Active-duty service members have military restrictions that generally prevent them from becoming surrogates, but military spouses and some Reserve or Guard members may still qualify.
Your specific military connection determines how these rules apply to you and whether you can safely commit to the process.
Understanding these guidelines early helps you figure out your eligibility and what steps you need to take next with American Surrogacy.
Can an Active-Duty Service Member Be a Surrogate?
Active-duty service members generally cannot become surrogates. Military regulations and readiness requirements restrict active personnel from carrying a pregnancy as a gestational carrier.
While active-duty members can use surrogacy to build their own families as intended parents, providing surrogate pregnancy services for someone else conflicts with current service obligations.
Can National Guard or Reserve Members Become Surrogates?
Eligibility for National Guard and Reserve members requires a more individualized review.
Because you can move between different duty statuses, active-duty restrictions may become relevant depending on your current orders and specific branch policies.
You should verify your rules and anticipated duty status before assuming you qualify.
We strongly encourage you to discuss your surrogacy plans with your unit leadership. They can help confirm that a surrogacy agreement, pregnancy and the associated medical commitments align with your current and future service obligations.
Military Spouses May Be Able to Become Surrogates
Being married to a service member does not make you an active-duty member yourself. A military spouse can potentially become a surrogate if she meets American Surrogacy’s standard requirements and receives final medical clearance from a fertility clinic.
The logistics of a military family, such as permanent change of station (PCS) moves or overseas assignments, are practical considerations rather than automatic disqualifiers. These factors mainly affect the timing and coordination of your journey.
Military Life Can Affect the Timing of a Surrogacy
Frequent relocations, PCS orders, deployments or extended separations require careful planning when you are a surrogate. You need to remain available for critical medical steps, including local screening appointments, the embryo transfer, regular prenatal care and the delivery itself.
Living overseas or far from the intended parents' fertility clinic can also affect your access to necessary care. These realities should be identified early in the process to ensure your surrogacy timeline aligns with your family's military schedule.
How TRICARE Works When a Military Spouse Becomes a Surrogate
TRICARE does not treat a compensated surrogate pregnancy like a standard beneficiary pregnancy. It considers surrogacy a limited benefit and dictates that your contractual medical-expense obligations are primary.
This means the intended parents or their supplemental insurance must pay first, with TRICARE paying second only in qualifying circumstances. If you do not have a surrogacy contract in place, TRICARE will not cover maternity services for you while acting as a surrogate.
Our specialists review your insurance situation carefully to ensure appropriate coverage is in place before any medical procedures begin.
American Surrogacy’s Requirements and Pre-Screening
In addition to navigating military guidelines, you must meet specific physical and lifestyle criteria to protect your health during a surrogate pregnancy.
American Surrogacy thoroughly evaluates your qualifications through our pre-screening process before matching you with intended parents. This includes a relevant medical-record review, a psychological evaluation, background checks and an insurance review.
Identifying any potential medical or logistical issues early prevents you from investing unnecessary time in a process you cannot safely complete.
If You Qualify, How Much Could You Earn With American Surrogacy?
If you meet the required guidelines and move forward, surrogacy provides a meaningful financial opportunity for your family. American Surrogacy currently offers $70,000 - $110,000+ in total compensation for qualified surrogates.
First-time surrogates typically earn $55,000 - $65,000+ in base compensation, while experienced surrogates can earn $70,000 - $90,000+. This compensation recognizes the significant time, physical demands and responsibilities you take on throughout the year.
What If You Don’t Qualify to Be a Surrogate?
Not meeting surrogate requirements does not reflect your value, your overall health or your ability to parent your own children. Surrogacy demands very specific medical and logistical criteria that simply do not align with everyone's current circumstances.
If you ultimately cannot carry a pregnancy as a surrogate, you can still help build a family through our referral program. By connecting us with a successful qualifying surrogate, you can earn a $5,000+ bonus.
Find Out Whether You Can Become a Surrogate With American Surrogacy
You do not have to interpret military regulations and surrogacy requirements on your own. Sharing your military connection and current duty status during our initial application allows American Surrogacy to help determine the appropriate next step for you.
Reach out today to get a clear answer on your eligibility and, if you qualify, start an individualized conversation about your compensation and screening.