Financial assistance with the costs of mesothelioma treatment can come from many sources. Here are some suggested by the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition.
Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, it should cover most of the costs of your mesothelioma treatment. To receive all the benefits you’re entitled to, it’s important to understand how your health insurance policy works. Review your policy to find out what it covers and what you need to do to ensure coverage for your mesothelioma treatment. Ask your insurance company if they can assign you a case manager to help answer your questions.
You have the right to appeal if your health insurance company denies coverage for any aspect of your mesothelioma treatment. Find out from your insurance company what you need to do to appeal a denial of coverage. If your appeal is denied, you may be able to get help from your state’s insurance department.
Government Programs
You may qualify to receive financial help for your mesothelioma treatment from a government program. The federal government offers several programs that provide assistance with medical and living expenses. Many of these programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security) are intended to people who are disabled or elderly or who have low incomes. Many state governments also have programs to assist qualified state residents with medical and living expenses. Most government programs take time to process your application, so the sooner you apply the sooner you will receive assistance.
Co-pay Relief Programs
Some volunteer organizations offer financial assistance to people with cancer who cannot afford to pay insurance premiums, co-payments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. Each organization offers different kinds of assistance and has its own eligibility rules but it is worth exploring with your oncologist’s office.
Patient Assistance Programs
Many pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs that may provide help with insurance reimbursement, referrals to co-pay relief programs, and help with applications for assistance. Many companies also offer medications at little or no cost to patients who don’t qualify for other help. Medicare offers an online list of drugs available through these programs.
Free Tax Preparation Help
Consider seeking advice on your financial situation from a professional tax preparer. They may be able to help you save money on your taxes. If you have a lot of out-of-pocket medical expenses, you may be able to reduce your taxes by deducting some those expenses from your income. Many state and local governments and community organizations offer free tax preparation help to low-income seniors.
Your Mesothelioma Attorney
In addition to the above suggestions, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can often convince providers to accept liens for your mesothelioma treatment. Then you can arrange to have bills paid directly via your lawyer’s trust account when settlements come in.