X-Message-Number: 27136
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 18:50:18 -0400
From: 
Subject: #27133: Re: Cryonics & Politics [Kennita Watson]

From Steve Bridge
September 26, 2005

Kennita wrote:

>What are we going to do when the first mouse is brought back
>from cryonic suspension (other than rejoice)?  I envision panic
>as the life insurance companies rewrite rules to exclude payout
>to people who are cryonically preserved, lest people get
>preserved, have their families get the money, then get revived
>and use the money.  Other scenarios come to mind, but my point
>is mainly that they need to be thought about, and the
>appropriate people in power mollified.
>
>Live long and prosper,
>Kennita



Actually, Kennita, at least some insurance agents have already understood that, 
if cryonics becomes workable and popular, insurance companies would benefit 
immensely by giving full cooperation to cryonics patients and families -- 
because now millions of people will need TWO life insurance policies -- one for 
cryonics insurance and one for the family.  Many of us with children already 
have two or more policies.  I'll bet Rudy Hoffman has already figured this out.
:-)


Insurance companies don't mind paying out when people are declared dead, as long
as the normal life expectancy curve is being followed.  In that case, they have
factored in the average life expectancy and charged you accordingly.  Life 
insurance companies make their money by keeping policies active for decades in 
order to invest all of that money.  They like cryonicists, who tend to keep a 
policy long-term and who try to stay alive as long as possible.


The best possible scenario for life insurance companies is for cryonics to be 
come workable, giving everyone a reason to buy two policies, and THEN for 
anti-aging technologies to become workable, keeping everyone alive longer so the
insurance companies can make money even longer! 


IMMORTALITY would be bad for the life insurance companies, becuuse the demand 
for life insurance would drop to near zero; but I'll bet they will find some way
to make money on that, too.

Steve Bridge

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