Getting Started
Resources to Guide You on Your Cryonics Journey
Getting Started
Cryonics is a visionary concept that holds out the promise of a second chance at life – with renewed health, vitality and youth.
The concept of cryonics was introduced in 1962 by the Founder of the Cryonics Institute, Robert Ettinger, in his landmark book “The Prospect of Immortality.”
Cryonics involves cooling a recently deceased person to liquid nitrogen temperatures in order to keep the body preserved indefinitely. Our goal is to keep the patient preserved until future science is able to repair or replace vital tissues and ultimately revive the patient. It might seem like an impossible goal to “revive” a “dead” person. However, “dying” is a process rather than an event. A majority of the body’s tissues remain intact at a cellular level even after the heart stops beating. The goal of cryonics is to halt that process as quickly as possible after legal death, giving future physicians the best possible chance of reviving the patient. This may include repairing or replacing damaged tissues and even entire organs using advanced computer systems, nanotechnology and medical equipment and procedures.
We believe that this will happen in a future where our lifespans can be significantly, even radically, extended.
Since 1962, the average lifespan has increased dramatically. Nanotechnology (which holds the promise of future biological repair) has become a major industry. Prominent companies, including Google, have begun focused efforts to retard and reverse aging. The promise of cryonics is becoming more apparent and more exciting.
We encourage you to explore this web site, get the facts and judge for yourself whether or not cryonics is right for you.
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10 Worst Mistakes in Cryonics
Not signing up ahead of time
Becoming a member, having contracts in place, and having paperwork in order should not be a last minute decision. Waiting until the last minute or after death results in an unnecessary delay of care or worse- No suspension at all! Don’t wait. Sign up here and be prepared. https://www.cryonics.org/membership/
Not providing proof of funding
Some people believe that they can worry about funding later or if they have funding, they have put off providing proof of funding to CI. This should be done annually. This can result in a delay of care while the funding clears. This can take weeks, so send in your proof of funding to CI now and be prepared.
Not telling anyone your plans
Being reclusive or not telling family or friends your wishes is not recommended. You should not be afraid to tell those around you what your wishes are, especially your next of kin. Wearing a bracelet, necklace or having identification or other items in view can speak to your wishes. This is all you have when you can’t speak for yourself. Disasters have resulted in the past from not sharing. Talk with your family, close friends and your estate attorney, so you can be prepared.
Not planning
Many think cryonics is a turnkey service where you can just sign up and let fate take over. No matter how much you pay for cryonics, you are the only one who can make sure that you will have the best chance by planning. CI has provided a lot of information on our website and in our standby manuals. Those who plan succeed those who don’t fail. Click here for more information…
Not notifying CI of Emergencies
There is no way that your cryonics provider can help you if they do not know of your emergency. Your family, friends, standby group or next of kin must immediately contact CI when you are having health issues or worse. It is also important for CI to know if you have up and coming surgeries or procedures, including terminal illness. Patients with a diagnosed terminal illness could enter hospice care, which might help your cryonics situation vastly. Any delay in notifying us directly could result in a poor suspension. Those helping you must have simple and clear instructions. Here are some tips… Standby: Emergency Notifcation
Committing suicide
Anyone who commits suicide is potentially putting themselves at great risk. CI will not risk itself for people who engage in behavior that goes against our mission to preserve life. If someone who is terminally ill proceeds lawfully under a state or locality that permits physician assisted suicide (CI will consider the circumstances of such cases.) Suicide often leads to an autopsy and long delays, rendering the suspension process substandard or impossible to carry out. Do not consider cryonics as a way out of your problems. You are likely to not get suspended under those circumstances. If you are considering suicide, you should seek mental health advice and treatment as soon as possible. https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/depression-hotline/
Engaging in Risky or illegal activities
Risky behaviors or associations that lead to the patient dying around suspicious circumstances will also likely lead to mandated autopsies that will also stand in the way of your cryonics wishes. It is best to use common sense and not put yourself in harm’s way. Not only could your life be ended, so too could your chances of cryonics suspension or future reanimation. Use common sense and stay safe.
Providing financial or legal incentives so that you will not be suspended.
Leaving all of your insurance or cryonics money to family if you are not suspended is certainly an option at CI, but ironically it does provide financial incentive for hostile family members to block your suspension. As often is the case, people will make sure you are not suspended to get ahold of your money. One suggestion is to leave family and next of kin some separate money from cryonics funding while suggesting that Cryonics funding go to cryonics as a donation no matter if you are buried or suspended. In addition, family or next of kin can be further compelled to cooperate if they will actually lose the money that is allocated to them for not cooperating. It is also suggested that your family be made fully aware of your wishes and stipulations, so they know what the results of their actions will be. You want to make sure you put incentives and disincentives in the correct place, so that your wishes are honored. It is suggested that your will and cryonics documentation reflect this and get reviewed by an attorney.
Not removing a hostile next of kin from rights to your remains and finances
In many states and areas you can legally remove a hostile family member or next of kin from your estate. You can reassign someone who is sympathetic to cryonics and who has the legal authority to disposition of your remains, as well as your assets. In some states and locations there are disposition of remains reassignment documents, as well as powers of attorney, both in regards to financial as well as medical decisions. The executor of your will or anyone involved with making decisions should be sympathetic to your cryonics wishes. It is your responsibility to make your wishes very clear and to remove any doubt or potential legal resistance from family or next of kin. We suggest seeking legal advice to help you in this regard. Some members have even made a video statement of their wishes and given it to both their cryonics organization as well as their attorneys. Not being careful could mean that you don’t get suspended, despite your wishes. Many are surprised to learn that they lose their rights upon legal death. See an attorney and prepare.
Dying under less then favorable conditions
This seems harder to control then the other situations, but there are some things you can do to make your situation more favorable. You can diet, exercise and follow the latest official medical advice to stay healthy longer. The longer you are alive, the better the technology will probably be for suspending you and the closer we will be to a future that may be able to reverse your condition. You can avoid travel to remote or hostile places where such travel is risky. Some overseas travel can result in long delays both logistically and bureaucratically. In general, dying near your cryonics provider or cryonics standby group helps your chances. Living a healthy lifestyle and staying sociable, while surrounding yourself with people who will act on your behalf is paramount. Building solid, positive relationships with good people is probably one of the most important things you can do to have your wishes honored. Take care of yourself and maintain social connectivity.
A Guide to Cryopreservation Contracts
OVERVIEW OF HUMAN CRYOPRESERVATION CONTRACTS
- CRYONIC SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
- LOCAL HELP RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
- YEARLY MEMBERSHIP RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
- NON-SUSPENSION RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
- FOREIGN FUNDS RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
- UNIFORM DONOR FORM
- NEXT OF KIN AGREEMENT
- CONSENT/RELEASE FOR CRYOPRESERVATION
- STORAGE AGREEMENTS
The sections below explain the individual contracts used by Cryonics Institute Members wishing to be cryopreserved at the Cryonics Institute. The final section describes methods of funding the contracts. Both funding and contracts are required for human cryopreservation. The required contracts are the Cryonic Suspension Agreement and the Uniform Donor Form. The Next of Kin and/or Consent/Release contracts are highly recommended when completing contracts for yourself, as is the Non-Suspension Rider.
The law on disposal of a body varies from state to state and between juristictions in countries outside the United States. The Cryonic Suspension Agreement and Uniform Donor Form are contracts to attempt to give the Cryonics Institute has all rights to the patient’s body. In the absence of other information, police and medical personnel who are in possession of a “dead body” may contact the next-of-kin for disposition of the “human remains”, assumed to be burial or cremation. Next-of-kin should be informed of cryonics arrangements even if they refuse to sign any documents. If a CI Member dies without CI being informed, and the next-of-kin have not been informed of the cryonics contracts, the Member may be buried or cremated. If next-of-kin are so opposed to cryonics arrangements as to refuse to contact CI in the event of death, then the Member better ensure that a supportive friend who would call CI will be aware if death occurs.
A Local Help Rider is advised for most people who do not live in southeastern Michigan, and a Foreign Funds Rider will usually be required for those whose funding is not in US Dollars.
Please use the forms sent on request rather than print forms off of the website, which would need to have information entered manually.
The word suspension is a somewhat obsolete term word that describes what we now call cryopreservation. (The cryopreserved patient cannot appropriately be described as “suspended” in liquid nitrogen nor in a state of “suspended animation”.) The word “suspension” still appears in many of the contracts, but is being phased-out.
Many of the contracts are a rider to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement. We are using the word “rider” as a legal term to refer to language that is an addition — or amendment — to another contract.
To be executed (ie, to “be put in force” or made valid), the contracts must be signed by the Member (or Next-of-Kin, in some cases) and either notarized or witnessed by two people who provide their address. (Adult family members, who need not be CI Members, can witness.) To be valid, the contracts must be signed by the Contracts Officer of the Cryonics Institute, or by the CI President.
CRYONIC SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
• Cryonic Suspension Agreement
The fundamental contract for cryopreservation at the Cryonics Institute is the Cryonic Suspension Agreement, to be signed by the Member while mentally competent. It sets forth the basic legal provisions applicable to CI’s services.
Much of the agreement is devoted to disclaimers, limitations of liability, and statements that the Member’s estate and relatives will have or no recourse if CI or its employees make mistakes, even through negligence. If we leave our organization open to a lawsuit on any basis whatsoever, it would not merely put our assets at risk, but also the lives of every patient and Member. We simply can’t take that risk. The disclaimers and limitations of liability in the contract are meant primarily to protect both CI and its Member patients against relatives or heirs.
The people most likely to consider lawsuits are those relatives or heirs who are not interested in the possible revival of the patient, but only in his or her money. Therefore it is essential to phrase the contract so as to eliminate any possibility of recourse in the clearest and strongest possible way.
CI Members making arrangements to be cryopreserved must acknowledge in the Cryonic Suspension Agreement that they understand that the success of cryopreservation depends on future advances in science and technology, and that the probability of success is completely unknown. Members must acknowledge that CI strongly opposes anyone hastening death based on reliance that cryonics may work.
