In an effort to navigate the high expenses associated with surrogacy, an increasingly favoured option for same-sex couples seeking to expand their families biologically, some prospective gay parents are turning to crowdfunding platforms for support
Kyle and Jack Maurelli, a gay couple residing in New York state, initiated a GoFundMe campaign in July. This decision came after their insurance provider denied them coverage for infertility treatments required for the cost of an embryo transplant. Surrogacy, which can amount to $250,000, as stated by the nonprofit organisation Family Equality that advocates for LGBTQ families, presents a significant financial burden.
The Maurellis, who married in 2019, shared their challenges on their GoFundMe page, stating, “We successfully created embryos, however, our path to parenthood has been fraught with financial challenges due to the exorbitant expenses associated with fertility treatments like surrogacy and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite both of us working tirelessly, the overwhelming burden of these costs totaling approximately $180,000 and climbing is proving to be an insurmountable obstacle.”
The couple’s insurance company, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, clarified that it “covers fertility services as mandated by New York state law.” However, the state’s definition of infertility does not apply to male same-sex couples, leading to feelings of discrimination and unfairness. Jack Maurelli expressed his frustration, stating, “It just doesn’t feel fair; it feels discriminatory. I feel like there’s a stigma that two men can’t raise a child together or that men are incapable of raising children on their own, and it’s something we want to stop.”
Kyle Maurelli highlighted the discrepancy between his situation and that of a heterosexual married couple, noting that if he were in a heterosexual marriage, they would be entitled to up to $100,000 worth of fertility treatments through his health insurer. Their interactions with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield have been disheartening, with comments insinuating that they should seek natural reproduction with fertile females since they are not deemed infertile.
The Maurellis have already spent approximately $65,000 on fertility costs and estimate an additional $180,000 for surrogacy. To meet these financial demands, they have resorted to taking out loans against their home and securing second jobs. Currently, they have raised around $5,000 of their $50,000 fundraising goal on GoFundMe.
While 20 states, including Washington, D.C., besides New York have laws mandating coverage for infertility treatments, according to Resolve: The National Infertility Association, not all states encompass coverage for in vitro fertilization.
This highlights the need for further progress in ensuring equal access to fertility treatments for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation.
