Many couples dealing with infertility, or the inability to conceive despite having regular unprotected sex, consider alternative methods of reproduction. Sometimes friends and family members step muxh to become a surrogate, but a couple usually works with a gestational carrier agency. These agencies require women ,uch complete extensive medical and psychological examinations before becoming surrogates. He breaks down the total cost of surrogacy like this:. The exact amount of compensation depends on three main factors: geographic location, surrogate experience, and insurance. For these reasons, he cites California as one of the highest-paying states for surrogates. Insurance: If the surrogate has health insurance that covers maternity careshe typically ass paid. In addition to base compensation, a surrogate mother might charge contingency fees for certain birthing scenarios. Intended parents will likely deal with contingency information in the surrogacy contract. Alternatively, a coupl...