The labour of love that is altruistic Surrogacy in Australia

Altruistic Surrogacy is legal in Australia and so is paying the premiums for a Surrogates Life and Disability insurance policy.

Who’s using Surrogacy in Australia?

For many Australians, having children and raising a family is a natural and important part of their lives. But for some this dream doesn't come easily and when other avenues have been exhausted, options for surrogacy are considered.

What's our part in this journey?

We're all about protecting the parents to be and their surrogate.

We specialise in helping;

• Intended Parents get the highest quality life insurances set up for themselves - and separately
• for their Surrogate

in a respectful and confidential way, with a minimum of paperwork and no need for a face-to-face meeting.

We understand not everyone understands

If you're an intended parent and part way through the roller coaster that can be Altruistic Surrogacy in Australia, you may have already spent what feels like a small fortune on medical and legal costs.

You may even have had to battle a level of ignorance and stigma from the un-informed portion of the community.

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy (more accurately known as Gestational Surrogacy) is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) where a woman (the surrogate) offers to carry a baby through pregnancy on behalf of another — a person or couple, same-sex or heterosexual — and then return the baby to these intended parent(s) once it’s born.

Traditionally, Surrogacy was a way only heterosexual couples, who had difficulty falling pregnant or who unable to carry a pregnancy safely, could have a child of their own.

Now a growing number of single parents and same-sex couples looking to start their own families are looking to use Surrogacy.

The uncomfortable truth and what you can do about it

Although it may not be the most pleasant thing to think about, it's true pregnancy is not without risks.

• From early pregnancy until some weeks after delivery, the statistical reality is pregnant women have an increased risk of mortality compared with women who are not pregnant.

This is why Unusual Risks Insured provides comprehensive life insurance protection for intended parents and their surrogate .

Critical steps in keeping everyone safe

Family protection planning involves;

• understanding the statistical realities of life, and
• the critical role Life Insurances and Estate Planning documents (like Wills and Powers of Attorney) all contribute to building a safety net under your family's future.

We can help you with all of these critical steps.

It is important to protect everyone involved in a surrogacy arrangement against the risk of one of the adults involved unexpectedly dying or unexpectedly becoming long term disabled?

The intended parents should;

1. arrange and pay for life insurance for their surrogate, to make sure her family is financially protected if anything happens to her as a result of the pregnancy.
2. arrange and pay for life insurances for themselves and their future family
3. include their future child in their current Estate Planning by nominating potential Guardians and  providing the protection of an backup inheritance from a life insurance policy in case one or both parents were to unexpectedly pass away before their child turns 21.

The Good News

We can help you with these critical steps in your surrogate journey.

We understand the complex process (and array of emotions) that can be part of the surrogacy journey, so we create solutions to fix potential problems before they ever arise so you can have more time and emotional space to enjoy the journey you’re on together.

Who we work with?

We work with intended parents who are;

• ready to get their own life insurances sorted, and
• ready to protect their Surrogate with the highest quality life insurances, too.

Australian Law

Laws relating to surrogacy are managed independently by different Australian states and territories.  Altruistic Surrogacy is legal in Australia as is paying for a Surrogates life insurances and disability insurance policy premiums.

• In an Altruistic Surrogacy agreement, a surrogate doesn’t receive any payment or reward for acting as a surrogate, outside reimbursement of the surrogate’s reasonable costs incurred associated with the pregnancy.

Law in NSW

In NSW, the Surrogacy Act 2010 recognises certain surrogacy agreements, prohibits commercial agreements and clarifies the status of children born via surrogacy.

Section 7(3) of the Act outlines what are considered the surrogates reasonable costs associated with the pregnancy or birth as;

(a) any reasonable medical costs associated with the pregnancy or birth (both prenatal and post-natal),
(b) any reasonable travel or accommodation costs associated with the pregnancy or birth,
(c) any premium paid for health, disability or life insurance that would not have been obtained by the birth mother, had the surrogacy arrangement not been entered into...

Law in other States & Territories

• In VIC, the Assisted Reproductive Regulations 2019 has similar provisions.
• In QLD, the Surrogacy Act 2010 (Qld) has similar provisions
• In WA, the Surrogacy Act 2008 (and associated Regulations, Directions and Rules) has similar provisions
• In SA, the Surrogacy Bill 2019 has been introduced with similar provisions.
• In Tasmania, the Surrogacy Act 2012 (Tas) has similar provisions
• In ACT, the Parentage Act 2004 (ACT), has similar provisions
• In Northern Territory they have released a discussion paper to create clarity on the NT position on surrogacy issues

Benefit from our professional privacy and expertise

We understand for intended parents, knowing how and who should best arrange high quality life insurance for their surrogate can be complicated, and loaded with privacy and practical personal concerns.

For over 20 years, the Financial Advisers at UnusuL Risk Insurfed have watched Australian legislation lagg behind the needs and demands of the community and how insurance companies have tried to quietly avoid this type of client; so were decided to be the change we wanted to see in our community.

All life insurance policies vary from company to company, as do their policy features and conditions.

• Sadly, the attitude of many insurance companies towards what are usually short term policies, are often less than welcoming
• Some life insurance companies deliberately tilt their policy wording towards people having pregnancy inside families, rather than outside.

As the awareness of Surrogacy increases, some insurance companies have started writing policies that only cover a pregnancy within the family, not a surrogate pregnancy.

Why work with us?

Whether you’re an intended parent or prospective surrogate, it's important you work with a specialist financial adviser who understands both;

• the technical nuances of getting the right policy cover for you, and
• who respects the deeply human connection involved when a person decides to be part of a surrogacy journey.

How to work with us

Our fee-for-service advice model allows us to provide Intended Parents the highest quality insurance for their Surrogate, at a wholesale price - something simply not available through traditional sources.

Additional value for a Surrogate

After the pregnancy, a Surrogate also has the option to simply take over the insurance policy (and keep its wholesale price structure) - potentially saving thousands of dollars off the standard premium rates over the length of a life insurance policy.

Where to from here?

• You can read a case study here.

• You can read our FAQs for intended parents and surrogates here.

• If you're ready to get your insurance sorted, get in touch with us here

If you're looking for additional online resources?

Make sure you're aware of these recourses:

• for Same-sex individuals and couples: Rainbow Families
• for Blended families, single-parent and same-sex couples: Raising Children Network
• for Single mums: National Council of Single Mothers and their Children