval
- PGT-A biopsy fee after 1st egg retrieval
- GC surgeries (any type)
- Embryo transfer medications
Additional IP psychological evaluations after 1st
- Legal fees for GC and/or IP's
- Embryo/Sperm cryopreservation storage after 1 year
- PGT-A testing fee after 8th embryo
- Cost of donor sperm
- Additional GC screenings after 1st
Why Choose the Family Promise Program?
The Family Promise Program is designed to benefit both intended parents (IPs) and IVF clinics. By combining young egg donors with PGT-tested embryos, we can reliably predict the likelihood of a successful live birth. While biological factors can be unpredictable, our program offers a high degree of predictability that will help to stabilize the often unpredictable costs associated with surrogacy.
The Family Promise Program is a great option if you are well aware of the expenses and procedures of surrogacy, prioritize finding a young egg donor, schedule PGT testing, and are willing to make additional financial commitments in the event that your initial effort is successful. The additional fees from successful first attempts are used to offset the costs of subsequent attempts. Consider carefully if you are comfortable with this financial arrangement.
Why NOT Choose the Family Promise Program?
The Family Promise Program is designed to benefit both intended parents and IVF clinics. IVF clinics with proven high success rates can reasonably well predict outcomes with in normal case to case variability. This reliability, combined with patients' careful cost calculations, can lead to mutually beneficial results.
However, the Family Promise Program is not suitable for everyone. The most significant factor is the substantial upfront costs, which are non-refundable. If you these upfront fees place an unreasonable burden on you, it's advisable to explore other options. Our primary goal is to help intended parents achieve successful and predictable outcomes within biological limits.
The program requires the use of PGT testing on embryos. While we understand that some intended parents may prefer a more natural approach, the Family Promise Program's effectiveness is largely due to the high success rates associated with PGT testing.
Finally, the program's prequalification criteria are essential and should be strictly followed. There are no hidden costs or surprises. The Family Promise Program is designed to minimize unexpected expenses and outcomes. Please carefully review the criteria, ask questions, and consult with an attorney if desired.
FAQs
Next Steps
The next steps depend on where you are in your surrogacy journey. Please:
- Speak with your Clinical Case Coordinator
- Consult your Physician
- Contact your Patient's Financial Advisor
Our team is always here to guide you. Once you have reviewed, and fully understand, the program details, you will need to sign a Family Promise Program financial estimate. Be certain to carefully read the contract and eligibility criteria, and consult with an advisor or attorney if desired.
Our mission is simple: prioritize patient safety, ensure happy, healthy pregnancies for surrogates, and support successful family-building for IPs.