X-Message-Number: 4887
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 17:00:11 -0800
From: (American Cryonics Society)
Subject: Mr. Strout's Request: dues and funding
This is a somewhat belated response to Joseph Strout's posting of September
9, (#4862). In that posting Joseph lists his understanding of prices and
options for various cryonics organizations, which he says he has garnered
from the net, and asks for corrections.
The only option Joseph lists for the American Cryonics Society, Inc. (ACS) is
"ACS/Trans Time" with question marks for sign-up fee, yearly costs, and
suspension cost.
I would be interested in where on the "Net" Joseph gets "ACS/Trans Time" as
an option? Whatever this source is, corrections are in order. The
American Cryonics Society does not have either a contract or a working
relationship with Trans Time, and has not had for many years. People
interested in Trans Time should contact them directly.
The American Cryonics Society, Inc., incorporated in 1969, received its
first anatomical donation (full-body) in 1974, its latest donation (brain
only) a few weeks ago. The American Cryonics Society has contracts with
CryoSpan, Inc., and the Cryonics Institute (CI). We have a working
relationship with BioPreservation, whose personnel we call on frequently
for consultation. We also maintain our own equipment and supplies, which
includes a mobile field washout kit. Since the beginning of the year we
have had three suspensions.
A single page summary and application is included; however the more
specific information given below should be helpful.
Sign-Up fees
The American Cryonics Society has no sign-up fees as such. However, our
membership fee structure is somewhat front-end loaded, in recognition of
the fact that our administrative costs are greatest when someone first
signs up.
Our "LifePlus" membership plan charges a $1,000 initiation fee, which
amount also includes the first year's membership. The member pays the
regular yearly dues (currently $300) starting with the second year's
membership. This plan is mostly used for people who are making an
anatomical donation to us in the near future, or simply to show their
support for ACS. The second family member pays 1/2 this amount.
Our "Four Year Plan" calls for the member to pay $378 per year for the
first four years; after four years the member pays our regular yearly dues
which are currently $300 per year. Again, there is a 50% discount for the
second family member.
Our final membership plan is called "Monthly Plan." The member pays $35
per month for the first four years, after which he pays our regular monthly
dues, which are currently $30.00. The second family member, 50% dues
discount also applies to the Monthly Plan.
It is ACS policy to offer as wide a choice of options as possible to our
members, consistent with our program of ACS maintaining ultimate responsibility
for the member. Companies and organizations with which we contract
sometimes also have fees.
Yearly dues
Currently members pay $300 per year or $30.00 per month. Two family
members (two associated people who receive mailings at the same address)
receive a 1/2 price dues discount for the second family member.
Associate and Supporting Membership
People not yet ready to sign up for suspension, or who are suspension
members of other organizations, can enroll as Associate members at $55 per
year, or Supporting Members at $35 per year. These plans are for
subscriptions, publications, and information. Associates get more frequent
mailings and generally more information than Supporters.
Minimum Recommended Funding for Suspension
ACS members may either specify suspension and long-term storage options
when they sign up (for example, they may specify that they be stored at the
Cryonics Institute or at CryoSpan), or they can rely on ACS to use whatever
resources are available at the time of "deanimation", either within ACS or
through contract companies, for the member's suspension, long-term storage,
and funds management.
Similarly with funds management, members can set up trusts for themselves
during their lifetime specifying either ACS or an acceptable alternate
trustee; or direct that ACS receive funds and manage them through trust or
as a dedicated fund where the contracts or trust documents for fund
management is not executed until after the member deanimates (but in
accordance with the member's written instructions).
Because of our flexibility, specifying required funding is more difficult.
Based upon our experience, and the requirements of our long-term storage
providers, we provide members with minimum recommended funding as a guide
for their own planning. These recommendations should be prefaced with the
recognition that there is now, and always has been, a great deal of
uncertainty concerning what sums are adequate, and that it is better to err
on the side of too much funding, rather than too little.
