Financial assistance

After receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may begin to worry not only about the course of your disease but also about how you and your family will manage to pay for your care. Fortunately, financial assistance may be available by making a legal claim.

A lawsuit and a mesothelioma settlement
A lawsuit can result in a mesothelioma settlement and provide needed financial assistance. Contact HendlerLaw for help evaluating your legal options. Some include making claims on trusts set up for the sole purpose of compensating asbestos disease victims. But navigating these trust procedures can often be complicated. Because the values vary, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer may be able to maximize what the trust will pay. A mesothelioma lawyer who knows what he or she is doing can help expedite the payment process, cutting it from several months to several weeks.

In addition to making a legal claim, you may get help from other sources of financial assistance. Listed below are various resources for financial assistance, including Government agencies, organizations, and programs that are designed to help cancer patients and their families. Be sure to check with a specific group to determine if financial assistance is currently available. Several organizations provide publications in Spanish or have Spanish-speaking staff.

The Hill-Burton program gives hospitals funds for construction and modernization via the Federal Government. Hospitals in this program must provide free health care to a certain number of patients who can’t afford to pay. For more information about hospitals in your area that may participate, call 800.638.0742 (in Maryland call 800.492.0359) or visit http://www.hrsa.gov/hillburton/default.htm.

The Veterans Administration (VA) may help eligible veterans with mesothelioma lung cancer treatment if the asbestos exposure occurred as a result of work done in the course of duties. Family members of eligible veterans may be able to claim limited medical benefits. The VA has a cancer information website that includes a directory of comprehensive cancer centers designated to serve veterans—http://www1.va.gov/cancer/index.cfm. For veterans and families who speak Spanish, you may find certain publications in Spanish and/or find staff members in some offices who can speak Spanish. Call 877.222.8387. TTY 800.8329.4833. Main website is http://www1.va.gov/health/.

CancerCare provides free support, information, financial assistance, and practical help to people with cancer and their loved ones. Some information and personal assistance is available in Spanish. Information about financial assistance for all cancers is available at http://www.cancercare.org/get_help/assistance/cc_financial.php. Call 800.813.4673 or visit http://www.cancercare.org.

NeedyMeds, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization, helps people sources of assistance for medications and health care fees. Visit http://www.needymeds.com/.

The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides education, legal counseling, and referrals to cancer patients and caregivers on financial and other issues. The PAF also provides financial assistance information in Spanish. Call 800.532.5274 or visit http://www.patientadvocate.org.

The Co-Pay Relief Program offers some help for medicine costs to qualified insured individuals. Contact them at http://www.copays.org or call 866.512.3861.

Pharmaceutical companies sometimes offer Patient Assistance Programs. Talk with your doctor or a medical social worker or visit the drug manufacturer's website to see if a drug you are prescribed might be covered.

Asbestos Attorney and a Cancer Lawsuit
You may be concerned about affording high quality medical care. Fortunately, there are ways of filing claims for financial assistance for mesothelioma cancer treatment. An asbestos attorney with cancer lawsuit experience may be able to help. Here are some options you might consider:

• Filing asbestos lawsuits. You may be able to receive compensation from manufacturers or employers who deliberately concealed information about the dangers of asbestos from you—whether you were an employee or a consumer. Settlements can help with out-of-pocket expenses, cover medical costs, and give your family financial security.
• Filing a claim against your health insurance company. If you have insurance and feel the company is not providing adequate coverage, find out which staff member at the hospital is supposed to answer questions about hospital costs and medical coverage. Your nurse should be able to direct you to the right person. You may be able to file a lawsuit against your insurance company.
• Disability claims. Private disability insurance may respond to a claim through your company or your life insurance policy.
• Social Security. You might be able to claim disability and receive financial assistance through Social Security.
• Worker's Compensation Claims. If you were exposed to asbestos on the job, you can file an additional claim for compensation against your employer through worker's compensation.
• Medicare and Medicaid. If you are over 65 or are disabled, Medicare might provide some coverage. Contact your local Social Security office or call the Medicare Hotline, 800-MEDICARE (800.633.4227). Check out the federal government’s Health Care Financing Administration at http://hfca.gov/medicaid/medicaid.htm.