If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, you know how important it is to get the right treatment—and how expensive that treatment can be. Many people rely on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid to help pay for care.
Some government plans could cut funding for Medicare and Medicaid. These changes may make it harder for mesothelioma patients to get care.
More than half of mesothelioma patients use Medicare, Medicaid or other government insurance. These programs help cover doctor visits, surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments.
Keep reading to learn how these programs work, what the cuts could mean and how to prepare.
Understanding Medicare and Medicaid for Mesothelioma Patients
If you’re new to Medicare or Medicaid, it can be hard to understand how these programs work and how they’re different. Here’s a quick overview of what each program does and how they help people with mesothelioma.
What Is Medicare?
Medicare is health insurance from the federal government. It helps people ages 65 and older, as well as some younger people with serious health problems or disabilities.
Many mesothelioma patients qualify for Medicare because the cancer often appears many years after asbestos exposure. Most patients are already 65 or older by the time they are diagnosed.
Medicare can help cover:
- Chemotherapy
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- Palliative care
- Surgery
What Is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a program that helps people with lower incomes pay for medical care. Both the federal and state governments run it, so the rules can be a little different depending on where you live.
You might qualify for Medicaid if you:
- Are under 65 and unable to work due to illness
- Don’t have a lot of income or savings
- Receive help already through another government program
Medicaid covers similar treatments to Medicare. It’s especially helpful for people who don’t qualify for Medicare or need more support.
Why These Programs Matter for Mesothelioma Patients
Treating mesothelioma is expensive. Some people may need surgery, chemotherapy and hospital care. Without help from Medicare or Medicaid, it could be hard to afford the care you need. That’s why these programs are so important.
What Could Happen If Medicare and Medicaid Are Cut?
For people with mesothelioma, getting the right treatment quickly can make a big difference. But if Medicare or Medicaid were cut, it could become much harder for patients to get the care they need when they need it.
Delayed or Denied Treatment
A Newsweek report found that if the government makes cuts to Medicare or Medicaid, more than half of patients using them would delay treatment. For someone with mesothelioma, waiting too long can be dangerous because it can give the cancer time to spread. Early treatment can give patients a better chance of improving life expectancy.
Limited Access to Doctors and Hospitals
Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid could mean fewer doctors and hospitals are willing to treat patients with this insurance. That’s because the government may pay providers less. This can make it harder for clinics to stay open or offer specialized care, especially in rural or low-income areas.
If this happens, mesothelioma patients may need to travel farther to find a doctor who accepts their insurance. Some might not be able to afford the extra costs, and others may simply go without care.
More Financial Stress for Patients and Families
Mesothelioma is already costly to treat. Even with insurance, families often pay a lot of out-of-pocket expenses for things like medicine, travel and caregiving.
If Medicare or Medicaid covers less, patients might have to pay more themselves or go without important treatments. This financial stress can affect every part of a family’s life, from medical bills to basic needs like food or housing.
Will Medicare Be Cut?
Medicare might not get cut directly, but some policies could still make it harder for mesothelioma patients to get care. One of these policy plans is called Project 2025. It suggests moving most people into Medicare Advantage—a type of private Medicare plan that’s already part of the current system—without their permission or input.
President Donald J. Trump has said multiple times that he has nothing to do with Project 2025. He has also promised that Medicaid and Medicare will be safe from cuts. Still, there are signs his position may have changed.
- In February 2025, Trump told Elon Musk in an interview that Medicaid would not be touched. But not long after, he supported a House Republican budget plan with large spending cuts that could lead to big reductions in health programs like Medicaid.
- That same month, the House passed a budget that states the Energy and Commerce Committee must find $880 billion in cuts over 10 years. The budget doesn’t say Medicaid will be cut definitively. But experts say it’s hard to save that much money without affecting Medicaid, since it’s such a big part of health spending.
What Is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is a program that private insurance companies run instead of the government. These companies get money from the government to manage your health care. Some people choose Medicare Advantage because it may include extra benefits, like dental, vision or hearing coverage.
But this plan can also make it harder to get the care you need by:
- Limiting which doctors and hospitals you can use for non-emergency services
- Needing a referral to see specialists
- Requiring prior authorization in many cases
This can cause delays, confusion or even denied care. Plus, out-of-pocket costs can be harder to predict, which makes it tough to plan for medical bills.
