“What prevents the uninsured from coming back to the ER for treatment of the chronic disease?”

Because emergency room is for emergencies. Say that you have cancer but no current symptoms. You need ongoing medication. If you showed up at the emergency room, they would tell you, sorry, but you need to make an appointment with at a doctor’s office. Also, say that you have sexually transmitted disease of some kind with no current symptoms but you need medication to control it. They would also tell you, sorry, no can do. If you have an infection, they’ll give me meds to control that infection but subsequent follow up until your next infection.

The emergency room is for treating obvious symptoms that need to be taken care of right away. No current symptoms = no treatment.

The end result is that we have millions of people in this country walking around with who knows what kinds of diseases. Those diseases are incubating unchecked in those people, waiting for the opportunity to spread. The people affected are not just illegals but legals and citizens alike (all those with no health insurance).