Cryonics is no longer just science fiction. Hundreds of people have already chosen to be preserved in liquid nitrogen after legal death, hoping that future medicine will revive them. Many of these arrangements are funded by life insurance policies. But what happens when someone undergoes cryonic preservation? Are they legally “dead” for purposes of life insurance, or could insurers deny claims by arguing that the policyholder is not truly gone? If you need legal guidance for denied life insurance claims in Arizona call us.
What Is Cryonics?
Cryonics involves cooling the body or brain to extremely low temperatures immediately after death, with the goal of halting biological decay. The idea is that, decades or centuries from now, advanced science may reverse damage and restore the individual to life.
The most prominent cryonics provider is the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Arizona. Alcor currently preserves more than 200 people and has thousands of members planning for preservation. Many members fund the process through life insurance policies, which designate Alcor as the beneficiary to pay for preservation services.
How Cryonics Could Complicate Life Insurance Claims
Life insurance companies thrive on technicalities. Cryonics presents challenges they could exploit:
Is the person legally dead?
Cryonics begins only after a patient is declared legally dead, but families may face arguments that cryopreserved individuals are not “irreversibly” dead, which is the legal standard in many jurisdictions.
Experimental procedure exclusions:
Many life insurance policies exclude deaths linked to experimental procedures. Insurers may claim that cryonics falls into this category and deny coverage.
Beneficiary disputes:
When Alcor or another provider is listed as the beneficiary, families may contest the designation, arguing that it was coerced or not in their best interest.
Suicide or elective procedure issues:
Some insurers may argue that choosing cryonics resembles an elective risk, especially if the policyholder arranged preservation outside traditional medical care.
The Contestability Window and Disclosure Risks
During the first two years of coverage, insurers can investigate applications for misrepresentation. Cryonics could trigger challenges if the insurer claims the applicant failed to disclose:
Prior membership in a cryonics organization
Agreements to direct policy proceeds toward preservation
Medical arrangements that insurers may classify as experimental
Even if these details seem irrelevant to the insured’s death, insurers could use them as grounds to rescind the policy.
Real-World Examples of Cryonics and Insurance
Alcor publicly acknowledges that life insurance policies are a common way members fund preservation. This arrangement has already led to disputes when families contested payouts or questioned whether the insured had truly died.
In one reported case, a family objected after a cryonics provider collected life insurance benefits, claiming the policyholder had been misled. Courts upheld the contract, but the case highlighted how unusual beneficiaries and experimental arrangements invite conflict.
The law is also unsettled about the exact definition of death. Courts have split on whether brain death or cardiac death should control. Cryonics raises an even deeper question: if the body is preserved for revival, has death truly occurred in the sense that insurance law requires?
Controversy Over Cryonics Practices
Cryonics is not without scandal. In one highly publicized lawsuit, a former Alcor employee claimed that workers mistreated a patient’s frozen head, even going so far as to kick it around. Although Alcor denied the allegations, the case highlighted the lack of oversight in an industry that operates on the edge of science and law.
If cryonics ever becomes mainstream, regulation will be essential to ensure dignity and safety. Personally, if I ever chose cryonics, I would want my entire body preserved and stored somewhere secure rather than risk becoming a headline.
Can Attorneys Help in Cryonics-Related Claim Disputes?
Yes. Families and beneficiaries may need to challenge insurers who exploit the gray areas of cryonics. A skilled life insurance attorney can:
Argue that legal death certification, not speculative revival, is the controlling standard
Challenge exclusions applied too broadly to experimental procedures
Defend unusual beneficiary designations against insurer or family disputes
Enforce bad faith laws if insurers delay payment without justification
These cases often require both legal expertise and an understanding of emerging science. Without aggressive representation, insurers may try to avoid responsibility indefinitely.
FAQ: Cryonics and Life Insurance
Can life insurance pay for cryonics?
Yes. Many members designate cryonics providers as beneficiaries, but this can lead to disputes.
Are cryopreserved people considered dead?
Legally, yes. Cryonics begins only after a legal death declaration, though insurers may argue otherwise.
Can insurers deny claims for cryonics deaths?
They may try, citing experimental procedure exclusions or questions about legal death.
What if families dispute a cryonics beneficiary?
Courts may need to decide, but insurers often use such disputes as grounds for delay.
Cryonics may promise future revival, but insurers will be quick to argue you are not truly dead. Personally, if I ever chose cryonics, I would want my entire body preserved and stored securely, not risk becoming a denied claim left on ice.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
All content on this page and site written by Christian Lassen, Esq.