Financial Resources for Mesothelioma Patients

Even with health insurance, mesothelioma can create a substantial financial burden. Without insurance, it can be devastating.

Worrying about money while fighting a potentially fatal illness is difficult at best, so we’ve assembled a list of resources that may help you obtain financial assistance for:

You should also know that lawsuits in past mesothelioma cases have created settlement funds that are available to current victims. See our discussion on how to file a claim in the Mesothelioma Compensation article in the Legal Issues section of this web site.

Medical Payments

Health Insurance

Private Health Insurance – Having your own health insurance or insurance through your employer will significantly ease your financial burden. However, insurance won’t pay for everything and insurers have been known to make mistakes that leave you owing for services they should have covered. Before you know it, you can be deeply in debt for just your share of medical expenses. Your best advice is:

Know your insurance policy’s terms and limits.
Keep your records organized.
Question anything the insurer says is not covered. Sometimes it can be as simple as a mistake in a billing code. Some insurers offer Case Managers who can work on your behalf to cut through red tape and fix mistakes.

Staying on top of the paperwork can be a challenge when you’re ill and trying to manage critical care and treatment at the same time. If you need to, don’t be afraid to ask a loved one or friend to help you.

To understand the ins and outs of the typical health insurance policy, refer to the following well-written article on Traumatic Brain Injury – The Medical Insurance Maze.

Medicare – In some respects, this federally sponsored health insurance for people 65 and older is similar to private health insurance. You need to know what’s covered, what’s not, and coverage limits, and you also need to keep your records organized. Medicare, however, offers trained counselors to help you with a wide variety of issues related to:

Medicare, Medicaid, and Medigap insurance
Claims and billing problems
Other health plan and long-term care options
Referral to other medical and financial assistance programs

These Medicare counselors are sponsored by the federally-funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). You can reach your local SHIP counselor by calling 1-800-MEDICARE and asking for health insurance counseling.

Assistance with Medical Expenses

Medicaid – This is a state and federal program to provide financial assistance to people who need help paying medical expenses. Qualification is based on income and assets. For more information, contact your local state health department, social services agency or welfare department.

Hospital Funds – Many hospitals have access to state or federal funds that are available to offset the medical bills of people who are unable to pay. If you’re struggling with hospital bills, ask someone in your hospital’s billing department what help may be available.

Medical Office – It’s also possible to negotiate with your physician or clinic for reduced charges on services, especially if you’re paying a significant portion of the bills out of your own pocket. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Explain your situation and ask if there is any discount they can apply to their services.

Non-Profit Organizations – Many charitable organizations provide financial and other forms of assistance to cancer patients in need. In addition to those listed below, you can also check with your local United Way, Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, Jewish Social Services, and Catholic Charities to see what other assistance may be available in your area.

Drug Assistance Programs – A variety of resources are available to help with the costs of prescription drugs. To find out what assistance programs you qualify for, visit:

HRSA and Hill-Burton – These government programs that provide free healthcare and assistance with medical payments are often cited as potential resources for mesothelioma patients. In reality, the health clinics and hospitals involved in these programs will rarely be capable of treating mesothelioma. If you would like to check them out anyway, here are the web sites.

Living Expenses

Disability Insurance

Private Disability Insurance – If you have a disability insurance policy, now is the time to discuss your coverage with your insurer. Even though you may still be physically able to work, being diagnosed with a fatal illness is sometimes de facto evidence of disability.

Be sure to check with your employer, too. Disability insurance might be an employment benefit that you didn’t know you had. Disability insurance payments can be used for any purpose.

Also, check your credit cards. You may have disability insurance on one or more. It won’t provide actual cash for you to use, but it will suspend the need for you to make payments, freeing up your available cash for other needs. You’ll want to be cautious, though, because activating such insurance may put a temporary freeze on your ability to make additional charges.

Social Security Disability Insurance – Contact your local Social Security Administration office to inquire if you qualify for Social Security Disability payments. Qualification will depend on your age, work history, and prognosis.

Veterans Disability – Qualified veterans can receive VA disability payments when their mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure in the military. For more information, see the article on Assistance for Veterans with Mesothelioma in the Legal Issues section of this web site.

Life Insurance

Cash or Loan Value – The cash or loan value of a life insurance policy can be a source of funds for living expenses.

Viatical or Life Settlement – Another way of obtaining cash from a life insurance policy is by selling the policy to an individual or corporate investor. After the sale – referred to as a viatical or life settlement – the investor becomes the beneficiary and is responsible for making the premium payments. The selling price is typically much higher than the policy’s cash or loan value, but you lose the policy.

Notice: Do not attempt to obtain money from a life insurance policy without first consulting a knowledgeable financial advisor.

Reverse Mortgage

If you have significant equity in your home, you may want to investigate taking out a reverse mortgage. With a reverse mortgage, the lender sends you a check each month and adds that amount to your mortgage balance.

Supplemental Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – When contacting your local Social Security Administration office concerning Social Security Disability, also inquire about Supplemental Security Income. This program provides monthly payments to qualifying seniors and the disabled who have limited or no income.

Temporary Aid to Needy Families – This program replaced many of the former state and federal welfare programs in 1997. The program is now administered by the states with block grants from the federal government, so qualifications vary by state. Contact your state social services agency for more information.

Other Assistance

GovBenefits.Gov – This Web site provides access to an extensive list of Federal aid programs from nutrition assistance to help with utility bills. To use the site’s search tool requires answering a 133-item questionnaire, but the resulting list of programs is quite comprehensive. Even though it may list many programs you qualify for but aren’t interested in, it’s very likely you can find helpful resources included.