Mesothelioma is an extremely costly disease. Not only can it have devastating effects on the body, it can also have an overwhelming financial impact on a patient's family. Just when all their energy must be focused on getting the best care for their loved one, the combination of mounting medical bills and lost wages can leave family members reeling.

If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, financial assistance may be available to help ease the burden. Here are some of the resources where mesothelioma patients have found help to deal with their financial concerns.

Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides benefit payments to disabled workers and their spouses and dependent children. SSDI also provides financial assistance to disabled widows and widowers as well as disabled adult children of retired or deceased workers. To learn more about SSDI, visit your nearest Social Security office or go to: www.ssa.gov.

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance benefits replace a percentage of a worker's regular wages when the worker is unable to perform the duties of his or her job. Disability insurance may be provided through the employer or purchased in a private policy.

Health Insurance

For those fortunate enough to have it, some private or employer-provided health insurance plans may help defray the costs of diagnostic testing and treatments required by mesothelioma patients.

Clinical Trials

When a patient enrolls in a clinical trial, the trial sponsor may or may not pick up part of the treatment cost. Additionally, any fees for which the patient is responsible may or may not be covered by health insurance. If you're considering entering a clinical trial, you may wish to discuss your financial concerns with someone from the research team. He or she may be able to talk to representatives of your health plan to determine coverage guidelines and mesothelioma financial assistance options.

For more information on funding for clinical trials, visit the National Cancer Institute's website at http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/developments/laws-about-clinical-trial-costs. Qualified patients may also be eligible for assistance from federal programs such as Medicare, TRICARE (Department of Defense health program), or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Workers' Compensation

A worker who is injured on the job is entitled to Workers' Compensation benefits. These typically cover medical expenses and a percentage of the injured worker's wages as long as the worker is disabled. If you or your loved one was injured by exposure to asbestos on the job, you may be eligible for financial assistance through Workers' Compensation benefits in addition to any claim you may have against the asbestos manufacturer.

Asbestos Industry

In case after case, courts have ordered asbestos manufacturers to compensate mesothelioma patients who were exposed to asbestos. And while each case is different, judgments are often large enough to provide financial security for the family of the injured party.