If you worked in the mines and have developed black lung, then you know that it is likely linked to the toxins you were inhaled in the mines. The Federal Black Lung Program is designed to help people like yourself.
This program is a type of workers’ compensation program that provides compensation to miners who are now disabled due to pneumoconiosis, which is a result of coal mine employment. If you have this disease, the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) also provides you with medical coverage for care needed to treat this and other lung diseases related to pneumoconiosis.
How do you make a claim through the BLBA?
If you would like to make a claim, you can submit a benefits application. Then, you’ll need to have a pulmonary evaluation. This is a medical exam that looks at your lungs and how they’re functioning. This exam is required to show that you are completely disabled as a result of black lung disease. The examination is free in accordance with federal law.
What happens during the medical exam?
During the exam, you have an arterial blood gas test, a pulmonary function test and a chest X-ray. Each of these parts of the exam gives the medical provider a better idea about how severe your disability is, which is what the government needs to know to approve your application.
Once you are approved, you can begin to receive compensation that will go toward your treatment and care. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can provide guidance and help you seek the compensation you need and deserve.