Over 30 Billion dollars in trust fund money has been set aside for asbestos victims.
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Living with a diagnosis of mesothelioma can be very stressful, but not all of the stress comes from the symptoms and health effects of the disease. Much of the stress comes from the financial situation that develops for mesothelioma patients and their families. Like all chronic and terminal diseases, mesothelioma is expensive to diagnose and treat. To make matters worse, treatment usually must continue for the rest of the patient's life. As medical bills begin to pile up, the standard bills may go unpaid.
Not only do bills begin to pile up for mesothelioma patients, but many of them can no longer work, which can mean a loss of income with which to pay the bills. While this situation may sound hopeless, resources do exist for financial assistance. Some patients find they must accept financial assistance from as many sources as possible just to get by.
Two basic types of financial assistance are available: general assistance for anyone with a disability or serious illness and specific assistance for mesothelioma patients.
General financial assistance is available for anyone with a medical condition or disability, but some forms of general assistance must already be in place before mesothelioma is diagnosed.
Health insurance is the most important type of general assistance for mesothelioma patients in the United States. However, private health insurance has its limits. Out-of-pocket deductibles, copayments and yearly caps mean that a great deal of expense may still exist after health insurance benefits have been exhausted.
Another form of general assistance is Medicare and Medicaid, which are two government-sponsored forms of health insurance. These forms of financial assistance are only available to individuals who qualify based on age, income or disability.
A final form of general financial assistance for mesothelioma patients is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you have enough past work credit and can no longer work, you may be eligible to receive monthly SSDI benefits.
Some forms of financial assistance have been established specifically to help mesothelioma patients. These are usually privately sponsored programs established by social welfare organizations, court orders or drug companies.
Mesothelioma trust funds are one type of financial assistance established by court order. Many companies responsible for exposing people to asbestos have subsequently had to declare bankruptcy. As a condition, they were ordered to set up trust funds to help mesothelioma patients.
Clinical trials are a form of financial assistance that may be able to pay or defray the cost of mesothelioma treatment. Mesothelioma patients will have access to the latest drugs and treatments being considered for public release.
The best opportunity that many mesothelioma patients have for financial assistance is a mesothelioma lawsuit. Financial compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and loss of income may be received by filing a lawsuit.
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