While most Americans (yes, most) have some amount of debt, it’s women who are stuck with the largest share. New research finds that women owe more than men when it comes to credit cards, medical bills, and student loans—almost $400 billion more in student loans, to be exact.

And because we’re also paid less than men, more frequently denied raises, and have, oh, children and dependents to support—it can be difficult to get out of the debt trap.

But it’s not impossible. We spoke to experts about how to deal with debt in some of the areas that can hurt women most. From divorce, to loans, to job loss—here’s how to face the bills and devise a plan to get your finances back on track.

If you’ve had a medical emergency

On average, women owe 10 percent more in medical bills than men do. The reasons are complicated, but from endometriosis complications to a broken bone, hospital bills or ER visit fees can add up and lead to debt. But Carolyn McClanahan, M.D., CFP—who started her career as a physician and now runs the financial planning group, Life Planning Partners Inc.—wants people to know that those bills shouldn’t be taken at face value. “The first step to fixing medical debt is to ask for an itemized bill and make certain the bill is correct,” she says. “Medical bills are riddled with errors and you may be charged for services you did not receive. The next step is to negotiate. One leveraging tool can be offering to pay in cash. The provider will often charge you less than what they will charge the insurance company—if you have the cash to pony up.”

Also make sure you look into all payment plans and financial system options. “Many hospitals have programs to provide help to those with limited financial resources. The hospital will require detailed financial information, but the cost reduction can be significant if your request for help is approved,” says McClanahan.

If you’ve gone through a divorce

After a divorce, the average woman’s income decreases by more than a fifth and can take a while to bounce back. One factor that can contribute: debt. It’s common knowledge that assets are divided during a divorce, fewer people know that debt gets split up too. So if your spouse racked up debt while you were married, you could be stuck with some of it even after your split.

But whether or not you’ll have to shoulder that particular financial burden, it’s important to think about what new expenses you might now have—before you agree to a divorce settlement. Avani Ramnani, Director of Financial Planning and Wealth Management at Francis Financial, Inc., emphasizes that a settlement is a negotiation, and women should consider what they’ll need in both the immediate and more distant future to feel secure.

“If you need a few years to polish up your job skills, or kickstart a new business, make sure you’re planning for it,” Ramnani says. “Ask for supplemental spousal support in the first few years—which typically means getting less later on—so you can meet any additional expenses for getting your career back on track, without going into debt.” Or, if you’re planning to stay at home with your children, or have opted not return to the workforce for other reasons, “fight to get a larger share of the assets, instead of more alimony. This gives you a more dependable cushion, and thus more control of your finances,” she says. And remember to pay attention to legal fees. As Glamour has reported, some attorneys will take a flat fee to handle your divorce, while others charge per hour. Make sure you find the right lawyer for you and your budget.

If you’ve maxed out your credit card

Credit card debt hit a record high in the United States in 2017, with the Federal Reserve reporting it surpassed over $1 trillion. To put a finer point on it, a recent report from Experian found that the average household owes almost $17,000 in credit card debt. If those numbers look too daunting to tackle, experts recommend those with credit card debt start with a simple budget; the exercise will determine what kind of expenses you can handle, while paying down your debt as quickly as possible. You can go the traditional route and parse your spending to look for places to save or download a budgeting app that will do some of the hard work for you. After you’ve outlined your monthly expenses, Priya Malani, a partner at Stash Wealth, recommends a little bit of math.

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