Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer with an average life expectancy of 12-21 months. However, there are mesothelioma survivors who have lived for several more years — and even decades — with specialized treatment.
Unfortunately, the high cost of mesothelioma treatment coupled with unplanned out-of-pocket expenses can keep patients from getting critical life-extending care.
Even families who have health insurance may experience financial hardship after a cancer diagnosis. By pursuing a mesothelioma claim against the manufacturers responsible for your asbestos exposure, you can reduce the financial burdens of treatment and medical bills.
Additionally, compensation from mesothelioma claims can help pay for the things health insurance does not cover, such as travel, loss of income, and living expenses.
“I did not think a lawsuit is what I wanted to pursue until I saw the extent of treatment — and travel — that I would need.”
— Julie Gundlach, 17+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, see if you’re eligible to pursue compensation by getting a free legal consultation.
Why File a Mesothelioma Claim?
The legal process may seem overwhelming when you’re already managing a chronic illness. However, the unforeseen costs of a mesothelioma diagnosis can cause many patients and their families extreme financial hardship. Money recovered from a mesothelioma claim can help alleviate stress for you and your loved ones.
Learn more about 5 unexpected expenses associated with mesothelioma treatment.
1. Travel and Transportation
One of the most commonly overlooked expenses related to mesothelioma treatment is the cost of travel and transportation.
Because mesothelioma is so rare, patients need to find a mesothelioma doctor who has expertise treating their specific type and stage of cancer. Depending on where they live, patients may need to travel out of state to get treatment.
For example, peritoneal mesothelioma patient Mary Jane Williams made more than 40 trips between her home in Ohio and New York for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Since health insurance generally does not cover travel expenses or lodging, patients can use compensation from a mesothelioma claim to help pay for these trips.
“Your insurance doesn’t pay for everything. You need the compensation. You need it for your treatments. You need it for your transportation.”
— Mary Jane Williams, 15-year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
Request a free consultation with our partner law firm to see if you can file a claim.
2. Loss of Income
While some mesothelioma patients are healthy enough to continue working after their diagnosis, others may need to preserve their energy while fighting cancer.
Before being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2007, survivor Alexis Kidd was successfully juggling two careers. However, after undergoing surgery to remove her abdominal tumors, she prioritized recovery and spending time with her husband before going back to work.
Mesothelioma patients can experience a significant loss of income if they need to take time off from work for medical treatment. A successful legal claim can help compensate for these lost wages and reduce any stress put on your family.
3. Experimental Procedures and Medications
While insurance may cover a portion of the costs associated with treatment, it may not necessarily cover the total amount. Some insurance plans have denied coverage for newer mesothelioma procedures and medications they consider experimental.
Mesothelioma patient Julie Gundlach’s insurance carrier refused to pay for certain treatments for this very reason. She was told they did not meet her policy’s official guidelines.
Julie credits the money she received from legal claims with helping her become a long-term cancer survivor. “If it were not for the legalities, I would never have been able to get the medical treatment I received,” she notes.
Learn more about patients who used the compensation they received from legal claims to get life-changing treatment in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide.
4. Living Expenses
With patients spending more on out-of-pocket medical bills, they may have trouble paying for basic living expenses such as housing and utilities.
Some mesothelioma patients may even dip into retirement funds or other savings accounts to cover these costs. However, these funds start to dwindle if the patient has already had to withdraw money to pay for their cancer treatment.
A 2022 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 60% of people with cancer reported using most of their savings to cover expenses.
In addition, your doctor may recommend special dietary changes to help you prepare for or recover from mesothelioma treatment. This can increase your monthly grocery bills. Mesothelioma compensation can help ease the burden of these unanticipated costs.
5. Caregiving Costs
Other unforeseen expenses may arise after a mesothelioma diagnosis, such as home health care visits to help patients with bathing, dressing, or other daily activities.
Caregiving costs such as transportation to medical appointments, in-home care, and meal preparation can also add up quickly, putting a significant strain on the patient and their loved ones.
Further, caregivers may be overwhelmed by unpaid medical bills and funeral expenses if their loved one passes away from mesothelioma. Mesothelioma compensation for family members is available to provide peace of mind in a time of uncertainty.
Types of Mesothelioma Claims
Mesothelioma is linked with exposure to asbestos, a cancer-causing mineral that was used heavily in a wide range of industries. Product manufacturers hid the dangers of asbestos from the public for decades, putting millions of workers and their families at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Filing a mesothelioma claim allows you to hold these companies accountable while pursuing compensation for your illness.
There are two main types of mesothelioma claims:
- Asbestos trust fund claims: Bankrupt asbestos product manufacturers were forced to set aside funds for the people they harmed. There is an estimated total of $30 billion available in these trust funds today.
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: While more time-consuming than asbestos trust fund claims, lawsuits may secure more compensation for victims and their families. Mesothelioma settlements award between $1 million and $1.4 million on average.
Mesothelioma patients interested in pursuing a mesothelioma claim should work with an experienced asbestos lawyer. These types of lawyers can file claims on your behalf and fight to get you the most money possible.
Our team can help you access compensation from asbestos trust funds — find out if you qualify.
Get Help Filing a Mesothelioma Claim
At Mesothelioma Hope, we have seen the financial stress a mesothelioma diagnosis can have on not only patients but also their families and loved ones.
We can connect you with top mesothelioma lawyers who can fight for compensation to help you pay for treatment and the out-of-pocket expenses that accompany this cancer.
Many patients start receiving compensation within 90 days of filing a mesothelioma claim. While payout timelines vary, your lawyer can keep you updated on when you can expect compensation in your case.
Call us at (866) 608-8933 to see if you qualify and start the claims process today.
