It’s hard to think about future illness when you feel fine right now. Yet with age, you’ll likely see your health problems and medical costs increase. You can avoid getting caught in a future financial bind by planning ahead for your health care.

Start by thinking about your immediate medical expenses. Here’s how to make sure you’re covered all year long:

Understand your benefits. Then you’ll know what’s covered and what isn’t. Next, calculate the maximum you’d need to cover in one year if someone became ill and needed ongoing care.

Build a cushion. If you put one-twelfth of the most you could owe into your savings every month, within a year you’ll have a cushion of protection. When budgeting, take into account any copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Fund a flexible spending account. This is a pre-tax savings account that lets you set aside funds toward paying off your health expenses for the year.

Plan ahead. You may put money from every paycheck into your retirement account. When doing so, be sure to plan for your future health care needs. Health care costs continue to rise, and while Medicare covers most of your care, it doesn’t cover everything. It’s best to assume that you’ll have to cover the cost of supplemental insurance.