X-Message-Number: 4645
Date:  Tue, 18 Jul 95 16:57:10 
From: Steve Bridge <>
Subject: The elderly and cryonics

To CryoNet
>From Steve Bridge, Alcor
July 18, 1995

     To all:  I'm a bit behind in correspondence to some of you and I 
haven't replied to the postings here that I need to.  I took one week's 
vacation and got three weeks behind.  Such is life when you're trying to 
change the world with too few people and too little money. But I'm getting 
caught up again and will post a bit more now.

In reply to:   Message #4633
               From: 
               Date: Mon, 17 Jul 1995 00:12:54 -0400
               Subject: elderly in cryonics....

     The other answers given already to this post were pretty accurate, 
but I have a few additional comments.

>1. Is there any way anyone could think,(financially), of getting
>suspension performed for an elderly person who because of age does 
>not qualify for life insurance?

     I know at least one elderly man who delayed signing up for cryonics 
for several years because he misunderstood and thought that the ONLY way 
he could fund his suspension was through life insurance.  He had plenty of 
funds available to pay cash in advance, and we finally made all of that 
clear to him.  Alcor, by its Bylaws, is required to place prepayment funds 
into a separate investment account (usually in a bank) insured against 
loss by the Federal government.  We cannot use those funds until the 
member goes into suspension.  

     Also, there are various combinations of trust funds, investment 
accounts, and already existing insurance that can be combined for 
suspension funding.  And we will accept real property as *part* of the 
suspension funding, under carefully protected and very limited conditions.  

>Like, are there any organizations out there who do charity for the sake 
>of experimentation or anything? 

     We are a 501(c)3 charitable organization; but we can't afford to do 
suspensions for free.  We would have a lot of volunteers if we did.  Whole 
body suspension with Alcor is $120,000 minimum donation (we always 
encourage more); neurosuspension is minimum $50,000.  Upfront costs on a 
suspension for Alcor (this varies by organization, obviously) run about 
$25,000-$35,000.  Then we place most of the rest (at least $70,000 for a 
whole body; $17,000 for a neuro) in an investment account to earn enough 
money to pay ongoing expenses indefinitely.  Unfortunately, all of this 
would take a LOT of charity.

     But as others have said, if the individual has little estate 
available, perhaps relatives or friends would be willing to help out.  
With a tax-exempt, non-profit like Alcor, those donations could be 
charitable deductions for the donor.

>2. Would an elderly person (presently 90 years old) even qualify for
>suspension anyways? I mean like does someone have to be in pretty good
>health before suspension (except for being dead of course that is!).

     The only qualifications for cryonic suspension are 1) want it, 2) be 
legally able to sign the documents or have a custodian who can sign, 3) 
have funding available, 4) and (as someone else said) not be dying of some 
disease that will turn the suspension team into more patients.  Age is not 
a barrier.  We have several members in their 90's.  It seems pretty clear 
to me that, whether cryonics works or not, aging will be both preventable 
and reversible within the next 50 years or so.  If cryonic suspension 
preserves the identity of the individual and future technologists figure 
out how to revive that individual, then he or she also will be revived in 
near perfect health -- which means the same thing as "young-looking."

     Finally, there are several cryonics groups represented on-line here, 
with varying prices, policies, and philosophies.  We'll all be happy to 
send you literature or sign-up information if you privately give us your 
regular mail address  (not to mention your actual name!)

Steve Bridge, President
Alcor Life Extension Foundation



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