CI has no intention of allowing negligence of any sort to take place, and have other ways of making sure that negligence never occurs. Our facilities, for instance, are open to inspections by Members at their request.
It is up to you to satisfy yourself that CI is worthy of your trust. We think it is: we’re an open, non-profit organization, any one of whose Members can examine our financial statements and practices and facilities, elect Directors in free and open elections, and run for Director themselves.
We’ve been in business for nearly a quarter of a century, and we currently have the largest number of patients in cryostasis. It’s true that our contract is weighted towards protecting the Institute from the possibility of frivolous or destructive lawsuits — but in the long run that protects you.
LOCAL HELP RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
• Cryonic Suspension Agreement Local Help Rider (for Lifetime Members)
• Cryonic Suspension Agreement Local Help Rider (for Yearly Members)
The minimum fees for cryopreservation at the Cryonics Institute are $28,000 for Lifetime Members and $35,000 for Yearly Members. A patient living in Michigan near the Cryonics Institute may not have any other costs. For someone living outside of southeastern Michigan, there will be extra costs associated with the services of a local (local to the Member) funeral director and shipment of the patient to the Cryonics Institute in Michigan. For someone living on the West Coast of the United States these costs might be as much as $3,000 and for someone living overseas the costs would be even higher.
The Local Help Rider is an agreement whereby the Member funds above the minimum $28,000 (Lifetime Member) or $35,000 (Yearly Member) through insurance or pre-payment. The Rider acknowledges the extra funding that has been provided and asserts that as long as the extra funding is available, the Cryonics Institute will use that funding to pay for the costs of the Member’s funeral director and shipping. There are two versions of the Local Help Rider, one for Lifetime Members and one for Yearly Members. The only difference between the two versions is that the Lifetime Member Local Help Rider refers to funding above $28,000 and the Yearly Member Local Help Rider refers to funding above $35,000
YEARLY MEMBERSHIP RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
• Cryonic Suspension Agreement Yearly Membership Rider
The Lifetime Membership in the Cryonics Institute is obtained by a one-time payment of $1,250. The Yearly Member is not a Member for life, but is only a Member so long as the periodic dues are paid ($120 per year or $35 per quarter).
The Yearly Membership Rider states that the Cryonic Suspension Agreement can only remain in force while Yearly Membership dues are paid in full in a timely manner. Only Yearly Membership Members who have executed a Cryonic Suspension Agreement require an Yearly Member Rider. No equivalent agreement is required for Lifetime Members.
• Cryonic Suspension Agreement Non-Suspension Rider
The Non-Suspension Rider allows the Member to specify what will be done with the funds allotted for cryopreservation if no cryopreservation occurs (for example, if the Member is lost at sea, is killed in an airplane crash and no remains are found, etc.) The choices provided are (1) give the money to CI, (2) arrange for the money to fund the cryopreservation of a specific person (3) give the money to a specific person or (4) give the money to the Member’s estate to be distributed according to the provisions of the Member’s Last Will and Testament. If the money is to be given to the Cryonics Institute, the Member can specify whether the money should go to research, to pay for cryopreservation of needy CI Members or to be used for CI operations where it can do the most good for the operation of the organization.
Some Members wish to donate their money to the Cryonics Institute if cryonic preservation does not occur because of their belief in the cause of cryonics, even if they had failed to personally benefit. Some Members believe that there is a danger in returning their cryopreservation funding money to family members or surrogates if those people stand to gain monetarily from the failure of the cryopreservation. Recently, the cousin of a CI Member who stood to obtain the funds if the cryopreservation failed caused the Member to be autopsied and cremated.
The Non-Suspension Rider replaced what was formerly called “Rider A “, in an effort to be more clear, reduce confusion and provide more choices. “Version 1” of Rider A distributed the unused money to the estate, whereas “Version 2” of Rider A donated the money to the Cryonics Institute.
FOREIGN FUNDS RIDER (to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement)
• Foreign Funding Rider for non-U.S. resident Lifetime Members
• Foreign Funding Rider for non-U.S. resident Yearly Members
The Foreign Funds Rider is an attempt to ensure that funding for cryopreservation that is not denominated in US Dollars does not fall below the allotted minimums because of fluctuations in exchange rates. A $2,000 buffer is required to address additional expenses and undertainties from the use of foreign funding.
Thus, the US Dollar denominated Lifetime Member minimum is $28,000 and the US Dollar denominated Yearly Member minimum is $35,000. The Lifetime Member version of the Foreign Funds Rider specifies that the Cryonic Suspension Agreement remains in force so long as the value of the foreign funding in US dollars is above US$30,000 and that the Cryonics Institute can require funding of US$35,000 if the value of the foreign funding drops below US$30,000 for the Cryonic Suspension Agreement to remain in force. The Yearly Member version of the Foreign Funds Rider specifies that the Cryonic Suspension Agreement remains in force so long as the value in US dollars of the foreign funding is above US$37,000 and that the Cryonics Institute can require funding of US$42,000 if the value of the foreign funding drops below US$35,000 for the Cryonic Suspension Agreement to remain in force.
UNIFORM DONOR FORM
• Uniform Donor Form
The Uniform Donor Form is a contract by which the Patient donates his or her body upon legal death to the Cryonics Institute in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA). Instead of donating any particular organ, the cryonics patient donates the entire body to the Cryonics Institute. Donating individual organs to any individual need may seem charitable, but this is not appropriate for cryonics because in a hospital situation physicians will greatly compromise the brain in their efforts to harvest a heart, kidney, liver and other organs.
The Uniform Donor Form specifies that the donation should take place as soon as possible and without embalming or autopsy. We have often FAXed this document to hospitals where a Member was pronounced (or soon to be pronounced) legally dead as proof that the Patient desired to be cryopreserved. Execution of a Uniform Donor Form can supplement the patient’s Advance Directives and may help perseuade health crae providers to cooperate.
NEXT OF KIN AGREEMENT
• Next of Kin Agreement
The Next of Kin Agreement is a contract between the Member (Patient) and the next of kin (spouse, parent, child, or sibling). In the Next of Kin Agreement the Next of Kin assigns authority over the body of the Member to the Cryonics Institute and agrees to take actions necessary to permit cryopreservation and forego all actions which might interfere with the cryopreservation of the Member. The Cryonics Institute is also a party to the contract. (Please read the discussion in the introductory comments above concerning legal authority over the body.)
CONSENT/RELEASE FOR CRYOPRESERVATION
• Consent/Release for Cryopreservation
The Consent/Release for Cryopreservation acknowledges the desire of the Member to be cryopreserved and the fact of the contract between the Member and the Cryonics Institute. The signer of the Consent/Release for Cryopreservation “accedes” to the wishes of the Member concerning the disposition of the Member’s body as well as authorizing and directing that the body be delivered to the Cryonics Institute for cryopreservation immediately after the clinical death of the Member. This document requires less of the Next of Kin and the Next of Kin may be more willing to sign it.
STORAGE AGREEMENTS
• Cryonic Storage Agreement for Member
The “Cryonic Storage Agreement for Member” is used for Cryonics Institute Members who have died without having executed a Cryonic Suspension Agreement. This agreement is signed by the Next of Kin for the legally deceased Member and the cryopreservation fee is at the Member rate of $28,000. Notarized signature of the Next of Kin is required.
• Cryonic Storage Agreement for NonMember
The “Cryonic Storage Agreement for NonMember” is used for persons who have died who are not Members of the Cryonics Institute and without having executed a Cryonic Suspension Agreement. This agreement is signed by the Next of Kin for the legally deceased Member and the cryopreservation fee is at the Non-Member rate of $35,000 — plus the $1,250 Lifetime Membership Fee. Notarized signature of the Next of Kin is required.
• Authorization by Children for Cryonic Preservation of a Parent
The “Authorization by Children for Cryonic Preservation of a Parent” is required for a cryonic storage agreement of a deceased parent. This document is an affirmation by the children of a deceased parent that (1) they are all the children of the deceased parent, (2) there was no living spouse, (3) there are no living children of the parent other than those signing the document and (4) that permission is given for the parent to be cryonically preserved. Normally, ALL adult children must consent to cryopreservation of the parent for the Cryonics Institute to accept the parent as a patient. This document must be witnessed by a lawyer or notary who attests to the identity of the signatories.
• Memorabilia Storage Agreement
The “Memorabilia Storage Agreement” is ONLY available to Cryonics Institute Members who have already executed contracts for cryopreservation at CI and who have full funding in place. The US$1,000 Memorabilia Storage Fee is non-refundable, even if the Member dies without being cryopreserved and the contents must be returned to agents of the deceased Member. This agreement must be paid in cash, not through insurance. CI cannot allocate immediate real space in exchange for money that may not materialize for decades, if ever.
ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS
Standby, Stabilization, and Transport Services (Suspended Animation, Inc.)
Cryonics Institute Members have the option of arranging for Standby, Stabilization, and Transport (SST) Services with volunteers, funeral directors, or the Florida company Suspended Animation, Inc., which specializes in providing those services. CI Members wishing SST from Suspended Animation must provide extra funding ($60,000 more in insurance coverage, policy owned by CI or jointly owned by CI and the Member), and must complete two additional contracts: the Suspended Animation Local Help Rider between CI and the Member, and the Individual Agreement Regarding Standby for a Cryonics Institute Member by Suspended Animation between the Member and Suspended Animation, Inc. To see the contracts pertaining the agreements between CI and SA, see All the documents associated with the CI/SA agreements.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care:
Most states have statutory forms. This allows the patient, among other things, to give a specified person authority to make health care decisions (such as permission for surgery) if the patient is unable to do so. This authority may include disposal after death. It also allows the patient to specify when or under what circumstances medical staff should stop trying to resuscitate the patient. For a detailed description of the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will, see Advance Directives for Cryonics Institute Members.
FUNDING
Most CI Members pay for their cryopreservation arrangements by buying a life insurance policy that names the Cryonics Institute (and Suspended Animation, Inc., if relevant) as the beneficiary (beneficiaries) of the life insurance policy. Life insurance avoids probate and offers protection until other means of funding can be arranged. For life insurance agents familiar with selling insurance for cryonics purposes, see the Insurance/Investments page. Note that there are special riders for CI Members wishing to fund their human cryopreservation arrangements with a portfolio: PORTFOLIO FUNDING RIDER — Lifetime Membership and PORTFOLIO FUNDING RIDER — Yearly Membership . See the comments in the funding webpage for details. For information about all forms of funding human cryopreservation, see Funding Human Cryopreservation with the Cryonics Institute.