Current Recommended Minimum Funding for some Procedures
A: Whole body suspension using "Open-Heart Perfusion" $125,000
(long-term storage at CI or CryoSpan)
B: Whole body suspension with "Femoral Access Perfusion" $80,000
(storage at CI or CryoSpan)
C: Whole body suspension with "Minimum Preparation" $37,000
(storage at CI)
D: Neuropreservation (head only) with "Open Heart Perfusion" $60,000
E: Brain only suspension, includes removal $25,000
F: Brain only suspension, where removal has already occurred $15,000
We do not recommend brain only suspension and storage except where
circumstances prevent other options (such as after an autopsy). However,
we recognize that this procedure may be the only choice available to some
people because of financial or personal considerations.
As part of signing up, ACS members specify whole-body, or neuro. It is
our obligation to provide the member with the best suspension and long-term
storage we can with the funds provided. Circumstances of death (for
example the member is dead a long time before he is discovered), may make
it impractical or impossible to engage in the preparation that would be
used in more favorable circumstances. In this case his funding is best
applied to give him a better funded long-term storage.
Suspension Coverage for (almost) No Money
ACS has a program for full-time students, which allows the student to be
covered for suspension as an ACS Associate Member, paying $55 per year
(again, half that for second family member).
If even that amount is too much (when I was a student it was), I recommend
that students at least get insurance policies (or provide funding by other
means). Assuming students are in their twenties or early thirties, their
primary risks are twofold:
1. Dying suddenly, often by auto accident.
2. A medical condition develops, or is discovered, which
will make obtaining insurance very expensive or not available.
Term insurance for ACS's most expensive option costs about $150 per
year (estimate not quote). If you die suddenly, the value of expensive
procedures, and of any organization's claimed suspension superiority, can
be discounted heavily. If you later have serious medical problems,
provided you already have an insurance policy in place, you can then enroll
with a cryonics organization.
I am not recommending that anyone NOT enroll with a cryonics society, I am
recommending that, if finances are very tight, they should get the
insurance first. They will have "conditional coverage" from the time they
fill out the application if it is taken non-medical, or from when they are
examined, if a medical exam is required. While their application is in
underwriting, and
if they find there is a delay, for financial reasons, in joining a society,
they should at least fill out the "Consent for Cryonic Suspension," and the
"Authorization of Anatomical Donation."
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN CRYONICS SOCIETY, INC.
P.O. Box 1509, Cupertino, CA 95015 Phone: 408 734-4200, FAX 734-4441
All Members may attend conferences, and be present at all Board and general
meetings.
Full Members are entitled to vote for, serve, or hold office on the Board
of Governors.They are also entitled to participate in the ACS Suspension
Program, making complete legal and financial provisions tor their eventual
cryonic suspension. Full Members may sponsor other members of their
family, including minor children, for participation. Full Members receive
all general mailings and minutes of Board of Governors Meetings.
Supporting Members receive publication(s) and other general mailings.
Associate Members are often persons having an interest in cryonics, but are
not yet ready to make complete legal and financial rovisions for cryonic
suspension. Associates receive all general mailings and also minutes of
Board of Governors Meetings.
To apply for membership, or to upgrade your membership, please fill in the
following information:
1. Place a check mark beside your choice of membership plan:
Dues Dues Dues
FULL MEMBERSHIP 1st year 2-4 years thereafter
( ) LifePlus $1000 $300* $300*
( ) Four Year Plan $378 $378 $300*
( ) Monthly $35/mo. $35/mo. $30/mo.*
Check if you qualify for the family discount:
( ) Another member of my family has paid the full dues checked
above, so my dues are half that amount
( ) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP* - $55 yr.U.S., Canada & Mexico
$96 yr. Other International.
( ) SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP* - $35 yr. U.S., Canada & Mexico
$71 yr. Other International.
2. Full Name ________________________________________ Sex ( ) M ( ) F
3. Address ____________________________________________________________
City,State,Zip _____________________________________________________
4. Phone _____________ Birthdate _______________________________
5. Occupation _____________ Soc. Sec. No. ___________________________
Employer ___________________________________________________________
Work Address ____________ Phone __________________________________
City,State,Zip ____________________________________________________
Date ___________________ Signature ________________________________
(*) current yearly dues, subject to change.
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American Cryonics Society (408)734-4200
FAX (408)734-4441
P.O. Box 1509
Cupertino, CA 95015
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