Stop and think about this for a moment: what would happen if a member of your household were diagnosed with cancer, or suffered a heart attack or a serious injury and had to be hospitalized for days, weeks, or months? How many extra bills would pile up that you would struggle to pay?  What if your family relies on two incomes and one of those incomes suddenly vanished because that person was too sick to work, or had to quit their job take care of the sick family member?  Worse yet, what if you are a one-income household and the primary breadwinner is unable to work?  How long would it take before the money ran out?