Funding-Life Insurance
There are many options for funding a cryonic suspension with the Cryonics Institute. One of the most affordable is purchasing a Life Insurance Policy with CI named as the primary beneficiary. Depending on a person’s age, health and other factors, some basic policies can cost just a few dollars per month for the average person.
Please note, the Cryonics Institute does not offer financial, investment or insurance consulting. However, we do have experience with patients who have successfully used this funding option, and we recommend you explore Life Insurance as a potential funding option for yourself with a qualified insurance or investment professional.
To help you get started, here are some considerations and suggestions to keep in mind.
HOW DOES IT WORK:
In its most basic terms, a member purchases a life insurance policy of a sufficient amount to cover their cryopreservation costs and additional expenses and names CI as the primary beneficiary. Upon your deanimation, CI will have access to those funds to pay for your suspension and perpetual maintenance. Essentially, your funded policy becomes an “IOU” to be paid when you need to be placed in cryonic suspension at CI. Therefore, it is critical to insure the policy is of sufficient value to cover all your costs and, especially, to make certain that the policy doesn’t lapse, which most commonly occurs due to failure to pay the annual premiums.
It is also important to remember a person can also purchase more than one life insurance policy, so you can have one policy earmarked exclusively for your cryonics costs and another in place with the traditional insurance goal of providing for your family. Whenever possible, we do recommend you purchase insurance coverage for cryonics as a separate policy in order to avoid potential legal challenges with the disbursement. Situations can, and have, happened where a family member or other interested party contests cryonics funding in a policy in an attempt to get that money for themselves. Therefore, it is a safer option to have a separate policy with the Cryonics Institute as the sole beneficiary to ensure that money will be available to pay for your suspension and associated expenses when the time comes.
WHAT IF MY POLICY DOES LAPSE?
If you are planning to use a Life Insurance policy to fund your suspension, CI does require certain guarantees to safeguard that funding. Obviously, we don’t want a situation where a contracted patient needs cryonic suspension but no longer has the funding available to cover the costs.
For suspension agreements to be funded by a life insurance policy, we require proof of insurance, updated annually at a minimum, that the policy is of sufficient value, and that the Cryonics Institute is the named beneficiary. Typically, CI requires a copy of the original policy documents for our records and annual statements thereafter confirming the policy is paid in full and active.
One smart way to make sure CI stays updated is to sign full or joint ownership of the policy over to CI. If CI owns the policy we get all statements and have immediate proof of insurance thus halting delays in cryopreservation. A member can always change their mind and CI’s policy is to transfer policy ownership back to the member upon simple written request. If you want to still retain control over the policy then joint ownership should serve all of your needs.
HOW MUCH INSURANCE DO I NEED?
The cost of perpetual Human Cryopreservation with the Cryonics Institute is $28K (US,) for a Lifetime Member and $35K (US) for an Annual Member, so these amounts would be the absolute minimum amount required to fund your particular agreement. We do, however, strongly urge members to overfund their policies in order to cover additional costs, including transport, standby, funeral director services or any other specialized arrangements. Overfunding provides an extra level of security for yourself and your family to cover these additional costs or other unforeseen expenses.
We recommend at least $50K as a reasonable amount that provides for cryonics-related expenses above and beyond the basic cost. Depending on your financial situation and insurability, you may be in a position to choose to add additional coverage for a relatively modest increase in the monthly premium.
Additionally, we encourage members to overfund with proceeds above and beyond the basic cryopreservation (and additional) expenses donated to CI for cryonics research, facility maintenance and improvements and furthering the cryonics movement.
WHICH IS BETTER, TERM INSURANCE OR WHOLE LIFE?
Both Term and Whole Life insurance offer a “death benefit,” paid out at the insured’s time of passing to the Primary beneficiary designated in the policy. Term insurance is less expensive, but Whole Life includes investment features that Term insurance doesn’t.
Term Insurance provides coverage at a fixed payment rate for a fixed amount of time, or “term” of the policy. If the insured passes away during the term, the contracted benefit is paid out to the designated beneficiary. Term insurance is generally regarded as the least expensive life insurance option, offering an inexpensive way to purchase a substantial “death benefit” for a fixed rate over a pre-determined period of time. However, there is no investment option involved, so no monies accrue and if you stop paying the premiums, you don’t receive any money back. If you are going to buy Term Life, it is important that you invest the difference you would save over buying Whole Life. If you don’t have the willpower to invest the difference, or don’t want to take the risk of outliving your insurability, then perhaps Whole Life is a better option.
Whole Life is a considerably more expensive option, however there is a savings component built into the policy and the “term” is understood to be the insured’s lifetime rather than a fixed period of time. In addition to the savings and investment component built into such policies, whole life insurance also includes a death benefit to be paid out to a specific beneficiary.
Insurance policies vary from state to state and company to company, in terms of costs, benefits and other details. However one critical factor doesn’t change, and that’s the fact that the older one gets the more difficult it becomes to acquire insurance and that coverage typically becomes more expensive the older a person is. The plain message is to start early before it’s too late to even get insurance. Once you have been accepted for coverage and acquire a basic term policy, you have many more options in the future, regardless of your age.
We strongly recommend you do some research online or meet with an insurance professional to discuss your options and at a minimum, purchase a basic term plan to get started. Once you have established basic term coverage, you give yourself more options for the future.
WHAT POLICY RIDERS SHOULD I REQUEST?
A “Rider” is a special addition to your policy that provides for additional benefits. Two of the most common are the “Accelerated Benefit” rider and the “Double Indemnity” rider.
Accelerated Benefit Rider
This rider provides for the insurance company to pay a portion of the death benefit before you pass. This rider can provide up to 50% of the death benefit for persons with a terminal medical condition to use in any way they choose. Cryonics Institute members can use this advance payment to pay off their suspension contract while they are still alive, as well as standby arrangements, transportation and other anticipated expenses.
Double Indemnity
The double indemnity rider requires the insurance company to pay double the death benefit if the insured dies by accidental means. Usually, the money one would spend on this rider is better spent on additional life insurance which pays off regardless of the causes of death. Also, many insurance companies will require or encourage the next of kin to order an autopsy as a means of determining that death was indeed accidental. Autopsies are definitely not a good idea for anyone planning to enter cryonic suspension.
WHERE CAN I BUY “CRYONICS LIFE INSURANCE?”
You can’t. No insurance companies sell “cryonics insurance.” What they sell are life insurance policies (for any legal purpose) where the policy owner can name a cryonics organization like CI (or any person, organization or cause you choose) as the beneficiary. The goal is to fund a cryonic suspension, but it’s still a normal Life Insurance policy, not a special “cryonics policy.” Any of the hundreds of life insurance companies in the US or other countries can sell you such a policy.
This is an important consideration to keep in mind as you approach agents to discuss your options. If you approach an agent looking for “cryonics insurance,” you run the risk of being forced into a debate on the subject of cryonics rather than focusing on the more important subject at hand, which is purchasing a sufficiently funded policy. Life Insurance is essentially a financial transaction, and as the insured it’s your money, and your right to designate the beneficiary.
INSURANCE RESOURCES
When buying life insurance, it pays to shop. Many web-sites or individual insurance agents can do this for you by comparing rates for many insurance companies. If you have an agent that you work with to buy other insurance, you might want to ask for proposals from him or her.
There are also dozens of companies that will give you a term insurance quote online. Keywords: “term insurance”, “life insurance”, or “life insurance quotes” will turn up a number of informative and helpful websites you can use to compare policies and costs.
Please note, these links are intended for information purposes only and do not express an endorsement by the Cryonics Institute.
INSURANCE LINKS:
Glossaries of Insurance Terms
Helpful references explaining a number of life insurance terms and principles.
- http://www.intelliquote.com/resources/life/life-insurance-terms.asp
- http://www.accuquote.com/learning-center/term-life-insurance-faqs.cfm
Sites providing online insurance quotes
Insurance Agents and Agencies
UNITED STATES
12117 Bee Cave Road
Austin, TX 78738
Office: 512-263-5565 Fax: 512-263-5484
Leo Insurance Solutions, LLC
73 Old Dublin Pike. Suite 10-465 Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: 215-601-5051
Fax: 800-264-3058
Email: david.donato@leoinsurance.com
Website: www.leowealth.com
Independent Life Insurance Brokerage – servicing clients nationwide
310 Passaic Ave. #203
Fairfield NJ 07004
Phone: 973-582-1004 Fax: 973-582-1001
Certified Financial Planner, Investment & Financial Services
Cell 386-235-7834
Fax 386-269-9622
Licensed in most states, including CA, AZ and TX
Email: bholland@securitiesmail.com
Website: Hollandfinancialgroup.com
Licensed in multiple states
28250 Southfield Road, Suite 210
Lathrup Village, MI 48076
Tel: (248) 556-2942 or toll-free (877) 255-1949
Fax: (248) 415-1724
Website: www.upstreamip.com
CANADA:
1405 Route Transcanadienne Suite 600
Tel: (514) 685-0484 Ext: 2228
Email: serge.vallee@sunlife.com
UNITED KINGDOM:
8 Kings Road, Honiton, Devon, England, EX14 1HW
Telephone: +44 (0) 845 474 3075
* Note to Insurance Agents: If you are an agent specializing in providing services for cryonicists, please contact dennis@cryonics.org to be considered for inclusion on this page.
Emergency Notification Jewelry
A cryonics emergency necklace and/or bracelet is only available for Cryonics Institute (CI) Members who have made all the necessary arrangements to be cryopreserved by CI. This means CI Members who have full funding in place and executed contracts (that is, contracts that have been signed by the Cryonics Institute Contracts Officer). The Cryonics Institute also issues wallet cards with emergency contact information. And we have stickers that can be affixed to a driver’s license or other cards. There is no charge for wallet cards or stickers.
