The medical costs plus access to financial resources
were mentioned as the most important determinants in
the health-seeking process. Almost all of the participants
worried about their financial and job security and for
more than routine medical needs said that they would
need to borrow money to cover the costs. Almost all
(n =20) had no health insurance and were responsible
for their own healthcare costs. Two had partial insurance
coverage and two were insured through their family’s insurance.
Some were reimbursed approximately 50 % of
the cost of healthcare on presentation of a receipt from
the hospital but this was unusual. None of the participants
had access to a work-sponsored fund where they could
borrow money to cover medical costs. In such cases or in
the case of chronic disease, the young women in this study
reported they would need to borrow money from people
in their social networks