Most of the time, health insurance is the primary kind of insurance in play when doctors diagnose someone with cancer. That individual health coverage will largely determine what treatment options they have.
However, sometimes, when a cancer has a strong relationship with someone’s employment, they may be able to make a claim against workers’ compensation insurance. Other times, they may need to take legal action against their current or former employer for exposing them to dangerous substances in the workplace.
Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer with a strong association with workplace claims. Why do so many people diagnosed with mesothelioma make claims against their employers because of their cancer?
Asbestos exposure is the top cause of mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer. It affects the organ linings inside someone’s body and will eventually spread elsewhere. A worker may have cancer for several decades before they start to notice warning signs.
Once mesothelioma starts creating noteworthy symptoms, it may be less than five years before the disease claims that person’s life. Given that researchers understand that asbestos exposure dramatically increases someone’s likelihood of developing mesothelioma, all of the claims against businesses start to make a lot of sense.
Why workers need compensation for mesothelioma
Workers exposed to asbestos on the job several decades ago might find themselves dealing with a deadly cancer diagnosis, possibly after they have already retired. Making a claim against their employer may be the only way for them to continue to support their families and to access medical care.
While there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are treatments that can slow its progression and improve someone’s quality of life after their diagnosis. A claim against a former employer may be one of the only ways for someone with mesothelioma to pay their bills and get medical care.
Why are employers responsible for asbestos-related conditions?
Companies know how dangerous asbestos is, but they continue to expose workers to this naturally-occurring mineral substance anyway. Some of them may have increased the risks their workers took by not providing adequate safety gear or sanitation facilities. They profit at the expense of their workers’ long-term health.
Holding a former employer accountable can help those who develop mesothelioma after workplace asbestos exposure.