PRICING
(for CI Members with cryopreservation arrangements in place.)
Standard jewelry for US members – $20.00 each
Personalized jewelry for US members- $30.00 each
Standard jewelry for members outside of the US- $30.00 each
Personalized jewelry for members outside of the US- $40.00 each
The rectangular standardized bracelet plate has the following information:
(FRONT)
WHOLE BODY DONOR.
IF DEAD, COOL WITH ICE.
ESPECIALLY HEAD.
DO NOT EMBALM OR AUTOPSY.
SEE REVERSE-REWARD
(BACK)
UNIFORM ANATOMICAL GIFT ACT.
WHOLE BODY DONOR TO CRYONICS INSTITUTE.
HQ 586-791-5961.
TOLL FREE 866-288-2796
CELL PHONE 586-817-0926
The round standardized necklace plate has the following information:
(FRONT)
WHOLE
BODY DONOR.
IF DEAD,
COOL WITH ICE.
ESPECIALLY HEAD.
DO NOT EMBALM OR
AUTOPSY./SEE REVERSE
REWARD
(BACK)
UNIFORM
ANATOMICAL
GIFT ACT.
WHOLE BODY DONOR TO
CRYONICS INSTITUTE
HQ 586-791-5961
TOLL FREE 866-288-2796
CELL PHONE
586-817-0926
Note that the toll free and emergency pager numbers are to be used ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY.
To date, a necklace or bracelet has only rarely made a difference in the survival of a cryonics patient of any cryonics organization in an emergency situation. However wearing this jewelry reminds relatives, friends and acquaintances of the intention to be cryopreserved. When unconscious patients are brought into the emergency room of a hospital, staff immediately pull the clothes back and expose the chest. The staff are much more likely to see a necklace than a bracelet. Some cryonicists have covered their chests with tattooed emergency instructions in bold letters.
As stated above, jewelry with personalized instructions can be purchased for $20 each. Personalized jewelry can include any desired instructions.
The constraints for the bracelet are:
FRONT: maximum 25 characters per line, 5 lines
BACK: maximum 38 characters per line, 6 lines
Because of the circular shape of the necklace, not all lines can have the same maximum length, however. The maximum length of a line on either side would be 22 characters. The shortest lines would be about 12 characters. The front can have 7 lines and the back can have 11 lines.
The rectangular personalized bracelet plate has the following information:
(FRONT)
CHRIS SMITH CI-845
IN MEDICAL EMERGENCY CALL
(866) 288-2796 TOLL FREE
(586) 817-0926 CELL PHONE
(BACK)
CHRIS SMITH CI-845
IN MEDICAL EMERGENCY CALL
(866) 288-2796 TOLL FREE
(586) 817-0926 CELL PHONE
CALL IF DEAD, NO AUTOPSY
The round personalized necklace plate has the following information:
(FRONT)
CHRIS SMITH CI-845
WHOLE BODY DONOR
EMERGENCY OR DEATH
CALL TOLL FREE
(866) 288-2796
CELL PH 586-817-0926
(BACK)
CALL IF DEAD
UNIFORM ANATOMICAL
GIFT ACT TO
CRYONICS INSTITUTE
TOLL FREE 866-288-2796
CELL PH 586-817-0926
Laminated wallet cards and stickers are available on request for Cryonics Institute Members who have full funding in place and executed contracts for cryopreservation at CI. The cards and stickers have similar information to what is on the standardized jewelry. Members wanting personalized wallet cards and stickers can make their own.
A bright orange laminated wallet card is the size of a business card. A bright yellow laminated wallet card is the size of a credit card. A white sticker which is the same length and half the height of a business card is available which can be attached to a driver’s license or other card. Cryonics Institute Members who have contracts with Suspended Animation, Inc. are supplied with special-purpose credit-card sized wallet cards.
Cryonics Institute Members living in jurisdictions that have statutes against autopsy based on religious belief and who have such religious beliefs can execute a “Certificate of Religious Belief and Religious Objection to Autopsy”. Citation of the relevant statute could be added to personalized jewelry and/or wallet cards. For example, a Californian could have “NO AUTOPSY: CA CODE SECTION 27491.43” (see Avoiding Autopsy for Cryonics).
Cryonics Institute Members who have full funding in place and executed contracts wishing to order jewelry can send payment by mail with check or money order enclosed to the Cryonics Institute, 24355 Sorrentino Court, Clinton Township MI 48035 USA (payable to the Cryonics Institute). We also accept credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Discovery, and American Express) by phone or via PayPal. To pay with credit card by phone, call (586) 791-5961. To pay by PayPal, visit Paypal.com for more information. When making payments to the Cryonics Institute via Paypal, the address to pay to is info@cryonics.org.
For clarification of instructions and other information, call the Cryonics Institute at (586) 791-5961 or send e-mail to info@cryonics.org. ALL e-mail must be in ENGLISH.
Emergency Wallet Cards and Stickers
Emergency Cards and Stickers
Laminated wallet cards and stickers are available upon request to Cryonics Institute Members who have full funding in place and executed contracts for cryopreservation at CI.
Plastic credit card style wallet cards and stickers are available upon request to Cryonics Institute Members who have full funding in place and executed contracts for cryopreservation at CI The first card is provided at no cost. Extras or replacement cards are $3.00 per card.
WHOLE BODY DONOR to Cryonics Institute In the event of death or critical illness, please call the numbers listed below until someone answers. Cryonics Institute (CI) 586 791-5961 CI Toll-Free 866 288-2796 CI Emergency Pager 313 990-5916. Upon death or discovery of body, cool with ice, especially head. DO NOT embalm or autopsy. DO NOT FREEZE! REWARD FOR CALLING!
Sticker Text Reads:
WHOLE BODY DONOR to Cryonics Institute. In event of death or critical illness call numbers listed. More details on wallet card. Reward! Cryonics Institute Toll Free 866-288-2796
Options include a bright orange laminated wallet card (the size of a business card,) or a bright yellow laminated wallet card (the size of a credit card.) A white sticker (approx. 3.25″ x 1.25″) is also available and can be affixed to a driver’s license or other card. Cryonics Institute Members who have contracts with Suspended Animation, Inc. are supplied with special-purpose credit-card sized wallet cards.
Members may also download a printable version of the card here. The file includes 4 cards on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet with cutting lines. Cards are presented in three colors and a fourth card in plain black and white for members without a color printer. Most copy shops and many office supply stores offer copying and laminating services as well.
Members who would like personalized wallet cards and stickers can make their own, using the standard information on the basic cards as a guideline. For personal cards, we suggest a two-sided card with personal information on one side and the standard CI information on the other.
Cryonics Institute Members living in jurisdictions that have statutes against autopsy based on religious belief and who have such religious beliefs can execute a “Certificate of Religious Belief and Religious Objection to Autopsy”. Citation of the relevant statute could be added to personalized jewelry and/or wallet cards. For example, a Californian could have “NO AUTOPSY: CA CODE SECTION 27491.43” (see Avoiding Autopsy for Cryonics).
To request laminated wallet cards or stickers contact CI at info@cryonics.org, or by telephone at (586) 791-5961. Please include your full name and mailing address. Note, these cards are available at no charge only to CI Members with full funding in place and executed contracts. [Note, CI Members with full funding in place and executed contracts are eligible for one card at no cost. Additional cards or replacements are $3.00 apiece.
Suspended Animation, Inc. Standby & Transport Services
Suspended Animation, Inc.
Standby, Stabilization and Transport for CI Members
Suspended Animation, Inc. (SA) is a cryopreservation research company based in Lake Forest, CA. Cryonics Institute (CI) Members who reside in the continental United States can obtain Standby and Transport from Suspended Animation through a special purpose local help rider to the Cryonic Suspension Agreement. SA is an option offered to CI Members, but CI neither endorses nor opposes the use of SA. Some CI Members utilize SA, and others do not, and opinions differ regarding the advantages or disadvantages of SA’s services. You should make your own investigation and decision regarding the use of SA. Information can be obtained below and from the SA website.
Suspended Animation, Inc. Fees
| Fees for Standby, Stabilization, Transport, and Cryopreservation Provided by Suspended Animation and the Cryonics Institute | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standby Provided by Suspended Animation | Insured Plan $30,000 Life Insurance payable to Suspended Animation. Covers up to two deployments plus unlimited standby days, only while a Serious Risk prevails. | Prepaid Flat-Rate Plan $27,500 Prepaid by refundable cash deposit to Suspended Animation. Covers up to two deployments plus unlimited standby days, only while a Serious Risk prevails. | Prepaid Incremental Plan $13,000 Prepaid by refundable cash deposit to Suspended Animation. Covers only one deployment for up to 72 hours when requested by a member experiencing Small or Serious Risk. |
| Additional Days of Standby provided by Suspended Animation | $5,000 per day Paid by any method acceptable to Suspended Animation. Under the Insured Plan or Prepaid Flat-Rate Plan, this fee is charged only when the risk has diminished from Serious to Small but the member requests a continuation of standby. | $5,000 per day Paid by any method acceptable to Suspended Animation. For each additional day after the first 72 hours. |
|
| Field Cryoprotectant Service | $18,000 | $18,000 | $18,000 |
| Stabilization and Transport provided by Suspended Animation | $30,000 completion fee Paid by life insurance or other acceptable arrangement via the Cryonics Institute. Includes anti-ischemia medications, rapid cooling, cardiopulmonary support, perfusion with organ preservation solution and transport to the Cryonics Institute. A reduced fee may apply if some procedures are not applicable or possible. |
||
| Last-Minute Sign-Up Fee | $20,000 CI members who are deemed by SA/RBS, in their reasonable discretion, to be Last Minute Sign-ups will be assessed a Last Minute Sign-Up Fee of $20,000 |
||
| Cryopreservation provided by the Cryonics Institute | $28,000 or $35,000 Paid by life insurance or other acceptable arrangement via the Cryonics Institute. (Option 1 or Option 2 Plan) Includes cryoprotective perfusion with vitrification solution, and subsequent maintenance in liquid nitrogen for the indefinite future. |
||
Whole-Body Field Cryoprotection for Cryonics Institute Members
The Cryonics Institute and Suspended Animation are excited to offer whole-body field cryoprotection (FCP) to CI members.
