However, while this rule applies to U.S. citizens and I guess folks with P.R., what does this do with folks that are not here legally? Obviously they aren’t part of this plan. Do hospitals continue to provide non-legal residence free medical care?

Last I heard, this bill actually bans illegals from buying insurance under the new structure/insurance exchange. If the bill was really about reducing costs, it would allow them to at least pay for some of their costs. What it really is about, is a gimmie to the insurance companies. The claimed costs of the uninsured on the system is not as dramatic as claimed. Remember that an unpaid hospital bill will follow you until it gets paid or you go through bankruptcy. As I have mentioned earlier, either way you look at it, the bill has to be paid; either directly by you, by insurance or taxes. All that happened with this bill, is that the individual has less choice as to whom the money is paid and for what.