Written by Justin Song, a senior research analyst at LendingTree where he has experience covering topics such as personal loans and small business lending.

The average cost of starting a small business in the U.S. is about US$30,000—the same cost as a three-day medical stay.

If you’re just getting started, you may view health insurance as an untenable expense and forgo it all together simply to avoid the monthly payment. However, this could ultimately be detrimental to your business if you wind up in the hospital. Not having health insurance could be the difference between sink or swim when it comes to your entrepreneurial dream.

Here’s how you can look after your own health while also starting a business.