The Price Tag of Immortality: Cryogenic Freezing Costs
Here at Cryonics America, one of the most common and important questions we are asked is: "How much does cryopreservation cost?"
The decision to pursue cryonics is a profound one, based on the hope for a future where today's incurable diseases are treatable and human life can be extended indefinitely. While the scientific and philosophical implications are vast, the financial aspect is a practical reality that requires careful planning.
This comprehensive guide will break down the costs associated with cryogenic freezing, explaining what you’re paying for and how Cryonics America works to make this groundbreaking technology as accessible as possible.
Cryopreservation: An Investment in Future Life
It's crucial to understand that cryogenic preservation is not a purchase in the traditional sense. You are not buying a product; you are funding a long-term, sophisticated biostasis trust. This trust covers the entire process: the emergency standby team, the intricate preservation procedure, and the secure, long-term care of your biological remains in our state-of-the-art storage facility.
The total cost can be broken down into two main categories: the initial preservation procedure and the long-term storage fees.
Breaking Down the Costs: Whole-Body vs. Neuropreservation
The total price depends significantly on which preservation option you choose.
1. Whole-Body Cryopreservation
This is the most comprehensive option, involving the preservation of your entire body.
Estimated Total Cost: $200,000+
What it includes: This fee covers the entire process from legal documentation and membership to the deployment of a medical response team, the vitrification process, and perpetual storage in a cryostat. The goal is to preserve the entire biological structure for potential future revival.
2. Neuropreservation (Brain-Only Preservation)
This option involves preserving only the brain, which contains the unique neural structures that encode your memories, personality, and consciousness.
Estimated Total Cost: $80,000+
Why choose this? Many in the cryonics community believe that future nanotechnology and medicine will be able to regenerate a healthy, youthful body based on your genetic code and brain information. Neuropreservation is a significantly more affordable entry point into cryonics while still preserving the essential "you."
How Do You Pay for Cryonics? Financing Your Future
Very few people have $200,000 in liquid assets set aside for this purpose. At Cryonics America, we strongly recommend and facilitate the use of life insurance as the most efficient and affordable funding method.
The Life Insurance Solution
How it works: You take out a life insurance policy and name the Cryonics America Patient Trust as the beneficiary. The trust is a separate legal entity designed solely to hold and manage funds for your cryopreservation.
Cost: For a healthy individual, a $200,000 life insurance policy can cost as little as $30 to $100 per month, depending on your age and health. This makes cryonics astonishingly affordable for most people—often less than a monthly car payment or cable bill.
The Benefit: This method locks in your price today. Once the policy is in place and fully funded, your future preservation is secured, regardless of how much cryonics costs might rise in the decades to come.
Other Funding Options:
Trust Funds: Setting up a dedicated trust.
Liquid Assets: Using funds from a bank account or investment portfolio.
Pre-Payment: Some choose to pre-pay a portion of the costs directly.
What Are You Actually Paying For?
Your funding covers a complex, multi-stage scientific process:
Membership & Administration: Legal work, 24/7 emergency contact systems, and coordination.
Standby & Stabilization: The cost of having a trained team ready to deploy immediately upon legal death. They begin cardiopulmonary support (CPS) and cooling to stabilize the body and protect the brain from oxygen loss.
Cryoprotection & Vitrification: The most technically complex phase. Your blood is replaced with a medical-grade antifreeze solution (cryoprotectant) to prevent ice crystal formation, vitrifying the tissues into a glass-like state.
Long-Term Storage (Cryostasis): The perpetual storage of your vitrified remains in a cryostat (a highly advanced Dewar flask) filled with liquid nitrogen at temperatures of -196°C (-321°F). This includes continuous monitoring, security, and maintenance, ensuring stability for centuries if necessary.
Is Cryonics Worth the Cost?
This is a deeply personal question. For our members, the answer is a resounding yes. They view the cost not as an expense, but as the ultimate investment—a gamble on the possibility of renewed life and a chance to see the future.
When compared to the cost of a traditional funeral and burial, which can easily exceed $10,000-$15,000 with no chance of a future return, cryonics offers a potentially infinite upside for a manageable monthly investment.
Secure Your Future with Cryonics America
The price of immortality is not out of reach. With thoughtful planning, primarily through a life insurance policy, securing your chance at a second life is more affordable than most people imagine.
Ready to take the next step and get a personalized quote?
Contact Cryonics America Today for a Free Consultation
Our experts are here to answer all your questions about the process, the costs, and how to easily integrate cryopreservation into your life and financial planning.
Don't let cost be the barrier between you and the future. Plan today.
FAQ Section (Targeting Voice Search & Featured Snippets)
Q: How much does it cost to be frozen when you die?
A: The total cost for cryogenic freezing starts at around $80,000 for neuropreservation (brain-only) and $200,000 for whole-body preservation. Most people fund this with a life insurance policy.
Q: Can you cryogenically freeze yourself?
A: While the decision is made during your life, the actual cryopreservation procedure must be performed by a professional team like Cryonics America immediately after legal death to ensure the best possible preservation.
Q: Is cryonic freezing covered by insurance?
A: Cryonics itself is not covered by health or life insurance. However, you can purchase a life insurance policy specifically to cover the cost, which is the most common and affordable method.
Q: How much is cryogenic freezing per year?
A: There is no annual "fee" for members. The one-time funding amount covers the entire procedure and perpetual, long-term storage in our secure facility.