Gift Cryopreservation

Frequently Asked Questions

What you need to know

We're here to give you all the information that you need to make an informed decision.

Can I gift a cryopreservation to someone if I'm not signed up myself?

Yes, you can gift someone a cryopreservation without being a member yourself. We understand that you may still be deciding when the right time to sign up yourself up is, but you want a loved one to have their cryopreservation plan secured now.

Why would I gift a cryopreservation instead of just telling them to sign themselves up?

You could always encourage your loved one to sign up for cryopreservation, but if they haven't done it already, there's probably a reason. They might just be procrastinating, which is unfortunately very common. Or maybe they're vaguely interested in cryopreservation but aren't quite motivated enough to sign up on their own. Gifting a cryopreservation can push them towards finally securing their cryopreservation plan. Or perhaps your loved one is unsure about whether they want to be cryopreserved. Our cryopreservation gifting sign up flow is designed to get your loved on in contact with our experts who are experienced in explaining the topic. This way your loved one can get all the relevant information on this topic and decide whether they want to sign up with full informed consent.

How do I discuss cryopreservation with a loved one?

Human cryopreservation is a complicated topic, so we wouldn't blame you for being unsure about how to properly explain it to a loved one. Luckily, our team has a lot of experience discussing human cryopreservation and we're always happy to have a call with you or your loved one. Schedule a call with one of our experts here. For some basic advice on explaining the topic, we've also written this article.

Can I sign up a loved one without them knowing?

You can complete the initial online sign up for your loved one on your own, however your loved one needs to be informed and consenting before the cryopreservation plan is finalized. Your loved one needs to sign their own Biostasis contract in order to make their cryopreservation legally possible. This can be done after you and your loved one have had a call with our team where the topic is thoroughly explained and all questions have been answered.

Who pays for the plan if I gift a cryopreservation plan?

The initial €25 monthly membership fee is paid by you when you sign up your loved one. Once a standby and storage funding method is chosen and the plan is finalized, it's up to you and your loved one to decide who pays for what. The payment method associated to the cryopreservation plan can easily be changed at any time through our member portal.

What is cryopreservation in a nutshell?

Cryopreservation is an advanced medical procedure that uses extremely low temperatures to stop all biological processes in the body. Cryopreservation is not freezing, as the formation of ice crystals would be very damaging to the body. This procedure involves the use of specialized cryoprotectant solutions (think medical grade anti-freeze) to prevent freezing when the patient reaches sub-zero temperatures. Patients are cryopreserved in the expectation that future medical technology may be able to revive them and treat their underlying cause of death.

What is the current state of cryopreservation science?

While medical research is constantly progressing, it's currently not yet possible to revive a human after they have been cryopreserved, but there is no fundamental biological reason why revival would not eventually be possible. Read about the risks and challenges associated with a successful cryopreservation here.

Here is some what's currently possible with cryopreservation:
For decades scientists have been successfully cryopreserving and rewarming parts of the body such as embryos, sperm, and skin. Read more about this use of cryopreservation.
Scientists have also been able to cryopreserve a rabbit’s kidney which became fully functional again after it was rewarmed. Read more about this experiment.
Research in 2016 showed that a rabbit’s brain remained in near perfect condition after it was cryopreserved and rewarmed. The synapses, cell membranes and intracellular structures remained intact, showing that cryopreservation can protect everything associated with memory and learning. Read more about this scientific breakthrough.
Scientists have also been able to cryopreserve and revive whole model organisms while keeping their memories intact. Read more about this research.

What's included in a cryopreservation plan with Tomorrow?

All of the plans with Tomorrow are all-inclusive. This means they include funds for every aspect of the cryopreservation service such as transport of the medical standby team to the member, keeping the standby team at the member's location for days or weeks before their pronouncement, the complete cryopreservation procedure, transporting the patient to the long-term storage facility, and indefinite long-term storage. Additionally, all members receive invites to members only events and a welcome box including a member bracelet, card, and more.

How much does a Biostasis plan cost at Tomorrow Bio?

There are two parts of a Biostasis plan, the membership fee and the standby and storage cost. Our membership fee is 25€ a month. This pays for medical equipment, training and maintaining medical standby teams on call 24/7, etc. The monthly fee for standby and storage funding depends on which funding method you choose. Most members choose to cover the standby and storage costs with term life insurance that has a total coverage of 60.000€ (brain cryopreservation) or 200.000€ (whole body cryopreservation). The monthly cost of term life insurance starts at 6€ per month (brain cryopreservation) or 20€ per month (whole body cryopreservation), but can be higher depending on your age and medical history. To get a price estimate fill out our brain calculator or our whole body calculator. The membership fee and standby and storage costs are paid for while members are still alive, nothing is paid after the patient has been cryopreserved. It is mandatory to pay the membership fee if you want to sign up with Tomorrow Bio, however you do not have to use our term life insurance option for funding. You can use an alternate funding method (e.g. own insurance, savings plan, will etc.). Please reach out to us if you would like to discuss alternate funding options.

How and for how long is cryopreservation maintained?

Cryopreservation is maintained with liquid nitrogen (which is naturally at -196 degrees celsius in liquid form). No electricity is used, which secures patients against power outages and makes long-term maintenance economically feasible. The largest portion of funds are given to a patient care trust called the Tomorrow Patient Foundation (TPF). The TPF puts the cryopreservation funds into very low risk investments that have an annual return of 1-2% above inflation. The 1-2% return covers the running costs of maintenance (such as liquid nitrogen). This ensures that there are always enough resources to keep patients cryopreserved indefinitely, for however long is necessary for revival to be possible.

When will cryopreserved patients be revived?

Given that the revival of cryopreserved patients requires significant medical advancement, it's not possible to say if and when revival will be possible. However, there is no fundamental biological reason why revival is not possible. And the good news is that there is no time limit to how long a patient can be cryopreserved without degradation.

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