Mesothelioma Compensation

Quick Summary

Many U.S. veterans with mesothelioma are entitled to financial compensation. The average mesothelioma payout is $1 million, but you may be eligible for more or less depending on your situation. Lawsuits, asbestos trust funds, the VA, and other sources can all provide compensation for mesothelioma. You may receive money from a lawsuit settlement or trust fund claim in under one year, while compensation from a trial generally takes years.

Written and Fact-Checked by: Christopher Dryfoos Reviewed by Christopher Dryfoos Contributing Author

Start Mesothelioma Claim

Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims

If you have mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for compensation to help you afford treatment costs or other expenses.

Manufacturers used asbestos (the only known cause of mesothelioma) for decades, hiding the dangers from the general public, major industries, and the military.

Today, you can take legal action against these companies to receive mesothelioma compensation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may also provide compensation if you’re a qualifying veteran.

To see if you can access mesothelioma compensation, contact us today.

How Much Compensation Can You Get for Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma Compensation Amounts
Mesothelioma cases are valued at $1 million on average, but you may receive more or less than this amount.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine how much mesothelioma financial compensation you might be eligible to receive.

Factors Affecting Mesothelioma Claim Values

When and where you served in the U.S. military
Your age and gender
Your medical expenses not covered by your health insurance
The costs of travel to see a mesothelioma specialist
Any dependents you support
Funeral expenses

How Can Mesothelioma Compensation Help Me?

Pay for Medical Costs: Compensation can pay for medical treatments like life-extending surgeries, as well as travel costs if you need to see a doctor far from your home.
Make Up for Lost Wages: You or your family members may have to stop working during your cancer battle. Mesothelioma compensation can help supplement this lost income.
Cover Any Other Expenses: You can use compensation for almost anything once you have it, such as well-deserved vacations.

Types of Mesothelioma Compensation

Mesothelioma compensation can come from many different sources. Explore your options below.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Some manufacturers of asbestos-based products established trust funds so they could pay victims but avoid being sued. Asbestos trust funds contain over $30 billion in mesothelioma compensation, and you may be able to get money from more than one asbestos bankruptcy trust.

Mesothelioma Veterans Benefits

Disability compensation, pension plans, and other VA benefits provide monthly payouts if you have mesothelioma. Most or all of your treatment expenses may also be covered if you get treatment through the VA Health Care System.

Mesothelioma Settlements

You can receive compensation through a mesothelioma settlement after filing a lawsuit against manufacturers of asbestos-based products. A settlement allows the lawsuit to end without a trial in court, so you can receive money faster. Settlements award $1 million on average.

Trial Verdicts

A mesothelioma lawsuit may go to trial in some cases. In a trial verdict, a judge or jury will determine if you can get compensation. However, mesothelioma trial verdicts are risky — if you lose, you get no money. Speak to an attorney to see if going to trial is necessary for your case.

Other Compensation Options

Private Insurance: Depending on your plan and provider, private insurance can help cover your mesothelioma health care costs.
Medicaid and Medicare: These government programs can also help pay for medical expenses after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): You are eligible for SSDI if you have mesothelioma since it is considered a terminal disease.
Long-Term Disability Insurance: This provides monthly payouts if you cannot work for a long period of time. Mesothelioma may be considered a long-term disability since it has no cure. You can access this insurance on your own or through your job.
Mesothelioma Organizations: Groups such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) and Cancer Care offer financial assistance to cover patients’ travel costs and other expenses.

How Can I Get Mesothelioma Compensation?

The process of pursuing mesothelioma compensation is made significantly simpler with the help of an experienced lawyer. Learn the steps to accessing compensation below.

1. Connect With a Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma lawyers do nearly all the work that comes with pursuing compensation, so you can focus on getting treatments and spending time with loved ones.

Mesothelioma lawyers know how to:

Use databases of information on the asbestos industry to build strong cases
Properly collect evidence showing how you were exposed to asbestos
File compensation claims correctly and on time
Help you get mesothelioma compensation from both the VA and asbestos companies

While it may seem more convenient to work with a local lawyer, they may not have the experience necessary to get the most value from your case.

Specialized mesothelioma attorneys have the skills and resources needed to get the compensation you deserve. What’s more, these attorneys charge no upfront fees.

2. Gather Evidence

Once you’ve chosen a mesothelioma attorney, they will start to gather evidence for your case.

