Veterans and civilians who develop malignant mesothelioma deserve high-quality health care and financial compensation. Fortunately, there are dozens of medical and financial resources that mesothelioma patients can access. Veterans with mesothelioma can also find exclusive resources through the VA. Explore some of the top mesothelioma resources below.
VA Resources
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) understands that veterans have a higher risk of mesothelioma due to widespread military asbestos use between the 1930s and 1980s. In fact, a third of all mesothelioma patients today are U.S. veterans.
To that end, veterans with mesothelioma can receive both medical and financial VA benefits. These benefits can change the lives of you and your family members for the better in the face of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
You may be able to access these VA benefits and resources by filing a claim.
VA Health Care for Mesothelioma
Through the VA health care system, veterans can work with top doctors to get an accurate diagnosis and receive the best mesothelioma treatments available.
These medical services often come at little to no cost to the veteran, and VA hospitals employ some of the world’s best mesothelioma doctors.
Veterans can receive treatment for both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma through the VA.
Local VA Mesothelioma Treatment Options
There are only a handful of mesothelioma treatment centers within the VA, and you may not live within driving distance of any of them. However, you may be able to get care closer to home through the Office of Rural Health.
The Office of Rural Health:
- Offers telehealth services
- Funds projects that improve veterans’ access to health care
- Trains doctors to serve veterans in rural areas
Other services are also available to help veterans with mesothelioma get the care they need. For example, the MISSION Act allows veterans to access care from local, non-VA doctors with prior approval.
Veterans who need to travel to a mesothelioma cancer center within the VA may also be able to get the costs of their trip reimbursed in some cases.
VA Financial Benefits
In addition to health care, the VA offers financial assistance to veterans who became sick from military asbestos exposure. These benefits can pay thousands of dollars each month for those who qualify.
Financial VA benefits include:
- Aid and Attendance (A&A): If a veteran lives in a nursing home or needs another person’s help with basic living activities (like bathing or getting dressed), they may be eligible for Aid and Attendance compensation. This is extra money paid as part of a pension plan.
- Disability compensation: As of 2023, this benefit pays out $3,823.89 — or more — every month to married veterans who developed mesothelioma due to military service. VA disability compensation is tax-free.
- Pension plans: Veterans may qualify for a VA pension if their income is below the established rates set by Congress. A veteran’s spouse may also qualify for a survivors pension.
These benefits can help veterans afford expenses not covered by VA Health Care, such as paying for a live-in caregiver, mortgages, or grocery bills.
Some VA benefits are also available to family members. For example, burial benefits can help loved ones pay the cost of a veteran’s funeral. There are also survivor pensions for spouses of veterans.
Geriatrics & Extended Care Services
Roughly 66% of mesothelioma patients are over the age of 65, as this cancer takes decades to develop after exposure to asbestos. If you are an older veteran with mesothelioma, you may benefit from the VA’s Geriatrics & Extended Care Services.
Through this program, veterans can access:
- At-home care from a doctor-supervised team
- Hospice care
- Palliative cancer treatments
Respite services are also available, allowing mesothelioma caregivers to get well-deserved breaks and recharge.
All veterans can access these services by applying for VA Health Care. However, it must be shown that the veteran has a medical need for the care they want to access.
Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line allows those thinking about self-harm or suicide to get help from trained responders, including fellow veterans. If you’re feeling hopeless or despondent after a mesothelioma diagnosis, this free 24/7 line may be able to help.
Mesothelioma & Cancer Organizations
Both private and government-based organizations offer trustworthy health information about mesothelioma. Some of these groups can also provide financial aid and medical advice. Learn about some of the top mesothelioma organizations.
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 by cancer specialists.
Led by Mary Hesdorffer, a nurse practitioner with 20 years of experience helping mesothelioma patients, until her retirement in 2021, the foundation supports both cancer research and the patients themselves.
Benefits available from the Meso Foundation include:
- Info about mesothelioma treatment options
- Mesothelioma support groups
- Travel grants to qualifying patients
- Ways to connect with top doctors
To learn more, visit the Meso Foundation website or call (877) 363-6376.
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
Since 2004, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has advocated for a ban on the toxic substance and provides free information about mesothelioma.
