X-Message-Number: 4868
From: 
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 13:20:02 -0400
Subject: prices, comparisons

Joseph Strout asks for verification/comments on organization pricing, and
since this is in the context of a pending decision on choice of an
organization, it invites a reprise of other comparisons and comments as well.
I'll try to keep it reasonably short.

1. The Cryonics Institute (CI) general brochure is in process of revision.
Our current mini-brochure--4 pages including a color photo of the new
facility--will be mailed on request; also available are sample contracts and
related paperwork, by-laws, and financial statements, plus sample copies of
THE IMMORTALIST, publication of the Immortalist Society (same headquarters
address as CI).

2. Mr. Strout's summary of CI prices is basically correct: Membership fee is
$1,250 for one or $1,875 for a couple--minor children at no additional
membership fee. Membership buys the right to execute a contract. Membership
fee is a one-time up-front non-refundable payment (payable over a one-year
period if this seems justified in particular cases). Annual dues apply only
to those who want voting rights and the right to stand for office--currently
$100/year for one or $150/year for a couple. (Payment or nonpayment of dues
has no effect on eligibility to execute a contract or on the status of
existing contracts.)

Suspension fee minimum is $28,000 in the Detroit area, whole body, fundable
through life insurance or a variety of other means. (We do not offer neuro,
although we may store neuros per contracts with other organizations.) Local
help and transportation extra for members at a distance. Many members
voluntarily fund at a higher level, mainly just to strengthen the
organization, although in some circumstances they might receive priority
consideration (e.g. in date of revival).  Some members also make additional
bequests to CI, for the same reasons; e.g. Mae and I are prepaid in cash but
will also leave CI the bulk of our estate after we are both frozen. Thus the
average funding level is  much higher than the minimum, which helps explain
how we can do it.

3. A few points on what we regard as CI advantages:

CI is the only organization that has no landlords, no creditors (not even a
mortgage), no stockholders, and no paid officers or directors. 
We have relatively low overhead, and in a crunch could get by with volunteer
help only (although we expect growth, not crunches). 
CI is the only organization (other than newly formed ones) that has never
raised its prices.

CI is the only organization (other than newly formed ones) that has never
suffered from schisms or serious internal dissension.

CI is second largest (after Alcor) by most criteria, and first in full-body
patients. This has been achieved despite a very low-profile history (most
people have never heard of us); in the coming year(s) this will change, and
growth should respond. 

CI is probably the most attractive to older people, most of whom cannot
afford upwards of $100,000 for full body and are not comfortable with neuro.
This suggests an advantage in future growth.

CI is in the process, both domestically and overseas, of developing a network
of cooperating funeral directors to handle washout and perfusion locally. We
have found promptness of cooling, washout, and perfusion to be much more
important than the details of the procedures. Even if ongoing work results in
more complex procedures being adopted, we believe morticians can be trained
and equipped to do the work just as well as M.D.  or D.V.M. surgeons, and
MUCH more economically. Funeral Director Barry Albin in England has a charter
plane on standby and can get anywhere in Europe in relatively short order; he
has five transport containers ready and has practiced our procedures.

CI's fiberglass cryostats are designed and fabricated in-house, and we
believe they are generally superior to those commercially available--more
rugged and reliable. In particular, they do not require periodic removal of
patients to harden the vacuum by baking and injection of new getters. 

4.  Possible CI disadvantages:

Some believe the current CI perfusion/freezing protocol produces results not
as good as those e.g. of Alcor or Trans Time, based on electron micrographs.
However, that protocol  produces no cracking, as indicated by our own sheep
head experiments and confirmed by Yuri Pichugin and colleagues in the
Ukraine; thus we appear to have solved what some considered a serious
problem. As for the electron micrographs, results are still very ambiguous
for many technical reasons. But research cooperation among organizations has
been improving, and within the next year or two there seems a reasonable
chance of consensus on the effects of various aspects of various procedures.
CI will always be guided by facts, and will adopt any and all procedures that
clearly improve the bottom line, the patient's chance of revival. If the most
effective procedures turn out to be more complex and expensive, then we
expect to offer options instead of a single standard procedure. In every
case, as far as one can judge presently, CI is likely to offer comparable
procedures at lower prices.

CI does not currently have live personnel on the premises at all times, as
Alcor does. But we have very good electronic security and a very low crime
location. (Coincidentally, one of Mae's grandsons is a local police officer.)
Eventually we expect to have live personnel 24 hours.

As Alcor's Steve Bridge often says, choice of an organization is a complex
question with no simple answers, since we must attempt to evaluate the future
as well as the present. We are on good terms with everyone, and we certainly
agree that any choice is better than none. Also, a change of organizations
down the line is no huge deal, if it comes to that. 

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
24355 Sorrentino Court
Clinton Township MI 48035
Phone (810) 791-5961
Phone/Fax (810) 792-7062


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