In FCP a cryonics patient’s blood is replaced with a cryoprotectant at the patient’s location instead of the cryonics organization facility. This procedure eliminates the cell and tissue damage that normally would occur if a patient would be shipped to a cryonics facility after pronouncement of legal death.
CI already offers its members the option of making arrangements with Suspended Animation for Standby, Stabilization, and Transport (SST). SST procedures entail deploying a trained team of cryonics professionals to the bedside of the patient to prevent any further deterioration of the patient’s condition after pronouncement of legal death. To achieve this goal, the patient’s blood circulation is restored through mechanical chest compressions and ventilations, medications are administered to prevent blood clotting and keep cells viable, and a portable ice bath is used to cool the patient as fast as possible. This procedure is followed by a total body washout to further enhance cooling and remove the blood. In the old SA procedure, the patient was then shipped to CI on water ice. The new FCP procedure eliminates this cold transport in favor of doing all procedures on-site.
After blood washout a team of skilled perfusionists gradually introduce the vitrification agent VM-1 in increasing steps until a concentration is reached that eliminates ice formation when the patient is later stored at liquid nitrogen temperatures at CI. After the cryoprotection procedure is completed, the patient is shipped on dry ice to the cryonics facility by air- or ground transport (depending on the location of the patient). At CI the patient is then further cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature and placed into long-term care.
SA’s FCP procedure is a true whole-body FCP procedure where professional surgeons and perfusionists use the heart vessels to circulate the cryoprotectant throughout the body. This procedure is a significant improvement over sub-optimal procedures where only the head is perfused through the neck vessels and the rest of the body is allowed to freeze.
For more information about field cryoprotection, please read the FCP FAQ.
CRYONICS INSTITUTE NOW OFFERS SUSPENDED ANIMATION STANDBY OPTION
(The 2005 announcement of the Standby and Transport program offered to Cryonics Institute Members was made in two parts, one by the Cryonics Institute and one by Suspended Animation, Inc. An update announces the availability of Insurance-Funded Standby as of January, 2006)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CRYONICS INSTITUTE (Spring 2005)
The Cryonics Institute has successfully concluded negotiations for a contract to offer Standby and Transport assistance from the Florida cryopreservation research company Suspended Animation, Inc. CI Members who wish to receive these services must provide additional funding, part of which can be through life insurance.
“Standby” refers to a team of fully-equipped cryopreservation employees waiting by the bedside of a cryonics patient close to legal death or at risk of legal death. If the cryonics patient deanimates and is pronounced legally dead by a physician or qualified nurse, then the Standby team will immediately attempt to begin the application of cryonics stabilization procedures, including ice-bath cooling and the use of a heart-lung device.
“Transport” includes moving the cryonics patient from the location where death was pronounced to the CI Facility in Michigan. During Transport the Suspended Animation team will attempt to continue to apply procedures intended to prevent damage to tissues, particularly the brain. These procedures will include blood washout and may include cryoprotectant perfusion (depending upon whether the patient wishes CI or Suspended Animation to do the final perfusion).
The normal funding mechanism for CI Members is to have a basic fee for perfusion, cool- down and long-term storage — currently $28,000 Option One and $35,000 Option Two. Additionally, for Members not living in the Michigan area CI has a Local Help Rider to pay for services of a remote funeral director, which may include heparinization, some CPR, packing in ice and transport to Michigan. For the Local Help Rider CI Members are expected to allocate additional funding — up to $5,000 in the US and up to $15,000 overseas. This can be included in their insurance or in prepayment.
The Suspended Animation agreement is simply an extension of the Local Help Rider. The SA Rider not only provides for payment for a remote funeral director (whom Suspended Animation would work-with and pay), but for post-mortem standby and transport. Formally, the new agreement is not much different from the usual Local Help Rider except that the protocol is more extensive, the price is higher and the Rider would be (initially) restricted to US Members. Insurance funding is currently only available for procedures that Suspended Animation performs after pronouncement of death. Pre-mortem Standby must be funded through pre-payment or a special bank account. CI Members interested in Suspended Animation Standby should examine the information available on the CI Website: Click Here Further information may be obtained on the SA website and below.
Details Concerning SA Transport Option for CI Members
The Cryonics Institute has an agreement (contract) with Suspended Animation entitled Cryopreservation Agreement between the Cryonics Institute and Suspended Animation. This agreement specifies obligations between SA and CI under which the SA procedures are offered to CI Members. The agreement is to be renewed automatically on a yearly basis unless adjustments are to be made before renewal. This agreement is essential for Suspended Animation Local Help Rider and the Individual Agreement Regarding Standby for a Cryonics Institute Member by Suspended Animation to be valid, but cancellation of the Cryopreservation Agreement between the Cryonics Institute and Suspended Animation is not anticipated. If not-renewal did occur, there would be notification 30 days prior to the April 21 renewal date and SA-Affiliated CI Members would be informed immediately.
There are two attachments to the Cryopreservation Agreement between the Cryonics Institute and Suspended Animation. Attachment 1 is Certification of Completion of Standby Performed for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation. This document between SA and CI would normally be of only marginal interest to SA-Affiliated CI Members. Attachment 2, Schedule of Fees for Standby Provided for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation however, is of much greater concern.
The Fee Schedule is also to be revised annually. But fees applicable to any individual SA-Affiliated CI Members will always be valid for one year. For example, if a SA-Affiliated CI Member completes arrangements in August and a new Fee Schedule is announced the following April, the SA-Affiliated CI Member’s fees will not change until his/her annual renewal date in August, at the time when the annual readiness fee payment is due. Readiness fees are to be paid to CI, although the SA-Affiliated CI Members should deal directly with SA concerning health status changes and pre-mortem Standby funding. No change of fees will be made prior to the year 2010.
Pre-mortem Standby funding can be pre-paid directly to SA or arrangements made with SA for a special Deployment bank account. Beginning in 2006 insurance can also be used to pay for the pre-mortem Standby procedures in addition to all of post-mortem procedures.
CI must be the owner of insurance policies used by SA-Affiliated CI Members, but CI will relinquish insurance policy ownership if a CI Member discontinues SA-Affiliated status. As CI gains experience with its relationship with Standby and Suspended Animation, it is possible that insurance funding may pay for some Standby costs under some circumstances in the future, even though this is not the case in the present.
SA Documents
- Cryopreservation Service Agreement between the Cryonics Institute and Suspended Animation
- Attachment 1: Certification of Completion of Standby-Tranport Performed for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation
- Attachment 2: Schedule of Fees for Standby-Transport Provided for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation
- Attachment 2-A Updated Schedule of Fees for Standby-Transport Provided for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation (SA) / Resurgence Biomedical Sciences (RBS): Schedule of Fees for Standby-Transport Provided for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation
- Individual Agreement Regarding Standby-Transport for a Cryonics Institute Member by Suspended Animation
- CRYONIC SUSPENSION AGREEMENT – Suspended Animation Local Help Rider
- Protocol for SA-CI Standby-Transport Procedures to be Performed for the Cryonics Institute by Suspended Animation
Shipping of Cryonics Patients and Pets
Delta Airlines has a hub in Detroit, Michigan so Delta has the most direct flights to the airport that services the Cryonics Institute, the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Shipment of human remains by Delta is through “Delta Cares”. There is a 500 pound limit for human remains on narrow-bodied Delta aircraft, but for wide-bodied aircraft it is possible to pay extra for shipments over 500 pounds. Narrow-bodied aircraft would be more likely for direct flights coming from smaller cities.
Timely shipment of cryonics patients is a critical problem. It can easily happen that a standby team can respond immediately after pronouncement of death with CardioPulmonary Support, rapid cool-down, blood replacement with organ preservation solution, etc — but if cardiac arrest has occurred on a Friday afternoon and the cryonics patient was not in Michigan (or Arizona for Alcor) the patient would likely wait on ice the entire weekend before shipping permits could be obtained.
If a cryonics patient deanimates outside North America a flight cannot be arranged before approval for shipment has been received from the American Consulate, which usually means that even in the best of circumstances approval and flight cannot occur on the same day. Newer regulations requiring delivery of original documents (rather than FAXed documents) to the American Consulate have slowed the approval process. Weekends and holidays add to the delay.
Typically, the death certificate must be filed and a transit permit must be issued by a government agency (the health department often issues the transit permits) which is only open on business days during business hours. The offices of medical examiners are often open until noon on Saturday, so it is sometimes possible to get a coroner to issue a transit permit on a Saturday morning.
Regulations specific to states, counties and cities within the United States can vary, often creating additional problems and less often making things easier. CI’s 75th patient deanimated on a weekend in a Chicago hospital. But Chicago regulations do not allow removal of a body from a hospital until the death certificate has been filed. The death certificate could only be signed by the family physician, and the family physician could not be reached on the weekend or soon enough for filing to be made before Tuesday. A similar problem happened with CI’s 82nd patient who was in a jurisdiction where the family physician needed to sign the death certificate before it could be filed. In that case the family physician was on vacation. The physician was finally located, and she authorized someone else in her clinic to sign the death certificate. On the other hand, CI’s 84th patient deanimated on a Saturday, but was fortunate enough to be in a jurisdiction where the funeral director could issue the transit permit — so she was shipped from Boston on the weekend.
Alcor can often circumvent the transit permit problem by removing the head of a neuro patient and shipping the head to Alcor while the body waits for the transit permit. The head is regarded as a tissue sample, and does not require a transit permit to cross state lines. The Cryonics Institute does not offer a “neuro” option, therefore every CI patient not living in Michigan must wait for a transit permit to be shipped.
On rare occasions authorities at a local airport can impose additional problems, as happened in the case with CI’s 82nd patient when an airport official refused to allow shipment if a single ice cube was found in the shipping container. The patient had to be shipped with cold gel packs.
