46 replies to this topic

[captainbeefheart]

I certainly plan to, not at the moment as I have no job, and figure at 24 now I still have a few years were I can still get it at a cheaper rate. Although I live in the UK so not entirely sure what it's gonna end up being in the end.

But interested to know how many people have bothered with it. Like I have little faith in it esspially the way they do it now but as people point out it's better then nothing, just concerns me the cost really I guess and I don't imagine I'll be earning much for a long time, if ever.

[David Styles]

I certainly plan to, not at the moment as I have no job, and figure at 24 now I still have a few years were I can still get it at a cheaper rate.

Unless you're hit by the proverbial bus tomorrow, of course. Or get diagnosed with something that makes you uninsurable.

My (UK!) life insurance costs me £6 a month. That's 19p a day. A homeless person could afford that much, right?

Although I live in the UK so not entirely sure what it's gonna end up being in the end.

Sorry - Where what's going to be?

But interested to know how many people have bothered with it. Like I have little faith in it

I have no faith in it (though I do have not a small amount of confidence in it). I don't operate on faith. I operate on reason. It's an intelligent version of Pascal's gamble. If it doesn't work, I'll have lost nothing by trying that I wouldn't have lost anyway by not trying.

esspially the way they do it now

Who is "they"? How do "they" do it now? Are you referring to the recent improvements in vitrification protocols? What is your source for your knowledge of how "they" are doing it now?

but as people point out it's better then nothing, just concerns me the cost really I guess and I don't imagine I'll be earning much for a long time, if ever.

Have you investigated just how little it costs?

I work for a charity, for a pittance. I love my job, it's really enjoyable, doesn't feel like work, etc - but it really doesn't pay well at all. But frankly, I could sell the Big Issue for a living and still easily afford my cryonics expenses.

Unless you have some health difficulties that make life insurance difficult for you, money is only a barrier to cryonics for those who have not yet examined how little it costs and are erroneously assuming they need to be rich first.

Again, I really hope you don't feel like I'm picking on you here - it's just something of a personal mission of mine to get the word out that cryonics is available and affordable. I went for years without knowing that. I could have been killed during that time. I nearly was killed during that time, come to think of it. I'd really hate for someone to die because of my inaction; for this reason I trust you'll understand and forgive my focus on this point!

We're all in this boat together.

[captainbeefheart]

six pounds a month!? Blimy, I made some enquires a few months ago and I got the idea it would cost 20-30 pounds a month for me, thats with CI. So ore still I guess with alcor.

The other costs I was referring to were transportation, cost of standby team, etc. That's not included in the thirty grand is it? But guess would be covered in a policy.

Don't feel you're picking on me, at six quid a month I could afford that now, even without a job at all! At six quid a month it's and brainier, well even at thirty maybe I spend more on my mobile phone, and a little more on the gym! And probably more still on booze no doubt!

[captainbeefheart]

I don't know a massive amount about the way they do it, so excuse my ignorance. I had just heard through a friend who had been to a lecture about it from the Uk cryonics group that because of such little money that goes into R&D for this stuff progress is very slow in improving preserving bodies and what not.

[David Styles]

six pounds a month!? Blimy, I made some enquires a few months ago and I got the idea it would cost 20-30 pounds a month for me, thats with CI. So ore still I guess with alcor.

The other costs I was referring to were transportation, cost of standby team, etc. That's not included in the thirty grand is it? But guess would be covered in a policy.

Yes, it can be covered easily by the life insurance.

If you have any difficulty getting such a policy, let me know and I'll be glad to help.

[David Styles]

I don't know a massive amount about the way they do it, so excuse my ignorance. I had just heard through a friend who had been to a lecture about it from the Uk cryonics group that because of such little money that goes into R&D for this stuff progress is very slow in improving preserving bodies and what not.

That would be me who gave that lecture, and I don't recall saying that. Unless you are referring to the Alcor-specific training last year, which was not me. If you're referring to a god-awful presentation given at Birkbeck College by a sleep-deprived gentleman from Cryonics UK, that was me.

More funding would be certainly be lovely, but new developments are coming along all the time (and have been for decades), and most research is mercifully not crazily expensive in the grand scheme of things. It'd be really great to have universities on board, that said, rather than only vested-interest research organisations (who do an excellent job, but I'd love to see some of the load shared out somewhat).

[medicineman]

coming from a muslim country, health or life insurance does not do cryonics. how much cash would it generally cost, for the initial storage, and maintenance???

