Mesothelioma Financial Assistance

A mesothelioma diagnosis can place an enormous financial strain on both victims and their families.

Fortunately, there are several forms of financial support available to help ease this burden, including:

• Government assistance such as VA benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Medicare/Medicaid
• Charities and foundations that provide aid to patients and families
• Legal compensation through personal injury lawsuits, wrongful death claims, asbestos trust funds, and workers’ compensation

These resources can help cover medical treatments, living expenses, and other costs associated with the disease. They can also provide compensation for pain and suffering, helping families secure financial stability during a difficult time.

In fact, comprehensive legal compensation packages for mesothelioma victims often exceed $1 million. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can guide you through the available options, explain which forms of assistance you may qualify for, and create a strategy to maximize your recovery.

Reach out now to see if you may qualify for compensation.

How to Get Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma 

The cost of mesothelioma treatment is high, and many families affected by this diagnosis find themselves in need of financial support. Help is available, but pursuing multiple forms of compensation, each with its own eligibility requirements, can be challenging.

While eligibility requirements differ, the two most important things a mesothelioma patient needs when beginning the process of applying for financial assistance are:

• A provable diagnosis of mesothelioma
• A clear understanding of the different funding options

Once you receive a diagnosis, things can move very quickly, and some avenues to financial compensation are subject to firm time limits called statutes of limitations. If you don’t know or understand your options, it’s easy to let valuable opportunities for compensation pass without even knowing they existed.

Working with an experienced mesothelioma attorney who understands all the available compensation options and has experience navigating the application process helps eligible victims meet these deadlines and maximize potential compensation, while allowing them to focus on treatment rather than paperwork.

Type of Assistance	What it is
Mesothelioma Lawsuit	Living mesothelioma victims may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, while the family members of deceased mesothelioma victims may qualify to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
Asbestos Trust Funds	Established by bankrupt asbestos companies to compensate all current and future victims of the company’s negligent asbestos use.
Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Veterans exposed to asbestos during their military service may qualify for special compensation, including monthly payments, free or low-cost medical care, aid and attendance, and burial benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance	Qualifying applicants receive monthly payments that help cover everyday expenses.
Medicare/Medicaid	Available for individuals aged 65+, those under 65 who have been on SSDI for at least 24 months, and low-income individuals. These programs may provide coverage for medical care, hospital stays, doctor visits, and some treatments.
Workers’ Compensation	A type of insurance that offers payments and medical benefits to employees who develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure at work. Filing a workers’ comp claim can cover portions of lost wages, medical bills, and sometimes rehabilitation.
Private Grants & Charities	Forms of support include help with travel, housing, copays, or other financial burdens associated with treatment. The scope of help depends on the charity’s resources and the applicant’s needs.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

One of the most common and lucrative forms of mesothelioma financial assistance is seeking legal compensation through the court system.

There are two primary types of mesothelioma lawsuits:

• Personal Injury Lawsuit: Allows a living victim to pursue compensation for their injuries. Compensation can be compensatory (meant to compensate for tangible losses or expenses like lost wages or medical bills) or punitive (meant to punish the offender). 
• Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Allows the bereaved family members of an asbestos victim to pursue compensation for their financial losses and pain and suffering.

Holding at-fault asbestos companies responsible for their negligence provides victims with much-needed funds, allows victims to seek justice, and acts as a deterrent against future negligence.

In a mesothelioma lawsuit, the victim of asbestos exposure brings a suit against one or more negligent asbestos companies responsible for their injuries.

These lawsuits can end in one of two ways:

• Settlement: The two parties reach an out-of-court agreement for a certain amount of monetary and non-monetary compensation. The average mesothelioma settlement is $1 to $1.4 million. It may also include provisions for ongoing medical care or other conditions agreed upon during negotiation.
• Trial Verdict: If a settlement is not reached, the lawsuit proceeds to trial. Mesothelioma trial verdicts are usually larger (about $5 million to $11.4 million), but trials can be riskier and more stressful than settlements. Going to trial also takes longer, especially if the verdict is appealed.