Typically a CI patient is shipped in a Ziegler case (a water-tight metallic shipping box used by funeral directors) that contains the patient in a body bag that is stuffed with as much ice as possible. The Ziegler case is lined on the inside with foam insulation. Ice is also loaded outside the body bag. The Ziegler has a rubber gasket around the lid, and the lid is screwed tight on the ribber gasket to prevent leakage of water. The Ziegler sits on a wooden air-tray (air shipping tray) and is surrounded by a cardboard box. Pink “wool” insulation should be stuffed between the cardboard box and the Ziegler to prevent water condensation on the Ziegler from wetting the cardboard (and to further insulate the patient).
The cardboard box on the air-tray should be marked “Do Not Freeze”. CI’s 87th patient was frozen when received, which made perfusion difficult because freezing damages blood vessels. When perfusion is not possible a patient may be shipped in dry ice, as was the case with CI’s 80th patient. When shipping a cryonics patient by airline on dry ice, shipping regulations allow no more than 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of dry ice. Containers with dry ice cannot be shipped in the same cargo hold as pets or biological materials that could be suffocated.
Every effort should be made to arrange direct flights in shipping a cryonics patient. CI’s 87th patient was shipped to Detroit from Melbourne, Australia, spending an hour at the Sydney airport, six hours at the Los Angeles airport and seven-and-a-half hours at the Chicago airport before arriving in Michigan.
The are three directories that list national (and some international) funeral director services. These all have color names: the Red Book, the Yellow Book, and the Blue Book
At CI we have a copy of the Yellow Book, which contains detailed listings of funeral services available in every state, where the states are listed alphabetically in the white pages. In the back of the book there is a “yellow pages” which lists specialized services. Both Alcor and CI are listed under “cryonics suspension”. Another two categories are “Shipping/embalming services” and “Transportation of human remains”, the only difference between the two being whether embalming is part of the package. I have never used the Yellow Book.
The two largest firms in the United States that specialize in shipment of human remains are Inman Shipping and National Mortuary Shipping (NMS). Inman is slightly larger than NMS. Inman has 450 agents in the United States, and CI’s funeral director Jim Walsh is one of those agents. A funeral director need not use the services of Inman or NMS to do shipping, but those companies greatly simplify the process at competitive prices. The shipping companies file the necessary documents, make arrangements with airlines, and provide air-trays as well as other equipment.
Patient care is best for cryonics patients who do not need to cross national or interstate borders in order to be cryopreserved. But few cryonicists choose to leave their family, friends and local home, hospital or hospice when they are in a terminal condition. Cryonicists living outside the United States often think that they can move to the US if they become terminal, but the US immigration authorities create problems for visitors wanting to come to the US when in a terminal condition or afflicted with obvious health problems. CI struggled with this issue for one of our overseas patients who deanimated before we could get to the bottom of the matter.
Within the United States, although a terminally ill person could not travel on a conventional airline, such a person could use an air ambulance. The company US Air Ambulance offers not only air ambulence, but ground ambulance service. Charges are on a per-mile basis, and for long distances an air ambulance could be less expensive than a ground ambulance.
When human patients (or pet patients) are shipped on dry ice, there must be a vent hole in the shipping container. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, and as it warms it turns into a gas. If there is no vent hole, the pressure will build up and make the container burst. More likely the container will swell and pressure will escape around the seals, but a vent hole of about a quarter inch in diameter should be made on the top of the container to ensure the gas can escape. When CI receives patients from Europe in dry ice they often have a pressure releasing device, such as a check valve, placed in the top of the casket to relieve pressure. If there is no check valve, a quarter inch hole drilled in the top of the shipping container will ensure that there is no dangerous build-up of pressure.
There are now plans by various overseas cryonicists to vitrify overseas and ship in dry ice. Dry ice shipment might be adequate if there is good perfusion with CI−VM−1, but if perfusion does not achieve good saturation the prospect of devitrification (freezing) with dry ice shipment increases. Shipping in liquid nitrogen from overseas would be expensive and difficult. Shipment would have to be by boat and someone would need to accompany the shipping cryostat/dewar to ensure that the liquid nitrogen does not boil-off, or that other problems occur. Cryonics UK has purchased CI−VM−1 for use prior to dry ice shipping. F.A. Albin & Sons also has CI-VM-1 for use on cryonics patients.
In Europe both F.A. Albin & Sons and Rowland Brothers International have had experience with shipping cryonics patients to the United States.
In addition, CI has instructed F.A. Albin & Sons to perform cryonics procedures in the European area. Albin & Sons, which has been in business for over 217 years, can use light private aircraft to reach members at any point in the European continent (and indeed adjoining areas in East Europe, Russia, and the Middle East) and provide cryonics services.
After performing the procedure, Albin & Sons can cool the patient down and transport the patient by plane or ship to CI’s storage facility in the United States. Members may choose the services either of Albin & Sons or a nearer individual, or be helped by the coordinated efforts of both.
Albin & Sons can be reached by contacting Barry Albin at:
F. A. Albin & Co
AArthur Stanley House, Culling Road
London SE16 2TN, UK
PHONE: 071-237-3637,
071-237-2600 or
071-237-6366
FAX: 071-252-3205
www.albins.co.uk/
Rowland Brothers International has also had experience with cryonics patients, and they are not very expensive.
According to the Hazardous Materials office of the International Air Transport Association (IATA Hazmat is located in Montreal, Canada), maximum allowed dry ice on an airplane is 200 kilograms per package, with no limit on the number of packages. Individual airlines have total maximums allowable for any one flight. Continential airlines, for example, will allow up to 1,000 kilograms on their Boeing 777. Delta airlines, which has the most direct flights to Detroit airport, will allow up to 100 kilograms on their narrow-bodied aircraft and up to 200 kilograms on their wide-bodied aircraft. For the narrow-bodied aircraft, individual containers are limited to 50 kilograms for a large DC 9 and a 40 kilogram limit for a small DC 9. Delta reserves the right to switch aircraft at the last minute, so a 40 kilogram limit should be assumed. With good insulation, and “thermal ballast”, 40 kilograms has proven to be plenty of dry ice for shipment of a cryonics patient within the United States on a direct flight to Detroit. Good insulation means, in part, foamboard insulation between the airtray and the Ziegler shipping box, as well as on the sides of the Ziegler case on the outside. “Thermal ballast” means water ice pre-cooled to dry ice temperature that is added to dry ice inside the Ziegler case.
An airline in the United States may require a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods. Dry ice is classified as a dangerous good. The FedEx Dangerous Goods Non-Radioactive Acceptance Checklist can be helpful in completing this form. For dry ice, the proper shipping name will be “carbon dioxide, solid”. Dry ice is class 9, UN number UN1845, packing number 111, and should have packing instruction 904.
Shipping of Deanimated Pets
Pets are often shipped in water ice within the USA to the Cryonics Institute for perfusion at CI. As regulations have tightened, courier companies have become insistent on only allowing a “known shipper” to ship a pet. Federal Express has their own airplanes and should have greater discretion in the kinds of shipment they allow, but that carrier has become increasingly difficult about shipping deceased animals. Although FedEx uses their own planes for next day shipment, they use commercial airlines for same day shipment. Sterling Courier Systems (a subsidiary of Quick International Courier specializing in shipping organ tissue) and Argents Express have been more accommodating, but they are subject to the rules and whims of whatever airlines they use. A CI Member wishing to ship with these carriers can use the fact that CI is a known shipper — shipping on CI’s account. CI may call ahead of time to set up flights for same-day shipping, but only if the CI Member pre-pays for the shipping. Sterling Courier does not have offices in all cities where packages can be delivered, and Sterling will only pick-up from a business address, not residential addresses. Argents will handle shipments from outside the United States, but Sterling will only ship deceased animals within the United States.
The pet should be packed in ice — at least 1.5 times the pet’s weight — sealed with the pet in a watertight bag (containing some water) in a picnic cooler that is sealed watertight with duct tape. The quantity of ice required will depend on the duration of the flight. An airline may require that gel packs be used rather than water ice. Airline officials can seem very capricious in their rules, particularly where shipping of legally dead pets is concerned. In some cases officials may demand a death certificate or some kind certification that the pet did not die of an infectious disease. This requirement may be met by submission of a Shipper’s Declaration of Non-Infectious Substances Form. Officials may also require that an igloo cooler rather than a styrofoam cooler be used. It is best to have a cardboard box around the cooler, and stuff crumpled newpapers between the cooler and the cardboard so that the cooler does not get bounced-around inside the box. Determine the dimensions of the box and the approximate weight so this information can be given to the courier company. If contracts are to be shipped with the pet, ensure that the contracts are in airtight (ziplock) bags that cannot become wet or moistened.
USA shipping with dry ice as baggage may be up to a maximum of 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) with Continental Airlines or American Airlines — or as little as a maximum of 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds) with Southwest Airlines provided the baggage is vented. For quantities of dry ice over these limits the shipment is regarded as “hazardous material” and must be made treated as cargo rather than as baggage —requiring earlier check-in and later release (longer total shipping time). Pets can often be shipped with under two kilograms of dry ice. The pet must be placed in a watertight (e.g.,ziplock) bag, and packed into a styrofoam cooler with the dry ice. The cooler is then packed in a cardboard box, preferably with water-absorbent material (cotton wool) between the two containers — although this may not be required. The words “dry ice” or “carbon dioxide, solid” are often required on a label on the container.
International air shipment guidelines are set by the International Air Transport Association. The IATA mandates that, when allowed, infectious substances must be packed in dry ice. Maximum quantity of dry ice allowed by IATA rules in one container is 200 kilograms. But airlines and countries may have more restrictive regulations.
Shipment of a cat or dog (dead or alive) to the United States requires clearance by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Clearance can be given if there is documentation that the pet was not exposed to livestock or poultry or agricultural infectious agents. Documentation concerning vaccinations and some kind of death certificate may also be required by the CDC. Otherwise, the CDC can be satisfied if the USDA has been satisfied.
Protect Yourself from Legal Threats
Protecting yourself and the Cryonics Institute from hostile legal threats
What can you do to that might increase the likelihood that your wishes are followed by family or loved ones after you are legally deceased? When you can’t speak for yourself and your wishes can be distorted or twisted in directions you may never have intended, what is your recourse? How can you increase the likelihood that next of kin will respect your estate plans and not try to sue your cryonics provider or force you to be buried or cremated?