With the ADAO’s help, mesothelioma patients can:
- Find a list of doctors and medical centers that treat mesothelioma
- Share their story and read about others fighting this cancer
- Take action by signing petitions to ban asbestos
Connect with this organization by going to the official ADAO website.
Pacific Mesothelioma Center
In addition to his work with the VA, Dr. Robert Cameron spearheads research into mesothelioma treatments at the Pacific Mesothelioma Center (PMC) in California.
Dr. Cameron and the PMC focus exclusively on treating pleural mesothelioma by using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and new treatments being tested in clinical trials.
Visit the PMC website or call (310) 470-8980 to see if you can receive treatments from Dr. Cameron or learn how to donate to the organization’s research efforts.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert B. Cameron. The contact information above is listed for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Cameron directly.
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is run by the U.S. government and sponsors research on all types of cancer, including mesothelioma.
You can use the NCI website to learn more about mesothelioma, see how to manage your emotions after a diagnosis, and find clinical trials that are currently recruiting patients.
American Cancer Society
Since its creation in 1913, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has become one of the nation’s leading resources on cancer.
Through the ACS, you can access:
- Detailed information about mesothelioma and other cancers
- Free transportation and lodging if you need to travel for cancer treatments
- Online cancer support groups
The organization has also donated billions of dollars toward cancer research and funds programs to help all cancer patients get the care they deserve.
Veterans Foundations
Veterans foundations are private groups that focus on the needs of veterans, and many offer financial aid and other helpful services. Learn about top foundations that can help veterans with mesothelioma below.
Wounded Warrior Project
Founded in 2003 by a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, the Wounded Warrior Project assists veterans who were injured in combat.
Today, this nonprofit organization offers a wide variety of programs to veterans and their families, including rideshare programs, help with accessing VA benefits, job training, and more.
Learn more on the Wounded Warrior Project website or by calling (877) 832-6997.
The American Legion
The American Legion (AML) was chartered by Congress in 1919. More than a hundred years later, the organization has raised millions of dollars for veterans and started programs to help address their needs.
Veterans can visit the AML website to get help applying for VA benefits, pursue temporary financial aid, and learn about military health care options.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is the oldest veterans support organization, founded in 1899.
Through the VFW, veterans can:
- Access mental health resources
- Apply for grants worth up to $1500
- Connect with Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) to file for VA benefits
The VFW also advocates for new laws that will help improve the standards of care and quality of life among veterans. Learn more on the VFW website.
Mesothelioma Legal Resources
It’s helpful to explore your legal options after a mesothelioma diagnosis, as manufacturers of asbestos-based products knew the health risks of exposure but hid them for decades.
With help from attorneys, you can file legal claims to get justice and mesothelioma compensation from these manufacturers.
Legal compensation can be accessed through:
Settlements
A lawsuit settlement allows you to receive money without your case going to a trial before a judge or jury. The average mesothelioma settlement awards $1 million, and you may start to receive money within 90 days after your case is filed.
Verdicts
If a case is not settled, you still may be able to get money from a trial verdict. However, trials take longer to reach a conclusion than settlements and are much riskier, as you could lose and get nothing.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos companies that filed for bankruptcy were court-ordered to create special trusts to compensate those harmed by their products. Today, over $30 billion is available in asbestos trusts, and you may be entitled to a portion of this money.
A good way to explore your legal options is to work with a mesothelioma lawyer.
These specialized attorneys have deep knowledge of the asbestos industry, noting what products contained asbestos, how long they were used, and what job sites had a high risk of exposure. They can help you build a case and pursue compensation.
Don’t worry — you will not take legal action against the U.S. military, the government, or your former employers. Your lawyers will be suing the manufacturers of asbestos-based products that concealed the deadly facts about their products.
Other Resources for Veterans with Mesothelioma
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- National Center for PTSD
- Angel On My Shoulder
- In Home Personal Services
- Agape Hospice
- Veterans Disability Guide
- Asbestos Test Kits
- Put Veterans To Work
- The American Institute of Stress
Learn More About Mesothelioma Resources for Veterans
We are proud to help veterans with mesothelioma get the care and financial help they deserve. Today, our team of Patient Advocates and VA-accredited mesothelioma attorneys can help you access VA benefits, legal aid, top treatments, and additional resources.
Get started right now: Call (877) 450-8973 or request a free Mesothelioma Veterans Packet today.