Axios | March 29, 2026
Surrogacy goes more mainstream
Surrogacy is increasingly common in the U.S., although it still makes up a very small percentage of births in the U.S. overall. Ethical and legal complexities in the surrogacy process make it important to consider the experiences, rights, and needs of surrogates, intended parents, and children born via surrogacy.
Surrogacy laws are all over the map
Surrogacy laws vary widely by state in the U.S. Some states enforce surrogacy arrangements and have regulations about compensation and legal parentage, while others have no regulations at all. This article features CGS’ Surrogacy360’s map of US surrogacy regulation.
The steep cost of surrogacy
Surrogacy remains very expensive in the U.S., ranging from $100K-250K to cover compensation for the surrogate along with medical, clinic, agency, and legal fees. Insurance coverage is limited, which makes the practice inaccessible for most people.