[David Styles]

coming from a muslim country, health or life insurance does not do cryonics. how much cash would it generally cost, for the initial storage, and maintenance???

Your insurer doesn't need to know what the beneficiary will do with the money.

You can just name them as a company and they will probably not question it.

Alternately, you could get insurance from a foreign broker; I know Rudi Hoffman (world's top specialist for insurance for Cryonics) will do international policies if you can travel to America at least once for a medical.

Failing all that, if you wish to pay outright, prices very widely depending on provider and type of suspension.

$9,000 will get you a neurosuspension at KrioRus; $150,000 will get you a fully body suspension at Alcor. There are lots of options between those two ends of the price range.

[GiovanniR]

I am signed up with the Cryonics Institute and working to create a support group in my country (Italy).
Since the day I found out that such an option was actually available basically to everyone, I have always felt that it is a big safety net.
What if it doesn't work? (How many "what if's" I have heard every time I talk about Cryonics...)
Well, I have nothing to lose.
But I have everything to gain if it does work.
This is my simple perspective on it.

[forever freedom]

I don't know when i'll be able to sign up for cryonics since i live in Brazil. If i lived in Europe i heard it's possible to do it, but down here it's harder.

[GiovanniR]

I don't know when i'll be able to sign up for cryonics since i live in Brazil. If i lived in Europe i heard it's possible to do it, but down here it's harder.

I think you can do it in your country too.

[hkhenson]

I have been signed up since 1985 (with Alcor).

[Shannon Vyff]

A lot of signed cryonicists have voted here!

[enoonsti]

I find most of the options to be acceptable responses (assuming these individuals support cryonics in other ways). That said, everyone who picks "No, and I never will" should be issued dunce caps.

Edited by enoonsti, 30 January 2010 - 08:25 PM.

[JediMasterLucia]

I want to sign up, but i have a few difficulties... :(

[s123]

six pounds a month!? Blimy, I made some enquires a few months ago and I got the idea it would cost 20-30 pounds a month for me, thats with CI. So ore still I guess with alcor.

A Belgian member signed up at age 26 pays 72 euro's ($ 100,55) a month and it seems to be even higher in the Nederlands.

Edited by s123, 01 February 2010 - 12:39 AM.

[David Styles]

$9,000 will get you a neurosuspension at KrioRus; $150,000 will get you a fully body suspension at Alcor. There are lots of options between those two ends of the price range.

Correction: It appears that CI's price comparison page has incorrect information. It's $10,000 for a neuro-suspension with KrioRus, not $9,000.

Additionally, Alcor's $150,000 full-body suspension is not the most expensive; ACS is slightly more expensive at $155,000 for a suspension that will ultimately put you in CI's keeping. It does say this on the price comparison page; I'd not noticed it previously.

[David Styles]

six pounds a month!? Blimy, I made some enquires a few months ago and I got the idea it would cost 20-30 pounds a month for me, thats with CI. So ore still I guess with alcor.

A Belgian member signed up at age 26 pays 72 euro's ($ 100,55) a month and it seems to be even higher in the Nederlands.

Term assured, or whole of life?

(And out of curiosity, do you speak of Erik there?)

As an addendum: I sorted out Cryonics UK's biochemist with an insurance policy quote for this purpose just today. He is 36 years old and has a quote of £9.80 per month.

Edited by David Styles, 01 February 2010 - 07:20 AM.

[s123]

six pounds a month!? Blimy, I made some enquires a few months ago and I got the idea it would cost 20-30 pounds a month for me, thats with CI. So ore still I guess with alcor.

A Belgian member signed up at age 26 pays 72 euro's ($ 100,55) a month and it seems to be even higher in the Nederlands.

Term assured, or whole of life?

(And out of curiosity, do you speak of Erik there?)

As an addendum: I sorted out Cryonics UK's biochemist with an insurance policy quote for this purpose just today. He is 36 years old and has a quote of £9.80 per month.

Term assured (paying till 65). Yes, I was talking about Erik.

[David Styles]

Term assured (paying till 65). Yes, I was talking about Erik.

I wonder if that is still the best deal available :s

Mine is term assured (til 60).

[JediMasterLucia]

how much does it costs when you sign up when you are 38?

[Agent]

how much does it costs when you sign up when you are 38?

Depends of the insurance company, your health and sex At least in Poland women pay about a half of what men pay.