If You’re on Medicare or Will Be Soon
- Ask your doctor or social worker to explain how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage are different.
- Check to see if your care team and hospital are covered before signing up for a new plan.
- If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may have options to switch during certain times of the year.
Will Medicaid Be Cut?
There is a real push to cut Medicaid. Lawmakers have proposed major funding reductions that could deeply affect how the program works and lead millions of people to lose access to essential healthcare coverage. These cuts are part of broader budget plans that aim to shrink government spending.
Changes to Medicare could limit care for older adults with mesothelioma. But Medicaid cuts may create even greater challenges for younger patients, people with low income or those too sick to work. These patients already face serious barriers to care. If Medicaid is cut, many could lose their only source of health coverage.
How Many Mesothelioma Patients Use Medicaid?
There’s no exact national number for how many mesothelioma patients are on Medicaid, but some studies provide insight:
- One study found that about 7.4% of mesothelioma patients who received palliative care were on Medicaid.
- Another study looked at patients with operable malignant pleural mesothelioma. It found that 4% had Medicaid or no insurance and 44.6% were covered by Medicare. In total, about 52% had some form of government insurance.
Fewer mesothelioma patients are on Medicaid compared to other types of insurance. This is mostly because the disease is more common in older adults, who usually qualify for Medicare. For younger people or those with limited income, Medicaid is often the only option. That means even though Medicaid covers a smaller group, it’s a critical safety net for the people who need it.
What Happens if States Cut Medicaid?
Medicaid is the main health insurance program in the U.S. for individuals or households with limited financial resources. The program covers more than 90 million people and helps many cancer patients get the care they need.
Medicaid receives its funding from both the federal government and individual states. If funds are reduced at either level, states may respond by adjusting eligibility criteria, potentially affecting who qualifies for coverage.
For people with mesothelioma, this could mean losing access to cancer screenings, clinical trials, community- and home-based services, prescription medications, preventative care and treatments. Rural areas may be hit especially hard, as these areas already have fewer doctors and hospitals.
Legal Help Becomes Even More Important
If Medicaid is cut or doesn’t cover the full cost of care, legal compensation can become a vital lifeline. Many mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos at work, in the military or through products in their homes.
These people may qualify for money through lawsuits or asbestos trust funds. Compensation can help cover:
- In-home care or caregiving support
- Lost income
- Medical bills not paid by insurance
- Travel for treatment
If you or a loved one is facing barriers to care, it may be worth talking to a mesothelioma lawyer about your legal options. Even if you’re on Medicaid or have limited income, lawsuit compensation can still help cover expenses.
What Can Mesothelioma Patients and Families Do?
With talk of Medicare and Medicaid cuts in the news, it’s easy to feel powerless. But even if healthcare policies change, you and your loved ones still have options. If you’re starting treatment or helping someone who is, it’s essential to stay informed, get support and keep access to care.
Get Informed and Take Action
Medicare and Medicaid policies often change depending on who holds office. That’s why it’s important to stay informed and speak up, especially during election season. This period is when proposals could directly affect your health coverage.
You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference. Here are a few simple ways to get involved and protect access to care:
- Ask your care team, social worker or billing office if they know of any upcoming Medicare or Medicaid changes.
- Call or email your elected officials and share your story.
- Follow trusted nonprofits and cancer advocacy groups for policy updates.
- Join advocacy groups or patient communities that support healthcare access.
- Vote in local and national elections.
Even small actions can help protect care for you, your loved ones and other patients who depend on these programs.
Look Into Other Support Options
If you’re worried about losing coverage or are already struggling to afford care, other types of help may be available. You can look into additional financial help through:
- Hospital aid programs
- Legal compensation
- Veterans’ benefits
Even if you don’t qualify for one type of help, another program might be able to step in. A social worker, mesothelioma specialist or legal advocate can help guide you to the right resources.
Why Protecting Medicare and Medicaid Matters for Mesothelioma Patients
Medicare and Medicaid are lifelines for mesothelioma patients who depend on them for treatment, pain relief and peace of mind. But these programs are under threat. If the cuts happen, patients could face treatment delays, fewer provider choices and higher costs.
Mesothelioma is rare, but the people affected by it deserve a system that puts their health first. Protecting access to care through Medicare and Medicaid helps build a healthcare system that puts patients first.