Evidence used to build a claim may include:

Medical records and health information
Military service documents (including what jobs you worked and where you served)
Post-military work history
List of asbestos-based products you were exposed to and which companies made them

Your mesothelioma attorney will use this information to help prove why you need mesothelioma compensation from the VA and/or manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.

3. File a Mesothelioma Compensation Claim

Once your legal team has collected all the needed information, they will file your mesothelioma claim on your behalf.

How your claim will be filed depends on the type of compensation you’re seeking:

Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed in the appropriate court system for your case and are not filed against the U.S. military or your former employer.
Asbestos trust fund claims will be filed with the trust(s) you qualify for.
Mesothelioma veterans claims are filed by VA-accredited lawyers or claims agents, who are trained by the VA to help veterans access benefits.

Lawyers and VA claims agents can file your claim in the right channels and will keep you updated as they work to win mesothelioma compensation for you.

When you work with our VA-accredited attorneys, filing for legal compensation won’t affect your ability to get military benefits.

Connect with a mesothelioma lawyer now.

See If You're Eligible for Mesothelioma Compensation

If you developed mesothelioma after serving in the U.S. Armed Forces or another job that relied on asbestos products, you deserve compensation. Mesothelioma compensation can help you pay your medical bills and keep your family financially secure.

Whether you want to access mesothelioma compensation from a lawsuit, asbestos trust, or VA claim, we can help. Work with our Patient Advocates and VA-accredited mesothelioma attorneys to begin seeking compensation.

Mesothelioma Compensation FAQs

How long do mesothelioma claims take?

While each case is different, you may start to receive compensation from lawsuits and asbestos bankruptcy trust funds within 90 days. You will start to get money from the VA once your claim is processed, and this compensation is usually paid out in monthly installments.

Lawyers and VA-accredited claims agents can give you a better idea of when you’ll receive mesothelioma compensation as your claim moves forward.

Who is eligible for mesothelioma compensation?

Aside from yourself, anyone with legal authority over your estate can apply for mesothelioma compensation. This is usually a family member but may include friends or other loved ones.

You can learn if you have the legal authority to file a compensation claim by speaking to a mesothelioma lawyer.

When is the deadline to apply for mesothelioma compensation?

The deadline to file a mesothelioma compensation claim depends on the specifics of your case.

Laws called statutes of limitations prevent mesothelioma lawsuits from being filed after a certain period of time. Additionally, asbestos trust funds set their own limits on when you can file a claim. If you miss the deadline, you likely won’t get any compensation.

Talk to a lawyer shortly after you are diagnosed to make sure your mesothelioma case is filed in time. There may also be ways for you to get compensation even if you miss the deadline.

Can I get compensation for other asbestos-related diseases?

If you have an asbestos-related illness that’s not mesothelioma, like asbestosis, you might still be eligible for compensation. Speak with a mesothelioma attorney to learn more.

Written by:Christopher Dryfoos

Contributing Author

Christopher Dryfoos is a journalist and member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). As the grandson of the U.S. Navy’s first forensic pathologist, he aims to help veterans with mesothelioma access needed care.

View 8 Sources

Bates, C. and Mullin, C. “Mealey’s Litigation Report: Asbestos: Show Me The Money.” 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.bateswhite.com/media/pnc/5/media.285.pdf. Accessed on September 6th, 2017.
Cancer Care. (n.d.). Financial Assistance Program for Cancer Related Costs. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.cancercare.org/financial
EWG Action Fund-Asbestos Nation. “Asbestos companies hid the dangers for decades.” Retrieved from: http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-companies-hid-the-danger-for-decades/. Accessed on September 6th, 2017.
Lexis Legal News. (2015, May). Asbestos Verdicts & Settlements: January 2015 – December 2015. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.lexislegalnews.com/articles/8734/asbestos-verdicts-settlements-january-2015-december-2015
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. (n.d.). Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.curemeso.org/mesothelioma-treatment-plan/patient-support-and-resources/financial-assistance-for-mesothelioma-patients/
Rand Institute for Civil Justice. (2011). Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts and Tort Compensation. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG1104.pdf
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Benefits Overview for Military Exposures.” Retrieved from: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits/index.asp. Accessed on September 6th, 2017.
USA.gov. (2020, March 6). Benefits and Insurance for People with Disabilities. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from https://www.usa.gov/disability-benefits-insurance