@GoyGirl @graf ERs in the United States are required by federal law to provide a medical screening exam and treatment for critical health conditions, if necessary, to literally anyone who walks through the door. Regardless of ability to pay or citizenship status. It's called 'EMTALA' and it is what is known as an 'unfunded mandate', which basically means that the hospitals are told to suck it up and eat the costs. Passed in the 1980s by conservatard superhero Ronnie Raygun.

In practice this means that Juanita and Laquisha use their local ER as a free combined primary and pediatric health care clinic. Not sure about Canada but now you know at least part of what is contributing to US ER wait times