More than 60 percent of all bankruptcy cases are filed because of medical debt. The nature of medical emergencies and medical bills means that even the financially well-prepared can find themselves in a tight spot.

However, a new CNN article outlines a few measure people can take to best protect themselves from filing Chapter 7 bankrupty because of medical bills.

Always carry insurance.  Never let your policy expire, even if you lose your job. It only takes one accident or one illness to send you into a world of expensive bills and put you into some serious debt.

If you do lose your job, pay for COBRA insurance – an extension of your insurance policy you had while you were in employed. In many cases the federal government may pay up to 65 percent of your bills.

While carrying health insurance won’t guarantee you’ll be safe from bankruptcy, it does give you a strong safety net in case of emergency.

Know your insurance policy. Insurance companies might be more willing to work with you and pay your claims if you know and understand the guidelines concerning certain aspects of your policy. Knowing what is covered and what isn’t will also help you avoid paying for services covered by your policy. Medical billing mistakes are common, and could cost you dearly.

Check to see if you have disability insurance and how much this covers if you become disabled and are unable to work. If it only covers a certain percentage of your salary, you might want to look into a supplemental policy to cover the rest so you can cover your monthly bills.

Budget for health care, even when you are well. Just like you factor in a monthly expense for groceries and utility bills, you should build health care into your budget.

Factor in your annual deductable, doctor’s visit fees and drug co-pays. If you are employed and your employer offers a flexible spending account, use it. This will allow you to use pre-tax dollars for medical bills and make it easier to budget.

If, at the end of the month, you have money left over from your budget, roll that into a medical emergencies account to provide a cushion in case of an unexpected illness.

Be proactive. If you are experiencing any health concerns go see your doctor  right away. While preventive care isn’t free it is almost always cheaper than emergency care. Sometimes a $25 visit to the doctor’s office can help you avoid emergency room trips that cost tens of thousands of dollars. If you take care of these small problems now than in the future you may prevent larger and more expensive medical issues.

While none of these steps will guarantee you won’t need the proteciton of medical bankrutpcy at some point, taking these steps could save you harm and headaches if the unexpected strikes.