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

STAT PlusBreaking News Hospital chain HCA warns of lower profits as more patients go uninsured It’s an early indicator of the fallout from the end of extra ACA subsidies Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Tara BannowJuly 14, 2026 Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. The country’s biggest hospital chain lowered its 2026 profit outlook on Tuesday after treating more uninsured patients than expected in the second quarter. Many of those uninsured patients had dropped their Affordable Care Act plans after losing enhanced subsidies, HCA Healthcare said, an early indicator of the fallout from the expiration of ACA enhanced premium tax credits in January. Advertisement All in, HCA now expects the increase in uninsured patients stemming from the end of those subsidies to lower its income by between $1 billion and $1.2 billion this year, up from an earlier projection of a $600 million to $900 million hit. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In Congress, health care costs, Health insurance, hospitals, Policy, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Tara Bannow Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Newsletter Unpacking the business — and secretive inner workings — of the U.S. health care industry Recommended Exclusive July 10, 2026 Nominee for key federal health role has a history of questioning vaccines Pharma July 8, 2026 STAT Plus: White House reviewing top contenders to lead FDA Advertisement Exclusive July 8, 2026 STAT Plus: In private meeting, Trump officials push to onshore generic drugmaking Biotech July 6, 2026 STAT Plus: Vertex acquires Crinetics Pharmaceuticals for $10 billion as biotech M&A booms Business July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Medicare takes another swing at 340B cuts to hospitals Subscriber Picks