Veterans with mesothelioma can receive top medical treatment through health care offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Many of the world’s best mesothelioma doctors are a part of the VA health care system. Further, VA health care allows veterans to get treated for mesothelioma at little to no cost. Our team can help you file for VA health care for mesothelioma or lower your copays after a diagnosis.
Using VA Health Care for Mesothelioma Treatment
Health care is one of the most important VA benefits available to military veterans with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Through the VA health care system, veterans can get treatments from top mesothelioma specialists and cancer centers.
This care rivals or exceeds that offered by civilian hospitals, in part because the doctors on staff deeply understand the concerns and issues that veterans face.
Further, veterans with mesothelioma can often get cancer treatments at a low cost or for free thanks to VA health care. The VA considers mesothelioma to be a 100% disability, so veterans who are totally disabled have the lowest health care copays.
Our team can help you file for VA health care for mesothelioma, increase your disability rating to 100%, and find a VA hospital near you. Get started right now.
What Does VA Health Care for Mesothelioma Cover?
VA health care for mesothelioma may cover the costs of seeing a cancer specialist and the treatment options they provide, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
Other health resources covered by VA health care include:
- At-home medical care and elder care
- Medical equipment
- Mental health services and therapy
- Primary care
- Prescriptions
- Specialty care
To get a better idea of what services are covered by VA health care for mesothelioma and how much you may need to pay, call our team at (877) 450-8973.
We help veterans like you get VA health care or increase their existing benefits so they have the lowest copays possible after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Hospitals Offering VA Health Care for Mesothelioma Patients
Hospitals across the country are within the VA health care’s network and can treat veterans with mesothelioma. Explore some of these VA mesothelioma cancer centers below.
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center treats veterans with pleural mesothelioma (which forms in the lining of the lungs) on the West Coast. Doctors on staff use surgery, chemotherapy, cryoablation (freezing therapy), and more to help patients. They also specialize in treating the aggressive sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell type.
VA Boston Healthcare System
The VA Boston Healthcare System treats pleural mesothelioma patients in the greater New England area. A team of cancer surgeons led by Dr. Daniel Wiener works together to ensure that veterans with mesothelioma get the best care possible.
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is located in Houston and can treat veterans with either pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma (which forms in the abdominal lining) using surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other cancer treatments.
VA Miami Healthcare System
The VA Miami Healthcare System treats veterans with mesothelioma through a close partnership with the University of Miami Health System. Cancer doctors on staff can treat both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma.
Looking to find the best VA hospitals after a mesothelioma diagnosis? Contact us now — our patient advocates can connect you with top hospitals nearby.
VA Mesothelioma Doctors
Many skilled doctors treat patients who have VA health care for mesothelioma. All of these specialists have years of experience treating mesothelioma, meaning veterans can feel confident in the care they are getting.
Learn about some of the top VA mesothelioma doctors below.
Dr. Robert Cameron
Dr. Robert B. Cameron has led the West Los Angeles VA's mesothelioma program since 1998 and is one of the top doctors treating this cancer. He developed the revolutionary pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery, which removes pleural mesothelioma tumors while sparing both lungs.
Dr. Lorraine Cornwell
Dr. Lorraine Cornwell is the section head of thoracic surgery at the DeBakey VA, where she has been treating pleural mesothelioma since 2009. She has more than 20 years of experience helping veterans get the treatments they need to live longer.
Dr. Eugene Choi
Dr. Eugene Choi treats peritoneal mesothelioma at the DeBakey VA by using cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy (HIPEC). Like his colleague Dr. Cornwell, he has been treating cancer for more than two decades and is dedicated to helping veterans with this disease live as long as they can.
Dr. Dao Nguyen
Dr. Dao Nguyen is the section chief of thoracic surgery at the University of Miami Health System, which has partnered with the Miami VA to treat veterans. Dr. Nguyen has been treating cancers like pleural mesothelioma for more than 20 years and is well-rated by his patients.
Dr. Daniel Wiener
Dr. Daniel Wiener leads the Boston VA’s mesothelioma treatment team. With Dr. Wiener’s skill and guidance, the team treats many veterans with pleural mesothelioma every year.
Veterans with mesothelioma may be able to see local doctors who don’t work at VA treatment centers if they’re within the VA’s community care network. This is helpful if a veteran lives far away from the nearest VA mesothelioma doctor.
Who Is Eligible for VA Health Care?
Upon discharge from the military, veterans can apply for enrollment, and if they meet certain criteria, they’ll qualify for VA health care for mesothelioma.
VA health care eligibility requirements include:
- Service in the military without being dishonorably discharged
- Enlistment after September 7, 1980, or beginning active duty after October 16, 1981
- 24 continuous months of service or the full period in which one was called to active duty (may not apply if they were discharged due to disability/hardship)
Finally, veterans with mesothelioma may be able to have the current requirements waived if they served before September 7, 1980.
