Financial Support

A mesothelioma diagnosis changes your life drastically, and one of the major concerns of most mesothelioma patients, especially men, is how they will continue to support themselves and/or their families now that they're sick. Once someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, their entire financial future is in jeopardy and thoughts of impending financial problems can become anxiety producing.

Determining your Financial Outlook

One of the first questions you'll probably ask your doctor when discussing your disease is whether or not you can continue to work at your job on a regular basis. The answer will vary depending upon your individual case. For some people, the continuance of employment will not be a problem. For others, it will be out of the question. Still, others will try to return to work, only to find out that they can't handle the physical or emotional demands of the job.

Those who are retired and no longer working may worry that their savings will be consumed by doctor's bills and other costs associated with the disease. They may fear that their remaining spouse will be left destitute or that their offspring will not be able to benefit from the savings the patient worked so hard to amass throughout the years.

It will be necessary to figure out fairly quickly which of these scenarios will be yours. If you can continue to work, you won't need to worry about income for a little while. If you are not able to work, you'll need to find some alternate source of income or figure out how to make due on what you've saved thus far. That may involve a spouse going to work or your moving in with a trusted family member or friend in order to defray living expenses.

Medical Insurance

Many mesothelioma sufferers are fortunate enough to be in possession of some sort of medical insurance policy that covers much of the medical costs associated with the disease and mesothelioma treatment.

You'll no doubt have many questions about what is covered by your particular insurance policy. The human resources contact at your place of employment can help answer those questions. If you're retired, you can contact your policy holder directly to determine which expenses are covered and for which ones you might be responsible. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the insurance company. Knowledge will go a long way in dispelling your fears about financial obligations as they relate to your disease and its treatment.

If you don't have medical insurance or if your insurance only covers some of your costs, speak to your medical team, who can schedule an appointment with a social worker to help discuss your financial options.

Right to Financial Compensation

Questions that many people ask after their mesothelioma diagnosis include "How did I develop the disease?" and "Who is responsible for my developing the disease?" For many, the answer is "your employer". An overwhelming majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by on-the-job exposure to asbestos. Throughout the years that asbestos was in use, most workers were unaware that they were being exposed to this toxic material and inhaling the fibers each day. Others knew they were working with asbestos but were never warned of the consequences of close contact with the mineral. Few companies provided any sort of protective gear for their employees, adding insult to injury as records show that many companies knew of the dangers of asbestos but refused to tell their workers or do anything to protect them.

That is why, for the last 20 years, many lawsuits filed throughout the country involve mesothelioma victims and the companies who employed them yet didn't protect them. If you were exposed to asbestos on-the-job and your employer did nothing to keep you safe, you have a right to financial compensation paid by that employer.

Asbestos litigation is different in each state, so if you decide to retain a lawyer in order to seek financial compensation, you should endeavor to choose one who's familiar with the asbestos laws in your particular state. Ask if he/she has previously handled asbestos cases and request to speak to former clients who've retained his/her services in asbestos-related lawsuits.

Some lawyers have organized class action lawsuits on behalf on a number of people from a particular company or industry. Be sure you understand all the particulars of class action suits before you sign on to be a part of one.

If a lawyer contacts you and solicits your business, be sure you take time to gather all the particulars before you decide to sue for compensation. If you're uncomfortable with a particular lawyer, choose a different one. Remember, the financial future of you and your family may depend on the skills of a good lawyer familiar with the ins and outs of mesothelioma suits.

Last modified: January 13 2010.