Surrogacy Assistance Program
Maven Wallet for Adoption & Surrogacy is available for expenses associated with an arrangement, supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for a contracted party (i.e., individual or couple) who is, or will ultimately become the parent(s) of the newborn child or children.
Full-time, regular Officers and full-time, regular Non-Union Support Staff are eligible for this program.
How to Apply
Surrogacy reimbursement is available for expenses associated with an arrangement, supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for a contracted party (i.e., individual or couple) who is, or will ultimately become the parent(s) of the newborn child or children.
This would also include a gestational surrogate — someone who carries a pregnancy and gives birth to a child for another person or couple, but has no biological connection to the child. The surrogacy arrangement must be a legally recognized agreement between the two parties.
The Program reimburses the Eligible Employee up to $30,000 per lifetime for Eligible Expenses. The $30,000 per lifetime limit applies to the Eligible Employee’s entire household, meaning that, if the Eligible Employee has a spouse who also qualifies as an Eligible Employee, the combined benefit the Eligible Employees may enjoy under the Program is limited to $30,000.
The benefit provided under the Program is taxable, meaning that it appears in the Eligible Employee’s paycheck and is subject to applicable federal, state and/or city taxes as well as FICA and Medicare taxes.
Eligible expenses must be incurred after employee eligibility begins. Eligible expenses include those for services for you or your spouse/covered dependent.
Any expense that is reimbursed by any other source (including any reimbursement accounts held by your eligible spouse/covered dependent) is ineligible for reimbursement.
You'll be required to provide a copy of the formal, signed surrogacy agreement or a letter from an attorney attesting that there is a signed agreement or that the arrangement is legal despite the absence of a signed agreement.
Important:
- Reimbursement for surrogacy costs is not available in every country. Please contact your Maven Care Advocate to see if you can be reimbursed for surrogacy costs in your country before incurring any surrogacy costs.
- Any surrogacy arrangement or expense incurred in violation of applicable laws in the location where obtained or in the U.S. is ineligible for reimbursement.
- Expenses related to the retrieval of reproductive material (i.e. eggs, sperm) of the covered member for the purposes of being transferred to a gestational carrier are ineligible for reimbursement under the Surrogacy Wallet.
- Expenses are eligible for reimbursement 180 after the signed surrogacy agreement or after the expense was incurred, whichever is later.
- Eligible Expenses
- Court costs, legal, and attorney fees
- Surrogacy agency fees
- Gestational carrier screening costs
- Surrogate/gestational carrier compensation
- Health care expenses for the surrogate related to conception, pregnancy, and delivery pursuant to the surrogacy arrangement
- Fees associated with the adoption of a surrogate child
- Reasonable travel and lodging costs for intended parents and minor children related to the surrogacy process (including ground and air travel)
- Ineligible Expenses
- Gifts or personal expenses to a gestational carrier or their family members
- Gifts or personal expenses to an egg, sperm, or embryo donor
- Voluntary donations or contributions to the surrogacy agency
- Cost of living expenses or personal items (rent, utilities, food, over-the-counter supplements, clothing, transportation to appointments, etc.)
- Loss of income, including but not limited to loss due to pregnancy complications (e.g., bed rest for surrogacy)
- Meals while traveling
- Testing related to the transfer of genetic material for anyone other than the donor (e.g., infectious disease testing, risk assessments, physical exams, psychological evaluations)
What an incredible journey you’re embarking on! The Maven Wallet program provides you with access to employer reimbursements for eligible adoption and/or surrogacy expenses.
Make the most of Maven Wallet by reading this document to understand your reimbursement options for eligible expenses.
If you have any questions about Columbia University’s Maven Wallet program, please email [email protected].
If upon review of your claim for reimbursement, a portion of, or your entire claim is denied, you will be notified of this denial in writing, within a reasonable amount of time. The determination of the AVP, Benefits and Compensation with respect to your claim shall be binding and final. Should you wish to bring a civil court action challenging the denial of a portion of, or your entire claim, you must file any such action within one (1) year following the issuance of the denial notice. In addition, any such action must be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction with venue in New York County.