Hospital chain HCA warns of lower profits as more patients go uninsured

HCA Healthcare cut its 2026 earnings forecast, citing a rise in patients lacking insurance coverage as a primary factor. The for-profit hospital giant expects treating uninsured patients to trim roughly $1 billion from its projected profits this year. This signals a reversal from pandemic-era coverage gains and points to broader economic strain affecting patient ability to pay. The trend pressures hospital margins already squeezed by rising labor costs and could accelerate cost-shifting to commercially insured patients. Independent practices may see increased pressure from hospital systems seeking to recoup losses through employed-physician referrals and tightened contracting.