In either case, the assistance of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer is crucial. If you meet eligibility requirements, your lawyer can help you choose which option may be best for your circumstances and assist you with all aspects of the legal process, reducing stress while maximizing potential benefits.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Some asbestos companies declare bankruptcy when their asbestos-related liabilities become too much to manage. Under the supervision of the courts, these companies form trust funds meant to compensate victims whom they harmed through direct or indirect exposure to asbestos. 

Over 60 asbestos trust funds are currently active in the United States, with over $30 billion set aside to compensate victims of asbestos exposure. These trusts have already paid out over $20 billion to claimants.

The median value for mesothelioma claims against a single trust is $180,000. However, most trusts have a payment percentage that awards victims only a portion of their claim value.

The claims process is complex, and the burden of proof is on the claimant. Working with a law firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases can help eligible claimants gather the documentation they need for a successful resolution.  

Veterans Benefits

Over one-third of all people diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide variety of supportive services to mesothelioma veterans and their family members, including financial compensation and free or low-cost medical care. 

To qualify for VA mesothelioma benefits, you must:

• Have a proven mesothelioma diagnosis 
• Prove that contact with asbestos occurred during your military service
• Have received an honorable discharge

Mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating with the VA, entitling veterans with this type of cancer to the highest level of compensation.

Married veterans with mesothelioma can receive $4,044.91 a month through the VA as of 2025.  The amount of compensation a veteran is eligible for can change based on factors like the number of dependents the veteran has and the degree of disability they’re facing.

The VA also offers mesothelioma veterans and their families other benefits, like:

• VA Pension
• VA Geriatric and Extended Care Services
• VA Caregiver Benefits
• VA Fiduciary Program
• VA Burial and Military Headstone
• Funeral Reimbursement
• Survivors Pension
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Applying for VA benefits can be complex, but the VA allows eligible veterans to work with a legal advisor who can help them navigate the application process. 

Housing Grants & Travel

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused only by exposure to asbestos. To get the best possible treatment, it may be necessary to travel out of state for expert care at a specialized mesothelioma treatment center.

The additional expenses incurred by travel and housing at the treatment location can create a financial burden on the victim and their family, who may already be struggling to cover the cost of the treatment itself. 

Many treatment centers offer housing and travel grants to help families cope with these additional costs. Mesothelioma and cancer charities, such as The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, and CancerCare, may also provide these types of support.

Your doctor or legal representative can help you connect with these services.

Disability Insurance 

You may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if you:

• Are under 65
• Have paid the required amount into Social Security
• Are unable to work due to your mesothelioma diagnosis

SSDI can provide mesothelioma patients with a monthly payment, determined by their work history before their disability began. Patients may also qualify for early access to Medicare.

SSDI has stringent requirements for getting and keeping your benefits. Working with an expert can help you understand what you need to do to qualify for this form of support and then maintain your qualifications.

Mesothelioma Foundations & Charities

When dealing with high mesothelioma treatment costs, patients may find themselves struggling with difficult financial choices, even if they’re receiving benefits and have insurance.

Mesothelioma foundations and charities can help patients and their families in many ways:

• Connecting patients to mesothelioma specialists
• Paying for treatment
• Providing housing and travel allowances
• Providing access to clinical trials 
• Mental health care
• Health education

While there are charities and foundations specifically for mesothelioma patients, cancer charities with a broader purview can also help.

Some useful organizations include:

• American Cancer Society
• Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
• Cancer Hope Network
• CancerCare
• International Mesothelioma Program
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
• National Cancer Institute

Your doctor may be able to point you in the direction of additional resources. Mesothelioma patients and their families should never hesitate to ask for help or advice.

Costs of Mesothelioma Care 

Mesothelioma treatment is typically intensive, and the costs can be substantial. Expenses vary widely depending on the stage of the illness, the type of treatment prescribed, and the patient’s insurance coverage.

Regardless of the exact dollar amount, studies done by the American Cancer Society show that for most patients and their families, the costs associated with cancer care are unaffordable without help. 