CI cannot provide you with legal advice, and the laws governing wills and inheritance vary from state to state. But the following are some ideas that you might want to consider and discuss with your attorney.
One possible approach is to remove any potential profit from dishonoring your wishes or from bringing suit against your Cryonics provider. The funds in your estates can be a big incentive for a next of kin to try to avoid your cryonic suspension. Even if your relatives say they will honor your wishes while you are alive, history has shown that some relatives of CI patients change their minds once they consider the money that they could gain if they stand in the way of your cryonics suspension. The CI non suspension rider provides several options that you may consider which could reduce these incentives. One option is for you to redirect insurance proceeds or other assets to the family if you are not suspended. This may seem reasonable since many members ask themselves why they should give CI money for a suspension that has not taken place. However, this could create an incentive to block your cryonic suspension. So there are 2 other options provided: Leave the money with CI for another family member who seeks suspension or simply leave it as a donation to CI. CI is a nonprofit and no one personally gains from these donations.
Another option to consider is to provide in your will that any family members who interfere in any way with your suspension, litigate against CI or who fail to fully cooperate with your suspension (including prompt notification of CI when death is near and the other steps spelled out in CI’s Next of Kin Agreement) are disinherited.
This could effectively incentivize cooperation and disincentivize hostile behavior.
Virtually all lawsuits thus far levied against cryonics organizations have involved next of kin seeking money under the guise of some other nobler cause.
Here are some additional thoughts to consider:
1. Be open and clear about your wishes so next of kin know where they stand ahead of time. Take the time to discuss this with your next of kin.
2. Make sure the relevant documents are made available for your cryonics provider, your attorney and your next of kin so there is a clear record of these wishes.
3. Consider removing hostile or nonsupportive next of kin from control of your estate and your remains legally in advance of your legal death so that hostile people can be disempowered from making decisions you might otherwise disagree with. Consider using an attorney or other pro cryonics person to manage your estate and disposition of remains. You might use a video tape to document all of your wishes in advance. Such a video can be stored with your cryonics provider or with your attorney or both.
Member Readiness Suspension Checklist
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Cryonics Institute Life Insurance Information
There are many options for funding a cryonic suspension with the Cryonics Institute. One of the most affordable is purchasing a Life Insurance Policy with CI named as the primary beneficiary. Depending on a person’s age, health and other factors, some basic policies can cost just a few dollars per month for the average person.
Please note, the Cryonics Institute does not offer financial, investment or insurance consulting. However, we do have experience with patients who have successfully used this funding option, and we recommend you explore Life Insurance as a potential funding option for yourself with a qualified insurance or investment professional.
To help you get started, here are some considerations and suggestions to keep in mind.
HOW DOES IT WORK:
In its most basic terms, a member purchases a life insurance policy of a sufficient amount to cover their cryopreservation costs and additional expenses and names CI as the primary beneficiary. Upon your deanimation, CI will have access to those funds to pay for your suspension and perpetual maintenance. Essentially, your funded policy becomes an “IOU” to be paid when you need to be placed in cryonic suspension at CI. Therefore, it is critical to insure the policy is of sufficient value to cover all your costs and, especially, to make certain that the policy doesn’t lapse, which most commonly occurs due to failure to pay the annual premiums.
It is also important to remember a person can also purchase more than one life insurance policy, so you can have one policy earmarked exclusively for your cryonics costs and another in place with the traditional insurance goal of providing for your family. Whenever possible, we do recommend you purchase insurance coverage for cryonics as a separate policy in order to avoid potential legal challenges with the disbursement. Situations can, and have, happened where a family member or other interested party contests cryonics funding in a policy in an attempt to get that money for themselves. Therefore, it is a safer option to have a separate policy with the Cryonics Institute as the sole beneficiary to ensure that money will be available to pay for your suspension and associated expenses when the time comes.
WHAT IF MY POLICY DOES LAPSE?
If you are planning to use a Life Insurance policy to fund your suspension, CI does require certain guarantees to safeguard that funding. Obviously, we don’t want a situation where a contracted patient needs cryonic suspension but no longer has the funding available to cover the costs.
For suspension agreements to be funded by a life insurance policy, we require proof of insurance, updated annually at a minimum, that the policy is of sufficient value, and that the Cryonics Institute is the named beneficiary. Typically, CI requires a copy of the original policy documents for our records and annual statements thereafter confirming the policy is paid in full and active.
One smart way to make sure CI stays updated is to sign full or joint ownership of the policy over to CI. If CI owns the policy we get all statements and have immediate proof of insurance thus halting delays in cryopreservation. A member can always change their mind and CI’s policy is to transfer policy ownership back to the member upon simple written request. If you want to still retain control over the policy then joint ownership should serve all of your needs.
HOW MUCH INSURANCE DO I NEED?
The cost of perpetual Human Cryopreservation with the Cryonics Institute is $28K (US,) for a Lifetime Member and $35K (US) for an Annual Member, so these amounts would be the absolute minimum amount required to fund your particular agreement. We do, however, strongly urge members to overfund their policies in order to cover additional costs, including transport, standby, funeral director services or any other specialized arrangements. Overfunding provides an extra level of security for yourself and your family to cover these additional costs or other unforeseen expenses.
We recommend at least $50K as a reasonable amount that provides for cryonics-related expenses above and beyond the basic cost. Depending on your financial situation and insurability, you may be in a position to choose to add additional coverage for a relatively modest increase in the monthly premium.
Additionally, we encourage members to overfund with proceeds above and beyond the basic cryopreservation (and additional) expenses donated to CI for cryonics research, facility maintenance and improvements and furthering the cryonics movement.
WHICH IS BETTER, TERM INSURANCE OR WHOLE LIFE?
Both Term and Whole Life insurance offer a “death benefit,” paid out at the insured’s time of passing to the Primary beneficiary designated in the policy. Term insurance is less expensive, but Whole Life includes investment features that Term insurance doesn’t.
Term Insurance provides coverage at a fixed payment rate for a fixed amount of time, or “term” of the policy. If the insured passes away during the term, the contracted benefit is paid out to the designated beneficiary. Term insurance is generally regarded as the least expensive life insurance option, offering an inexpensive way to purchase a substantial “death benefit” for a fixed rate over a pre-determined period of time. However, there is no investment option involved, so no monies accrue and if you stop paying the premiums, you don’t receive any money back. If you are going to buy Term Life, it is important that you invest the difference you would save over buying Whole Life. If you don’t have the willpower to invest the difference, or don’t want to take the risk of outliving your insurability, then perhaps Whole Life is a better option.
Whole Life is a considerably more expensive option, however there is a savings component built into the policy and the “term” is understood to be the insured’s lifetime rather than a fixed period of time. In addition to the savings and investment component built into such policies, whole life insurance also includes a death benefit to be paid out to a specific beneficiary.
Insurance policies vary from state to state and company to company, in terms of costs, benefits and other details. However one critical factor doesn’t change, and that’s the fact that the older one gets the more difficult it becomes to acquire insurance and that coverage typically becomes more expensive the older a person is. The plain message is to start early before it’s too late to even get insurance. Once you have been accepted for coverage and acquire a basic term policy, you have many more options in the future, regardless of your age.
We strongly recommend you do some research online or meet with an insurance professional to discuss your options and at a minimum, purchase a basic term plan to get started. Once you have established basic term coverage, you give yourself more options for the future.
WHAT POLICY RIDERS SHOULD I REQUEST?
A “Rider” is a special addition to your policy that provides for additional benefits. Two of the most common are the “Accelerated Benefit” rider and the “Double Indemnity” rider.
Accelerated Benefit Rider
This rider provides for the insurance company to pay a portion of the death benefit before you pass. This rider can provide up to 50% of the death benefit for persons with a terminal medical condition to use in any way they choose. Cryonics Institute members can use this advance payment to pay off their suspension contract while they are still alive, as well as standby arrangements, transportation and other anticipated expenses.
Double Indemnity
The double indemnity rider requires the insurance company to pay double the death benefit if the insured dies by accidental means. Usually, the money one would spend on this rider is better spent on additional life insurance which pays off regardless of the causes of death. Also, many insurance companies will require or encourage the next of kin to order an autopsy as a means of determining that death was indeed accidental. Autopsies are definitely not a good idea for anyone planning to enter cryonic suspension.
WHERE CAN I BUY “CRYONICS LIFE INSURANCE?”
You can’t. No insurance companies sell “cryonics insurance.” What they sell are life insurance policies (for any legal purpose) where the policy owner can name a cryonics organization like CI (or any person, organization or cause you choose) as the beneficiary. The goal is to fund a cryonic suspension, but it’s still a normal Life Insurance policy, not a special “cryonics policy.” Any of the hundreds of life insurance companies in the US or other countries can sell you such a policy.
This is an important consideration to keep in mind as you approach agents to discuss your options. If you approach an agent looking for “cryonics insurance,” you run the risk of being forced into a debate on the subject of cryonics rather than focusing on the more important subject at hand, which is purchasing a sufficiently funded policy. Life Insurance is essentially a financial transaction, and as the insured it’s your money, and your right to designate the beneficiary.
INSURANCE RESOURCES
When buying life insurance, it pays to shop. Many web-sites or individual insurance agents can do this for you by comparing rates for many insurance companies. If you have an agent that you work with to buy other insurance, you might want to ask for proposals from him or her.
There are also dozens of companies that will give you a term insurance quote online. Keywords: “term insurance”, “life insurance”, or “life insurance quotes” will turn up a number of informative and helpful websites you can use to compare policies and costs.
Please note, these links are intended for information purposes only and do not express an endorsement by the Cryonics Institute.
INSURANCE LINKS:
Glossaries of Insurance Terms
Helpful references explaining a number of life insurance terms and principles.
