Workers’ compensation provides employees a portion of their income for work-related injury or illness. You may wonder if you are eligible to receive MN workers compensation for mesothelioma.
Facts about mesothelioma on the job
Mesothelioma is a rare disease that affects the protective lining of the heart, lungs, or stomach. It commonly occurs from inhaling asbestos, a flexible, heat-resistant material, often used as insulation.
Employees exposed to asbestos in certain industries, such as construction, are at a higher risk of it. Some other at-risk occupations include blacksmiths, firefighters, miners, carpenters, welders, assembly line workers, and shipyard workers. However, the symptoms may lay dormant for 10 to 50 years before an employee gets a diagnosis, often in later stages.
Filing a mesothelioma claim
If you believe your illness came from asbestos exposure at work, you may be able to file a claim. It will help cover medical expenses and lost wages and even help find another job if necessary. Notify your employer of the diagnosis, and the employer should submit a First Report of Injury Form.
You have 180 days to report the injury, and the employer has 10 days to submit the form to the provider. The provider will follow up with a medical exam, but you may choose your own doctor. However, if they treat you two times for a work injury, they become your “primary care” doctor under law.
MN workers compensation is beneficial, but when you agree to it, you can’t sue the employer. Sometimes, a lawsuit pays out more than workers’ comp and may be necessary for denied claims.
