When you receive a diagnosis for a serious health condition, such as mesothelioma, many concerns may come to mind. You might worry about whether treatments will be effective. And you could fear for the worst.
However, in addition to feeling scared about needing to fight for your life, at some point, you will likely face financial concerns as well. Researchers do not currently have exhaustive financial reports about mesothelioma treatment. However, in addition to the emotional drain of a cancer diagnosis, the economic cost of treatment may surprise you.
How much does it cost to treat mesothelioma?
Nearly 3,000 Americans lose their lives to mesothelioma each year. And this form of cancer primarily affects white men with a history of occupational exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos mining ceased in the United States 17 years ago, and there has been a decrease in asbestos used in construction materials. However, it can take decades to detect the presence of mesothelioma after asbestos exposure.
The nationwide costs of treating mesothelioma vary by year. However, recent studies suggest that:
- The cost per hospitalization is roughly $25,000
- Procedural costs can range from just over $16,000 to more than $62,000
- The aggregate cost of mesothelioma-related hospitalization exceeds $50 million
Depending on your health insurance coverage, you could also be responsible for biopsies, chemotherapy and radiation. And to make matters more stressful, this typically accompanies missed hours at work due to hospitalization or recovery.
If you face a mesothelioma diagnosis, you might want to get information about its cause and where you were exposed to asbestos. Although you cannot alter your diagnosis, you may be able to recover damages for someone’s negligence.