- http://www.intelliquote.com/resources/life/life-insurance-terms.asp
- http://www.accuquote.com/learning-center/term-life-insurance-faqs.cfm
Sites providing online insurance quotes
Insurance Agents and Agencies
UNITED STATES
12117 Bee Cave Road
Austin, TX 78738
Office: 512-263-5565 Fax: 512-263-5484
Leo Insurance Solutions, LLC
73 Old Dublin Pike. Suite 10-465 Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: 215-601-5051
Fax: 800-264-3058
Email: david.donato@leoinsurance.com
Website: www.leowealth.com
Independent Life Insurance Brokerage – servicing clients nationwide
310 Passaic Ave. #203
Fairfield NJ 07004
Phone: 973-582-1004 Fax: 973-582-1001
Certified Financial Planner, Investment & Financial Services
Licensed in most states, including CA, AZ and TX
Email: bholland@securitiesmail.com
Website: Hollandfinancialgroup.com
Licensed in multiple states
28250 Southfield Road, Suite 210
Lathrup Village, MI 48076
Tel: (248) 556-2942 or toll-free (877) 255-1949
Fax: (248) 415-1724
Website: www.upstreamip.com
CANADA:
1405 Route Transcanadienne Suite 600
Tel: (514) 685-0484 Ext: 2228
Email: serge.vallee@sunlife.com
UNITED KINGDOM:
8 Kings Road, Honiton, Devon, England, EX14 1HW
Telephone: +44 (0) 845 474 3075
* Note to Insurance Agents: If you are an agent specializing in providing services for cryonicists, please contact dennis@cryonics.org to be considered for inclusion on this page.
CI MANADATORY QUESTIONNAIRE
- IMPORTANT: All documents are EXAMPLES ONLY. Please do not print or otherwise try to fill out and return documents from cryonics.org to the Cryonics Institute. To get official Cryonics Institute membership documents and contracts, please contact us at info@cryonics.org to make a request.
- The CI Team works directly with new members to create a membership packet containing the specific documents and instructions needed to get started. Document updates (for additional services, contracts etc.) are also available. All required documents for your membership and suspension arrangements need to be mailed to you to sign and return to CI for our official files.
Worldwide Cryonics Groups
REGIONAL SUPPORT GROUPS (Semi-Professional and Volunteer)
AUSTRALIA: The Cryonics Association of Australasia offers support and information for Australia & nearby countries.
caalist@prix.pricom.com.au.
Their Public Relations Officer is Philip Rhoades.
phil@pricom.com.au GPO Box 3411, Sydney, NSW 2001 Australia. Phone: +6128001 6204 (office) or +61 2 99226979 (home.)
BELGIUM: Cryonics Belgium is an organization that exists to inform interested parties and, if desired, can assist with handling the paperwork for a cryonic suspension. The website can be found at www.cryonicsbelgium.com. To get in touch, please send an email to info@cryonicsbelgium.com.
BHUTAN: Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help for the transport & hospital explanation about the cryonics procedure to the Dr and authorities in Thimphou & Paro. Contacts : Jamyang Palden & Tenzin Rabgay / Emails :
palde002@umn.edu or jamgarnett@hotmail.co Phones : Jamyang / 975-2-32-66-50 & Tenzin / 975-2-77-21-01-87
CANADA: This is a very active group that participated in Toronto’s first cryopreservation. President, Christine Gaspar; Vice President, Gary Tripp. Visit them at:
http://www.cryocdn.org/. There is a subgroup called the Toronto Local Group. Meeting dates and other conversations are held via the Yahoo group. This is a closed group. To join write:
csc5@cryocdn.org
BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Lifespan Society advocates for radical life extension. They also organize conferences and educational outreach events on life extension issues. Lifespan welcomes all Canadians as members, although voting in the society is open to BC residents. Contact Carrie Radomski, President at carrie@lifespanbc.ca. Web site www.lifespansociety.com.
QUEBEC: Contact: Stephan Beauregard, C.I. Director & Official Administrator of the Cryonics Institute Facebook Page. Information about Cryonics & perfusion services in Montreal for all cryonicicts. Services available in French & English:
stephan@cryonics.org
CHILE: Community oriented to provide reliable information on human cryopreservation, as far as technical scientific as well as other practical aspects. Dissemination, awareness and education on issues related to the extension of life in general and cryonics in particular. Contact José Luis Galdames via
galdamesh.jl@gmail.com.
FINLAND: The Finnish Cryonics Society, (KRYOFIN) was established in 2008 and is an organization collaborating with all nearby groups and organizations. Contact them at:
kryoniikka.fi Their President is Ville Salmensuu
ville@salmensuu.fi
FRANCE: SOCIETE CRYONICS DE FRANCE is a non profit French organization working closely with European cryonics groups. For more information: J.Roland Missionnier: phone: 33 (0) 6 64 90 98 41 or email: cryonicsnews.inpi@gmail.com • Facebook group
https://www.francecryonics.fr/a-propos/ Vivien Gruss, member of Cryonics Institute, has opened a web site for the information of persons interested in cryonic suspension.
GERMANY: DGAB There are a number of Cryonicists in Germany. Their Organization is called “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Angewandte Biostase e.V.”, or short “DGAB”. More information on their homepage at www.biostase.de. If there are further questions, contact their Board at vorstand@biostase.de
GERMANY: CRYONICS-GERMANY is an active group providing cryonics support, including a special 8-member Standby Response Team. Members from Germany or Internationally are welcome to join. at http://cryonics-germany.org. Direct inquiries to contact@cryonics-germany.org.
ITALY: The Italian Cryonics Group (inside the Life Extension Research Group (LIFEXT Research Group)) www.lifext.org and relative forum: forum.lifext.org. Contact Giovanni Ranzo at: giovanni1410@gmail.com
Kriorus Italy: Representative Filippo Polistena,
email: filippopolistena45@gmail.com. phone: +39 334 298 9378
JAPAN: Takaaki Kaburagi is President Japan Cryonics Association. Formed in 1998, our goals are to disseminate cryonics information in Japan, to provide cryonics services in Japan, and eventually, to allow cryonics to take root in the Japanese society. Contact kabu@ops.dti.ne.jp or http://www.cryonics.jp
NEPAL: Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help for the transport & hospital explanation about the cryonics procedure to the Dr and authorities in Kathmandu. Contact : Suresh K. Shrestha / Email : toursuresh@gmail.com Phone : 977-985-1071364 / PO Box 14480 Kathmandu.
THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch Cryonics Organization is the local support group since 2002 and able to provide advice, standby, perfusion and shipment 24/7, in case of need. We are an active group utilizing the latest equipment. New members from The Netherlands welcome.
E-mail: info@cryonisme.nl
website: http://www.cryonisme.nl
NORWAY : Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help for the transport & hospital explication about the cryonics procedure to the Dr, funeral home and authority at Sandvika. Contacts : Gunnar Hammersmark Sandvika Begegravelsesbyraa / Phones : 011-47-2279-7736
RUSSIA: KrioRus is a Russian cryonics organization operating in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe that exists to help arrange cryopreservation and longterm suspension locally, or with CI or Alcor.
Please contact kriorus@gmail.com for additional information or visit http://www.kriorus.ru. Phone: +7 962 947-50-79
SPAIN: https://asociacioncrionica.es/ The Spanish Cryonics Association (ACE). A group of enthusiastic civilians, scientists and medical volunteers dedicated to research, education and support in the field of cryonics. We offer information, advice and support to those interested in cryonics including consutation, legal advice, financial planning and veterinary services.
SWEDEN: www.kryonik.se or Facebook: Svenska Kryonikföreningen. Initially, the society will focus on providing information and assistance to those who wish to sign up for cryonics. Eventually, we also hope to provide practical assistance in cases, possibly in collaboration with other European groups.
SWITZERLAND: www.cryosuisse.ch
CRYOSUISSE The Swiss Society for Cryonics is an active group with over 30 members. To join, email info@cryosuisse.ch
UNITED STATES:
Minnesota: Minnesota Cryonics Rapid Response (MCRR) is a nonprofit standby, stabilization and transport group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We have a strong, longstanding working relationship with local funeral directors, and have successfully participated in significantly more-timely suspension efforts in Minnesota in cooperation with both Alcor and the Cryonics Institute. Contact: President, Chuck Bartl, chuckbartl@yahoo.com.
Washington DC Metro Region: Life Extension Society (LES) is a nonprofit organization of area cryonicists dedicated to enhancing local capabilities for standby, stabilization and transport. Members from both Alcor and Cryonics Institute are welcome. Contact: Mark Mugler, mugsim2@gmail.com.
Southeast Wisconsin: Great Lakes Cryonics Association. CI President Dennis Kowalski’s cryonics group serving the Greater Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin region. Phone: 1-414-322-1320 Dennis@cryonics.org.
UNITED KINGDOM: Cryonics UK is a nonprofit UK based standby group. www.cryonics-uk.org Cryonics UK can be contacted via the following people: Tim Gibson: phone: 07905 371495, email: tim.gibson@cryonics-uk.org.
Victoria Stevens: phone: 01287 669201,
email: vicstevens@hotmail.co.uk. Graham Hipkiss: phone: 0115 8492179 / 07752 251 564, email:
ghipkiss@hotmail.com. Alan Sinclair: phone: 01273 587 660 / 07719 820715,
email: cryoservices@yahoo.co.uk
Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help, funeral home, transport at London. Contact : F.A. Albin & Sons / Arthur Stanley House Phone : 020-7237-3637
INTERNATIONAL: The Cryonics Society is a global cryonics advocacy organization.
www.CryonicsSociety.org. They publish an e-newsletter FutureNews. Phone: 1-585-643-1167.
PROFESSIONAL STANDBY:
Companies providing professional standby, stabilization and transport services.
International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE):
https://www.cryomedics.org/
info@cryomedics.org
844-INTL-CRYO (468-5279)
Suspended Animation Inc:
https://suspendedanimationlabs.com/
info@suspendedanimationlabs.com
1-949-482-2109
Help us stay up to date:
Please send any corrections or changes to the address below. If you know of, or are considering starting a support, standby or other cryonics-related group in your area, please send details to
Please note, this list is provided as an information resource only. Inclusion on the list does not constitute an endorsement by the Cryonics Institute or our affiliated organizations. We urge our readers to use this list as a starting point to research groups that may meet their own individual needs. We further note that readers should always use their own informed judgment and a reasonable amount of prudence in dealing with any organization and/or individual listed.