Preventive measures against medical debt.

• Position: Health Care Costs

Medical debt is a leading cause of bankruptcy in this country--a fact made even more frightening because it is devastating people who actually have health insurance. According to statistics from the Commonwealth Fund, New York, a nonprofit health care action group, more than one in six Americans live in families spending more than 10% of after-tax income on health care.

One of the most damaging aspects of medical debt is that it may occur suddenly and pile up at lightning speed. An overnight hospital stay--depending on tests and treatments--easily can cost several thousand dollars. The bottom line: your health potentially is your biggest money issue. Yet, like most financial crises, it is tough to find solutions when you are facing an emergency. If you currently are in good health, first, count your blessings. Then do the following, according to the Financial Planning Association, Denver, Colo.:

See if you can get healthier. The Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga., reports that 66.3% of noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged 20 and over are overweight or obese. Getting involved in a personal or group weight-loss program and actually cutting pounds will lower your health risk factors significantly. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake are other good moves to make, but consult your primary care physician first to map out a strategy.

Review your health insurance coverage. If you are insured through an employer or buy your own coverage as a self-employed person, investigate what that coverage actually provides in everything from minor emergency room visits to major catastrophic diseases, such as heart problems or cancer. There is a good chance those benefits change--and probably have decreased--year-to-year. It is a good idea to seek help with this process.

Check your disability coverage. If you were sick and unable to work for a lengthy period of time, when would your disability coverage kick in and how long would it pay your living expenses? If you are self-employed or do not have this benefit at work, you should discuss it with a financial specialist.

Preplan a health care spending strategy. Granted, it is tough to ask how much a hospital's tests, medications, and procedures are going...