This is important as many veterans fighting mesothelioma served before the 1980s when military asbestos use was widespread. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
Applying for VA Health Care for Mesothelioma
To apply for VA health care, veterans must fill out an application, include any relevant medical records, and submit them through the VA website, by mail, or by dropping them off at a local VA facility.
As of 2024, it typically takes less than 1 week for the VA to determine if a veteran can receive VA health care for mesothelioma.
We can help you file a VA claim for health care benefits right now if you or a loved one doesn’t have them. Or, we can help you increase your benefits if you were recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. Get started right now.
VA Health Care Costs and Priority Groups
Many veterans will have little to no medical costs thanks to VA health care for mesothelioma. Almost all mesothelioma cases are considered very serious since the cancer is aggressive.
Veterans applying for VA health care will be assigned to one of eight priority groups. These groups are determined based on the veteran’s level of disability.
Since the VA considers mesothelioma to be a 100% disability, they are usually put into priority group 1, which has the lowest copay rates for medical services.
Veterans in priority group 1 have $0 copays for:
- The first 3 urgent care visits and $30 for each subsequent visit
- Inpatient care in a hospital
- Medications
- Outpatient care, such as MRI or CT scans
We can help increase your disability rating to 100% after a diagnosis if you or a family member already have VA health care for mesothelioma to get the lowest copays. Call (877) 450-8973 now to get started.
Does VA Health Care Cover Travel Expenses?
Veterans with mesothelioma may need to travel if they live far away from the nearest VA medical center. VA health care for mesothelioma does not cover travel costs, but a separate VA travel pay reimbursement program does.
Through this program, veterans who have a disability rating of 30% or more or who have an income below a set limit can access reimbursement for travel and lodging costs.
Since veterans with mesothelioma receive a 100% VA disability rating, they may qualify for this benefit.
Access VA Health Care and Other Benefits
Former service members can get help accessing VA health care for mesothelioma and other benefits by contacting the Mesothelioma Veterans Center.
Our skilled and dedicated team can help you:
- File for veterans benefits like health care
- Increase your VA disability rating to lower health care copays
- Locate top VA doctors and hospitals near you
- Receive additional financial assistance to cover leftover expenses
Our services are free to qualifying veterans with mesothelioma.
When you connect with our team, you’ll be put in touch with a VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyer who can walk you through the process. Get help accessing mesothelioma VA benefits or call (877) 450-8973 right now to get started.
VA Health Care for Mesothelioma FAQs
What is the VA rating for mesothelioma?
Veterans with mesothelioma almost always receive a 100% disability rating from the VA since the cancer is very aggressive.
These veterans qualify for the lowest VA health care copays, meaning they won’t have to worry about many common medical costs like hospital stays, imaging scans, and medications.
Does VA health care cover mesothelioma?
Yes. The VA offers health care services to veterans who developed mesothelioma after serving in the U.S. military.
Every branch of the military used asbestos — the only cause of mesothelioma — between the 1930s and early 1980s without knowing the full risks. This puts veterans at a high risk of this cancer decades after their military service, since mesothelioma takes 10-50 years to form after exposure.
As such, the military provides care to affected veterans at the lowest costs possible through VA health care for mesothelioma.
What types of cancer qualify for VA benefits?
Veterans with many types of service-connected cancers qualify for VA health care benefits, including those with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and more.
Call (877) 450-8973 to learn if you’re eligible for VA health care for mesothelioma and other benefits.
We’re dedicated to helping those harmed by asbestos-related cancers get the benefits and care they deserve.
Is there an income limit for VA health care?
Some veterans may qualify for cost-free health care, depending on their income. The VA sets an income limit — a cap on how much someone earns each year — to determine if they qualify for free health care services.
The income limit varies depending on the number of dependents, deductibles, and where the veteran lives.
Keep in mind that the income limit may not apply in your case if you have mesothelioma or another serious disease. Call one of our patient advocates at (877) 450-8973 to find out your eligibility for VA health care for mesothelioma.
Will the VA cover my cancer treatment?
Possibly, yes. If you have a service-related cancer like mesothelioma, VA health care benefits cover many or all of the costs.
For this reason, it's often in your best interest to explore your available VA health care benefits after a diagnosis.
How much does VA health care cost?
Veterans with mesothelioma typically have the lowest VA health care costs. This cancer is considered to be a 100% disability, which means that the VA charges the lowest copays for medical services.
Many VA health care services are free to veterans with mesothelioma.
Can I seek care from non-VA health care providers?
Possibly, yes. If you live too far away from the nearest VA mesothelioma specialist, you may be able to see local doctors as long as they’re within the VA’s list of community providers.
If you do have to travel to see a mesothelioma doctor, you may be able to use the VA’s travel reimbursement program to recoup expenses.
Can I lose my VA health care benefits?
If you’re a U.S. veteran with mesothelioma, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll lose your VA health care benefits. You may not be able to apply for VA health care if you were dishonorably discharged, though.
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.