What I did: went to a website of an insurance company which provided a calculator, put my age, sex and years (because it was a term insurance), and got a quote.

After medical exams / interview it resulted a higher quote. :(

But this way I already had the idea.

The first two questions I asked the insurance agent were:
1. Can the policy beneficiary be a non-profit organization in the US? (Yes)
2. Isn't the autopsy required? (No)

In Poland I don't need trustees in order to CI receive the insurance sum. They are necessary in the UK.

Was this information useful for you?

[JediMasterLucia]

Thank you for your answers, Agent
I am from the Netherlands, and I think the rules will be different in the Netherlands than in Poland.
Maybe someone could tell me how it is in the Netherlands when you want to sign up for cyonics and how much it costs.

[Christine1981]

Hello, I'm a Dutch Cryonicist!

My insurance is 83E/month and I opened it at 24. It is actually a form of insured saving, so I get the money is 2045, also when I'm alive, that would be when I'm 64,5.
It is more expensive at 38, but I think the big increase for life insurance happens when you pass 40 or 50, so get it right now.
Once you know what you want, it takes a few weeks for the insurance to be in place.
You need to go to a Notary for the actual cryonics contract, which cost a bit under 100Euros and there are the fees to CI or Alcor.

Hope this helps.

[David Styles]

Hello, I'm a Dutch Cryonicist!

My insurance is 83E/month and I opened it at 24. It is actually a form of insured saving, so I get the money is 2045, also when I'm alive, that would be when I'm 64,5.
It is more expensive at 38, but I think the big increase for life insurance happens when you pass 40 or 50, so get it right now.
Once you know what you want, it takes a few weeks for the insurance to be in place.
You need to go to a Notary for the actual cryonics contract, which cost a bit under 100Euros and there are the fees to CI or Alcor.

Hope this helps.

Can one not use two witnesses instead of a notary in the Netherlands as one can elsewhere if desired?

[Christine1981]

Hmm, I thought you still have to have some things signed by a notary in the NL, but I dont what exactly made this necessary or more desirable.
Maybe ask George Overmeire, he helped me with my things back then.

[JediMasterLucia]

Thanks for the info, Christine and welcome to imminst

[craig]

I'm signed up with Alcor. I've gone for whole of life insurance which doesn't run out when I'm 65 (of retirement age). This is to cover me in the case that I need cryonics after the age of 65, as trying to get insurance at age 65 may be nearly impossible if my health deteriorates. I've also over funded to a total of £180,000. This will hopefully protect me against fluctuations in exchange rate and if Alcor needs to go to any extreme lengths to recover my body (e.g. plane crash or boat accident).

Costs:
£58.50 Monthly membership subcription to Alcor
£87.14 Monthly life insurance payment

Total: £145.64 (£1747.68 annually) (£104860.80 over my expected life span based on todays tech)

One thing I will say is the process to get signed up is SLOW. From my initial meeting with my financial adviser to getting it all wrapped up has taken over a year. This is partly due to problems with the insurance company and also partly due to Alcor being in America and taking days or weeks to respond.

Hope this is helpful

[Luna]

A thing which scares me is, Ok you are insured. You plan your insurance company to pay your cryonics.
What if now you were hit by a bus or something, found you have cancer. Whatever. Now you died and.. I dunno

Insurance taking too long to pay for cryonics, your preservation is delayed?
Insurance decides that it needs to investigate something which causes you to be too late for cryonics or or they do an autopsy. We heard of it already.
They suddenly refuse for whatever reason to pay for cryonics and find a way to justify it in court?

[Shannon Vyff]

Back when I researched different insurance companies and policies I looked at AAA rated companies. I ended up going with New York Life, because they will pay out even when the body is not recovered, they pay benefits for suicide, acts of war, terrorism --the covered the most of any other company I looked at (this was a decade ago though and I've not looked into the various companies recently) But Luna, the insurance companies don't have any hold over your body, they can't order any autopsies-or have any say in where your body is or what happens to it. To the insurance company when you are legally dead, you are legally dead. You can not be cryonically preserved till you are legally dead per the laws in the country you live in.

Thank you Craig for the information, I'm in the UK now and will be at the next CryonicsUK meeting this March 13th and 14th. http://www.cryonics-uk.com/ I've been learning about how one can set up insurance when they live in countries other than the US. You are right, in the States the average time it takes to sign up with Alcor is 6 months, and I can imagine it would be a lot longer being out of the country--glad you got it taken care of.