Human cryopreservation, or cryonics, involves cooling a legally deceased person to liquid nitrogen temperatures with the hope of future revival when medical technology advances. This process requires substantial financial planning to ensure the procedure is performed correctly and the patient is maintained indefinitely. The total expense is not a single, fixed price but a combination of upfront operational fees and a large endowment for perpetual care.
Initial Costs and Service Tiers
The primary cost of cryonics is determined by the service tier chosen and the organization providing the service. The two main options are neuropreservation (preserving only the head and brain) and whole-body preservation. Neuropreservation typically begins around $80,000. Whole-body preservation is significantly more expensive, ranging from approximately $200,000 to $220,000 at the most comprehensive providers.
A notable difference exists between organizations regarding what the base price includes. Some providers quote a lower preservation-only fee for whole-body suspension, sometimes as low as $28,000. This lower figure often excludes the expenses associated with the Standby, Stabilization, and Transport (SST) services. Members choosing these options must contract for SST separately, which can add $60,000 to $95,000 to the total financial requirement.
Components of the Total Fee
The high overall cost of cryopreservation is justified by the complex operational and long-term financial requirements. A large portion of the initial fee, often tens of thousands of dollars, is allocated to the rapid deployment of a Standby, Stabilization, and Transport team. This 24/7 emergency response team is trained to perform immediate stabilization procedures and manage the logistics of transporting the patient. The team must be ready to travel domestically or internationally on short notice, which accounts for a significant operational expense.
Once the patient reaches the facility, another portion of the fee covers the initial clinical procedure, known as cryoprotective perfusion. This involves circulating a specialized chemical solution through the body to replace water, preventing the formation of damaging ice crystals—a process called vitrification. The chemicals themselves contribute to the procedure’s high price.
The largest single component of the total fee is the patient care trust, or endowment, set aside for long-term maintenance. This fund is designed to generate investment returns that will cover the patient’s perpetual storage costs. For whole-body patients, this endowment can exceed $100,000 and is conservatively managed to ensure its principal is not depleted. The returns pay for the continuous supply of liquid nitrogen and the overhead of the storage facility.
Funding Mechanisms for Cryopreservation
The majority of individuals fund their cryopreservation contract by utilizing life insurance policies rather than an upfront payment. This allows members to meet the substantial funding requirements by paying relatively small monthly or annual premiums. The policy is structured with a death benefit equal to or greater than the full cost of the cryopreservation procedure.
The cryonics organization is named as the irrevocable primary beneficiary of this policy, ensuring the funds are immediately available upon the member’s legal death. This mechanism is effective because the funds are released precisely when they are needed for the time-sensitive preservation procedure. Both term life insurance and whole life insurance are commonly used for this purpose.
A further layer of financial security and control can be achieved by establishing a dedicated trust, such as an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust. Instead of naming the cryonics provider directly, the trust is designated as the policy beneficiary, and the trust document dictates that the proceeds must be used to pay the cryopreservation costs. This structure offers greater flexibility, allowing for the payment of ancillary expenses like travel costs or even setting aside funds for future revival expenses. Some individuals also choose to self-fund by prepaying the full amount or placing the money into an escrow account, which ensures the funds are secure and immediately accessible to the provider without reliance on an insurance payout.