Surgery

The average cost for surgery for mesothelioma patients is about $54,000. However, this can vary based on specific treatment plans and other factors. The values listed in the table below are average values and should not be viewed as exact costs.

Surgery	Average Cost
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)	$62,408
Pleurectomy and decortication (P/D)	$53,993
Cytoreduction surgery	$50,000+
Thoracoscopic decortication	$46,873
Thoracentesis	$19,899
Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy	$16,575

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the most common forms of treatment for mesothelioma patients. Often, some combination of pemetrexed, cisplatin, and bevacizumab is used for six treatment cycles. 

Costs vary significantly depending on which of the three drugs a patient is prescribed.

Medication	Cost for Six Cycles
Pemetrexed	$38,473 ($6,406.20 per cycle)
Cisplatin	$306 ($51 per cycle)
Bevacizumab	$48,962 ($8,160.35 per cycle)

Multimodal Treatments

Multimodal treatments can help prolong patients’ life expectancies by combining multiple treatment approaches, such as surgery and chemotherapy. Because this is a combination of various types of treatment, the costs can vary greatly.

Emerging Treatments

New and experimental treatments may be an option for mesothelioma patients, but the costs associated with clinical trials are more difficult to estimate. In some cases, they may be more affordable for patients because the sponsor of the study may fund part of the treatment. Others may be covered by insurance.

However, even when enrolled in a clinical trial, patients can still face costs, including:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Standard concurrent cancer treatments
• Treatments for symptoms of cancer or side effects management
• Lab tests
• X-rays/other imaging tests
• Travel costs

Immunotherapy

The cost of immunotherapy depends on the specific drug and dosage prescribed. While insurance may offset some of these expenses, annual costs can reach around $150,000 for certain patients. Actual expenses vary based on the treatment plan and individual circumstances.

Medication	Cost
Opdivo	$12,500 per month ($150,000 for a year)
Keytruda	$11,795.44 every 3 weeks; or $23,590.88 every 6 weeks
Yervoy	$130,000 (12-week course)

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy costs will vary depending on the duration of each session and the location of the tumor. Some data suggest that the initial phase of radiation for lung cancer patients costs about $9,000. This price is dependent on several factors for each patient and their insurance.

Hidden Costs of Treatment

In addition to the costs mentioned above, there are some less obvious costs related to mesothelioma and treatment.

These can include:

• Special diets and high-quality nutrition
• Cancer coaching
• Home care and nursing
• Side-effect reducing treatments
• Hospice care
• Lodging
• Lost wages
• Mental health care and therapy
• Travel

Treatment costs can differ greatly from one patient to another, and many expenses may not be fully covered by insurance. Some therapies, such as additional rounds of chemotherapy, can bring recurring costs, while end-of-life care often carries higher expenses than initial treatment.

*Documenting these costs can be helpful when filing an asbestos claim.

Eligibility for Mesothelioma Financial Assistance

Several groups may be eligible for mesothelioma financial support:

Individuals With an Asbestos-Related Disease

If you worked for an asbestos company or in a job with significant occupational exposure, you may qualify for several types of financial assistance following a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Caregivers

Caring for a loved one with mesothelioma can be a full-time job. Caregivers who’ve had to reduce their working hours or leave their jobs may be entitled to support.

Surviving Family Members

The death of a loved one from an asbestos-related disease does not absolve asbestos companies from their legal responsibilities. Surviving family members may be able to seek legal compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit or asbestos trust fund, or receive pension benefits after an asbestos victim passes away.

Veterans With Asbestos-Related Disease

Nearly one-third of mesothelioma cases occur in veterans. In addition to pursuing legal compensation, veterans may qualify for VA benefits. Claiming legal compensation does not affect your VA benefits, as these funds come from the responsible asbestos companies, not the U.S. government or military.

Get Financial Support for Mesothelioma Today

Mesothelioma is a devastating illness, and patients and their families may feel isolated in the wake of a diagnosis, but help is available.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you want to explore the financial assistance options open to you, reach out to our team of experts today.